Application News PLA
Application News PLA Capsules for California Wine Green Solutions for green People ”Those of us who enjoy the natural world and are active in the outdoors are becoming increasingly aware of the deteriorating condition of our planet. This concern is growing and there is a desire to show the, sometimes conservative outdoor industry, that it is quite easy to replace oil- based plastic products.” This is what Bjarne Högström, founder of GREENCOVER and the representative for FKuR in Scandinavia, states while sipping his coffee from the mug he has developed. With FKuR’s range of products nothing is impossible. Bjarne looked initially for a biodegradable product, and made the mug using Cellulose Acetate. However, the cost, stability and aesthetic touch were crucial in the choice of Terralene WF. The Greencover mug is made from a fully biobased raw material. Based on Braskems Green PE, which is derived from sugar cane, the Terralene WF grades are a unique range of compounds which have a higher modulus, dish washer resistance and food contact approval. In addition the material could be considered as being one of the greenest available as the renewable content exceeds 96 %. There are three grades of Terralene WF available; these contain an increasing amount of wood fibre. In this case Terralene WF 3516 has been used to produce the mug. With a modulus of approx. 1300 MPA it is more stable than mass-produced simple products but does not increase the cost significantly. Another clear benefit is that existing moulds can be used with this material. Leve AB in Stockholm produces the bowl, which is sold by Greencover AB. “We have had good field results. Schools and other similar organisations have used it for a long time and it’s a good way for teachers to start introducing the next of generation plastics to the next generation of students” finalizes Mr Högström. www.polymerfront.se www.greencover.se In honor of Earth Day (April 22) and Arbor Day (April 26), Trinity Oaks (St. Helena, California, USA) announced in mid April that it has begun bottling its wines with new plantbased capsules made from EarthFirst ® PLA film. Some of the key benefits, in addition to the biobased raw material, include less energy used and made in a greenhouse neutral facility utilizing solar, wind, and other energy offsets. The EarthFirst PLA film material used in the capsule is certified compostable, and the aluminum top disk on the bottle is recyclable. “This is just one of the ways that Trinity Oaks continues to support our role as stewards of the land. As an agriculturally-based company, we are dedicated to protecting the earth and its natural resources,” noted Bob Torkelson, President and COO, Trinchero Family Estates, the Napa Valley based wine company which produces Trinity Oaks wines. “Both Earth Day and Arbor Day celebrate the environment and encourage people to plant and care for trees, which we thought was a fitting time to commemorate our commitment.” The technology was developed in partnership with Plastic Suppliers, Inc. and Maverick Enterprises. Steve Otterbeck, President of Maverick Enterprises, added, “At this time, Trinity Oaks is the first and only wine capsule we have made with this PLA technology, which shows how committed they are to sustainable efforts.” “PLA is an extraordinary plant-based capsule that allows for us to create a unique, branded capsule for our customers while being very environmentally friendly using a renewable resource. We strive to be as sustainable as possible in all aspects of our daily production and each and every department here at Maverick. PLA is a new product we are happy to see Trinity Oaks using for their continued efforts in their commitment to sustainability.” Trinity Oaks Wines are produced by Trinchero Family Estates, and have helped plant over 10 million trees through the One Bottle One Tree ® program. Trinity Oaks wines’ One Bottle One Tree program funds the planting of a tree for every bottle of Trinity Oaks wine sold in partnership with the non-profit organization Trees for the Future to help restore tree cover and plant trees in areas most in need of reforestation. MT www.trinityoaks.com www.plasticsuppliers.com www.maverickcaps.com 28 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/14] Vol. 9
Application Biobased PE for carton packaging One successful example that reflects the commitment to sustainability of Brazilian manufacturers is the partnership between Braskem and Tetra Pak ® for using the biobased polyethylene (green PE) in its carton packaging manufactured in Brazil. Since 2011, Tetra Pak has used the biobased polymer in its screw caps. The initiative has led Tetra Pak to become the world’s first supplier of carton packaging for liquid food to use the sugar cane based PE, branded as I’m green. In 2013, both companies announced an expansion in the supply agreement for the renewable resin to include its use in the protective layers of all carton packaging made in Brazil. The substitution, which will be made this year, means that some 13 billion packaging units will be manufactured with up to 82% of the materials used derived from renewable resources. To the company, the use of natural resources aims to preserve the future in view of the global challenge posed by the growing scarcity of fossil-based raw materials. In February Coca-Cola Brazil became the first company to use the new packages for its Del Valle juice beverages, previously sold in regular cartons. Following that success, the pilot is now being extended to include all 150 customers that source from Tetra Pak Brazil. The transformation, which is considered a milestone in the food and beverage packaging industry, is also valued for raising environmental awareness among consumers. “Working jointly with Tetra Pak, we meet the needs of both the packaging industry and consumers, who are ever more connected and aware of these issues,” said Alexandre Elias, director of Renewable Chemicals at Braskem. “We are particularly proud to be the first in the industry to use bio-based LDPE in carton packages”, said Charles Brand, Vice President Marketing & Product Management at Tetra Pak. “We believe that the best way to protect the sustainable future of the packaging industry and meet the global challenge of a growing scarcity of fossil-fuel based raw materials is to further increase the use of renewable resources. We have set an ambition to develop a 100% renewable package, building from an average of 70% today. This launch is an important step in that direction.” I’m green polyethylene has the same characteristics as traditional polyethylene, such as being inert, resistant and recyclable, with the added advantage of being made from renewable materials, which helps reduce the level of greenhouse gases by absorbing CO 2 from the air during the sugarcane’s growth phase. MT www.braskem.com.br www.tetrapak.com Inside package Outside package Polyethylene Polyethylene Aluminium Bio-based polyethylene Paperboard Bio-based polyethylene bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/14] Vol. 9 29
