Application News
Application News Extrusion-Blow-Molded PLA Bottle Using a new Ingeo PLA blend formulation, Polenghi LAS, San Rocco Al Porto, Italy, has developed Europe’s first extrusionblow-molded PLA bottle. PLA from China for Toys and More Material supplier Shenzhen Brightchina Industrial Co;Ltd from Shenzen, China started research on PLA about 12 years ago. In 2002 the company started mass production and sales of their own PLA products. Brightchina established an environment friendly PLA industrial park in the town Xiaogan Hubei with production capacity of 5000 tons PLA from lactic acid which they buy from a supplier. The PLA compounding research and development center Is located in Shenzhen. The company has further branch-locations in Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Shanghai. In addition Brightchina has a joint venture with a company in Hungary, offering technical and business service. One of Brightchina’s customers in the toy industry is Longshore Limited, one of Hong Kong‘s leading toy and game OEM suppliers with manufacturing in Guangdong. Longshore use Brightchina’s PLA compounds for a variety of toys. In May 2010, Longshore and Brightchina developed PLA toys to achieve and promote the idea of environment protection. The PLA compound for the toys stands out for its good mechanical properties and its natural source corn. Meanwhile, the resin can be processed readily on the existing equipment. In the near future, the two companies want to expand more into further toy cooperation. Brightchina is convinced that PLA toys will bring new fresh air into the toy industry. The specially developed PLA based compounds for toys, golf tees, flower pots, sheet and film, electrical housings are all created to the customer‘s special requirements. MT By switching from polyolefin resin to Ingeo PLA for packaging 10 million bottles of its new Bio organic lemon juice, Polenghi will conserve 1,000 barrels of oil and reduce CO 2 emissions by 126 tons compared to an equivalent oil-based plastic squeeze bottle. Polenghi’s achievement demonstrates the first European commercial introduction of a proven, low-environmental impact and renewably sourced bioplastic substitute for polyolefin resins in extrusion-blow-molding applications. Polyolefins (PE, PP) are typically used in the extrusion-blowmolding process to produce the ‘soft’ plastic packaging often used for food and personal care squeeze bottles. “We are extremely proud of the technical achievements that led to the development of this low-carbon-footprint Eco bottle, the first of its kind in Europe,” said Marco Polenghi, sales director of Polenghi LAS. “This bottle and shrink-sleeve label, both made from renewably sourced Ingeo bioplastic, presents us with the opportunity to differentiate our Bio organic lemon juice.” “Over the past two years, we’ve seen the expansion of Ingeo applications into such manufacturing processes as injection molding and higher-heat thermoforming,” said Marc Verbruggen, president and chief executive officer of NatureWorks. “With its innovative Ingeo blend, Polenghi now offers a lower carbon emission/lower energy alternative to polyolefins in extrusionblow-molding applications.” Polenghi Bio organic lemon juice packed in the Eco bottle, is now available in Italy and will soon be stocked in stores throughout Europe. MT www.polenghigroup.it www.natureworksllc.com www.brightchina.net 40 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/10] Vol. 5
Application News Carry on and on, then Compost! Super UV Absorber Alpagro Plastics (Belgium), specialised in carrier bags and flexible packaging, has been focusing their latest developments and innovations within the area of biodegradable packaging. As one of the official BioBag production partners, Alpagro Plastics is using different grades of Mater-Bi granulate. Recently the company found the perfect combination of additives and inks to develop a biodegradable carrier bag with an additional patch reinforcement pasted to the inside of the cut-out handle. Thanks to this reinforcement the bags are stronger and more durable so that the bags can be reused many times before composting, either at home or at an industrial composting plant. The printing options are manifold: from a simple print in one or two colours to a full colour (max. eight colours). The whole carrier bag – including film, inks and additives – is certified either OK compost or OK compost Home by Vinçotte according to the European Standard EN13432. Another example of eco-bags is the carrier bag with loop handles (160µm), also fully compostable and certified with the OK compost label. Besides retail packaging, Alpagro Plastics has been developing tailor-made applications for industrial, agricultural or personal hygiene purposes. www.alpagro-plastics.be www.biobag.no Clarifoil from Spondon, UK, is the world’s leading manufacturer of cellulose diacetate films. In window packaging, Clarifoil UV absorber films are an absolute must for the food industry, particularly for sensitive products such as seafood or delicate icings. This unique film allows manufacturers to show off their products to their full splendour. It is totally transparent allowing the produce/ product to speak for itself, with the added benefit that it significantly adds to shelf-life by as much as x6 times. Marion Bauer, Marketing, Clarifoil comments: “At Clarifoil we want to offer practical and innovative products to the market. By increasing product shelf-life we add to our clients’ bottom line, which is what business is about. Our UV absorber film allows products to be displayed with absolute confidence.” Clarifoil, UV Absorber Film boasts FDA and EU approvals for direct contact with food and is also suitable for frozen food, providing the correct adhesive is implemented. Clarifoil supplies top quality packaging materials created to the highest standard, but as importantly in today’s arena the products environmental credentials are exceptional. Clarifoil is sustainably sourced from managed forestry. www.clarifoil.com bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/10] Vol. 5 41
