Content Editorial ............................. 3 News ............................. 5 - 7 Application Nesws .................... 42 Event Calendar ....................... 58 Suppliers Guide ...................... 59 Companies in this issue ............... 63 02|2014 March/April Events Review: Innovation Takes Root ........... 8 3 rd PLA World Congress ................ 10 Show Preview Chinaplas 2014 ....................... 28 Chinaplas ShowGuide ................. 32 interpack 2014 ....................... 34 interpac ShowGuide. .................. 38 Materials News for “drop-in” bioplastics. ........................12 Natural fibres as flame-retardants? ....................18 Cover Story JinHui’s transition road ..............................14 Rigid Packaging Urban Schools aim for Environmental Revolution ........16 Compostable meat packaging ........................17 Polyurethanes / Elastomers Impact Modifier for PLA ..............................26 Brawn from Bio. ....................................46 Basics Polyurethanes ......................................50 Report From canola to PHA - All under “one roof“. .............22 Open Letter Biodegradable-compostable plastics – a primer vis-à-vis recycling and end-of-life issues ........56 Imprint Publisher / Editorial Dr. Michael Thielen (MT) Samuel Brangenberg (SB) contributing editor: Karen Laird (KL) Layout/Production Mark Speckenbach Head Office Polymedia Publisher GmbH Dammer Str. 112 41066 Mönchengladbach, Germany phone: +49 (0)2161 6884469 fax: +49 (0)2161 6884468 info@bioplasticsmagazine.com www.bioplasticsmagazine.com Media Adviser Elke Hoffmann, Caroline Motyka phone: +49(0)2161-6884467 fax: +49(0)2161 6884468 eh@bioplasticsmagazine.com Print Kössinger AG (7,500 copies) 84069 Schierling/Opf., Germany Total print run: 8,300 copies bioplastics MAGAZINE ISSN 1862-5258 bM is published 6 times a year. This publication is sent to qualified subscribers (149 Euro for 6 issues). bioplastics MAGAZINE is printed on chlorine-free FSC certified paper. bioplastics MAGAZINE is read in 91 countries. Not to be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher. The fact that product names may not be identified in our editorial as trade marks is not an indication that such names are not registered trade marks. bioplastics MAGAZINE tries to use British spelling. However, in articles based on information from the USA, American spelling may also be used. Editorial contributions are always welcome. Please contact the editorial office via mt@bioplasticsmagazine.com. Envelopes A part of this print run is mailed to the readers in envelopes sponsored by BIOTEC GmbH & Co. KG Cover Cover Ad: JinHui Group 4 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/14] Vol. 9 Follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/bioplasticsmag Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/bioplastics-MAGAZINE/103745406344904
News Novamont takes majority stake in Mater-Biopolymer Novamont (Novara, Italy) and Mossi & Ghisolfi (headquartered in Tortona, Italy) recently signed an agreement through which Novamont acquired from M&G 78% of the shares in Mater-Biopolymer srl - the company that controls the plant in Patrica (Italy) - with an option to buy the remaining share capital by the end of 2016. Under the agreement, the Patrica plant, with 83 employees, will work exclusively for Novamont and M&G, with one line producing PET for M&G and another - already completely modified over the past 4 years using proprietary Novamont technology - for production of Origo-Bi ® , the range of polyesters obtained from monomers partially or completely from renewable sources. These polymers are used to improve the technical, economic and environmental characteristics of Mater-Bi ® , Novamont’s range of biodegradable and compostable bioplastics. Novamont has extensive experience in the field of bioplastics, and will give new impetus to the site, creating jobs and competitive barriers and enhancing existing research skills in the areas of materials, process engineering and innovation in general. The Patrica site will have the PHA to improve performance of PLA capacity for annual production of around 100,000 tonnes of a series of polyesters from the Origo-Birange, further stimulating upstream integration of the Novamont production chain. “At such a challenging time for our country, the Bioeconomy sector and chemicals from renewable sources in particular are of proven strategic importance for economic recovery and creating value for the whole country. With today’s operation and with the range of operations we have completed in recent months - such as those of Adria-Bottrighe, Piana di Monte Verna and Porto Torres, both alone and with key industrial partners - Novamont is proving it is possible to create an economic and environmental model capable of re-industrialising the region, reusing skills and facilities and recreating jobs, focused on the efficient use of resources and the integration of research, agriculture and industry”, said Catia Bastioli, CEO of Novamont. “We are pleased that the technological collaboration with Novamont is leading to the creation of flexible sites like Patrica, suited to the production of polymers with high sustainability. This fits with our group’s other activities, in particular through our affiliated companies Biochemtex and Beta Renewables, which offer the chance to reconvert other industrial sites in Italy to sustainable technologies”, said Marco Ghisolfi. MT www.novamont.com Metabolix Inc. (Cambridge, Massachussetts, USA) has developed new amorphous PHA biopolymers with the physical characteristics of a low Tg rubber. These new rubber modifiers have been shown to improve the ductility and flexibility of PLA, while also retaining clarity and compostability. In PLA extrusion applications, Mirel TM rubber modifiers lower stiffness and brittleness and improve tactile feel. In PLA film applications these rubber modifiers also increase tear resistance. PHA and PLA biopolymers are both biobased and compostable, making them attractive for sustainability and performance-driven business opportunities. “Metabolix continues to make great progress in the use of our core PHA technology as a performance-driven modifier in applications where improved performance of both biobased and conventional polymers such as PLA and PVC is desired,” said Joseph Shaulson, president and CEO of Metabolix. “These innovative Mirel rubber modifiers are an exciting extension to the Metabolix PHA technology platform. Their capability to modify and improve PLA demonstrates performance that is comparable to traditional non-renewable rubber modifiers without compromising the renewable nature of PLA or key features of clarity and compostability,” added Bob Engle, vice president, biopolymers of Metabolix. MT www.metabolix.com bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/14] Vol. 9 5
