Special Final remarks
Special Final remarks David Zutlers says: “The big beverage companies in the world will not convert to PLA bottles unless they are required to do so.“ They may be pushed to do so because of economic advantages, or by law. “And governments should consider, when the barrier and heat deflection problems that we are working on have been solved, making the use of PLA or other biobased packaging a requirement.“ Reed Paget wants to stress that all the companies involved today are really pioneers that have taken a significant financial risk and that deserve to be acknowledged and thanked. “Waste in our modern lifestyle is a growing and significant issue, as is energy consumption,“ he says, “and biopolymers are offering a way to maintain a fairly modern lifestyle with the prospect of not leaving a legacy of pollution which the planet cannot sustain.“ Michael Keeffe is very excited about the potential for PLA particularly given growing consumer demands for more environmentally sustainable and socially responsible products. Our PLA water bottle is both of these, a healthier choice for the environment and a healthier choice for the consumer while helping others get clean water too: Bill Horner is very happy “that we made the decision early on and have stuck with it through all the research and development rollercoaster that we‘ve been through. But it‘s been worth it all.“ Not only is Bill very pleased with what they have achieved so far, they are also willing to share the lessons they have learned with other dairy companies around the world. Bernd Merzenich, with a very focused view on the German beverage packaging situation, thinks it essential that government accepts PLA as an ecologically favourable packaging material so that PLA bottles are exempted from the mandatory deposit fee laid down in the German Packaging Ordinance. “If this can be achieved, it will really be a breakthrough for PLA because we then enter into a new environmental quality. That will make PLA attractive for a mass market,“ he says. The very final words in this talk with major bioplastics users are from our cover-girl Janina (11). She says: “In school we learned that crude oil is a limited resource and that alternative energies such as wind or solar power can save oil. I didn‘t know that plastics were made from oil and I like the idea that plastics can be made from plants.“ And her little sister Lena (6) adds: “Michael Thielen said, microorganisms that live in the compost heap eat the bioplastics. But I can‘t even imagine what microorganisms look like!“ www.biotaspringwater.com www.ihrplatz.de www.belu.org www.plusonewater.ca www.naturallyiowa.com 16 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/07] Vol. 2
Biodegradable Plastics in Packaging Applications Early bird offer – book before July 13, 2007 and save 10%! see reverse for more details Thursday, September 13 Friday, September 14 2007 Doubletree Hotel Chicago O’Hare Airport – Rosemont Chicago, IL, US Commercially viable bioplastics for sustainable packaging applications Two day IntertechPira conference plus half day pre-conference workshop With presentations from leading companies: BioBag BIOTA/Planet Friendly Products Blue Lake Citrus Products Ciba Expert Services Clarifoil Earthcycle Environmental Packaging International EPI Environmental Products Excellent Packaging & Supply Gilbreth Packaging G.S. Polymer Consultants Innovia Films Kraft Foods Global Metabolix Michigan State University Microsoft MonoSol NNZ – The Packaging Network Naturally Iowa NatureWorks Plantic Technologies Whole Foods Market Wild Oats Natural Including presentations from: Media Partner: Plus! Don’t miss the pre-conference workshop on Wednesday, September 12, 2007: New Markets for Bioplastics
