News Heinz says tomato,
News Heinz says tomato, Ford says tom-auto However it’s pronounced, the humble tomato is what has brought these two companies together. Researchers at Ford and Heinz are investigating the use of tomato fibers in developing sustainable, composite materials for use in vehicle manufacturing. Specifically, dried tomato skins could become the wiring brackets in a Ford vehicle or the storage bin a Ford customer uses to hold coins and other small objects. “We are exploring whether this food processing byproduct makes sense for an automotive application,” said Ellen Lee, plastics research technical specialist for Ford. “Our goal is to develop a strong, lightweight material that meets our vehicle requirements, while at the same time reducing our overall environmental impact.” Nearly two years ago, Ford began collaborating with Heinz, The Coca-Cola Company, Nike Inc. and Procter & Gamble to accelerate development of a 100 % plantbased plastic to be used to make everything from fabric to packaging and with a lower environmental impact than petroleum-based packaging materials currently in use. At Heinz, researchers were looking for innovative ways to recycle and repurpose peels, stems and seeds from the more than two million tons of tomatoes the company uses annually to produce its best-selling product: Heinz Ketchup. Leaders at Heinz turned to Ford. “We are delighted that the technology has been validated,” said Vidhu Nagpal, associate director, packaging R&D for Heinz. “Although we are in the very early stages of research, and many questions remain, we are excited about the possibilities this could produce for both Heinz and Ford, and the advancement of sustainable 100% plant-based plastics.” Ford’s commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle is part of the company’s global sustainability strategy to lessen its environmental footprint while accelerating development of fuel-efficient vehicle technology worldwide. In recent years, Ford has increased its use of recycled nonmetal and bio-based materials. With cellulose fiber-reinforced console components and rice hull-filled electrical cowl brackets introduced in the last year, Ford’s bio-based portfolio now includes eight materials in production. Other examples are coconut-based composite materials, recycled cotton material for carpeting and seat fabrics, and soy foam seat cushions and head restraints.KL www.ford.com www.heinz.com 6 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/14] Vol. 9
News Trellis Earth To Acquire Cereplast Assets Trellis Earth (Wilsonville, Oregon, USA) acquired a 110,000 square foot (10,000 m²) bioplastics production facility in June in Seymour, Indiana from the defunct Cereplast which is being liquidated in bankruptcy court. Trellis earth paid .6 million (€ 1.9 million) for a factory, patent portfolio, and inventory with a replacement value over million (€ 5.9 million). This acquisition will fast track the company’s large scale injection molding and thermoforming operations in the United States, as they bring in new finishing equipment to this facility in the weeks and months ahead. Trellis Earth announced they will be launching an all-new product line with over 35 new cutlery SKUs, new clamshells, and many other thermoformed products in what promises to be the pre-eminent vertically integrated bioplastics factory — anywhere! “This marks a new chapter in our company’s evolution and bodes well for the greening of the take-out component of the American food service industry,” said Bill Collins, founder, Chairman and President of Trellis Earth Products, Inc. in a blog on the company’s website. All Trellis Earth ® brand products made with their sustainable corn starch blend, which they will produce in Seymour, Indiana, have been scientifically proven by a 3rd party research company to have a lower carbon footprint in absolute terms than all comparable products made with any alternative, conventional petrochemical plastic. MT www.trellisearth.com Biobased PET cups at SeaWorld In mid July SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment (Orlando, Florida, USA) debuted the first refillable plastic cup made from bio-PET. Now available in all SeaWorld® and Busch Gardens parks across the U.S., the reusable, 100% recyclable plastic cup is manufactured using Coca-Cola’s proprietary PlantBottle packaging technology. “Working together, our two companies are using our resources and reach to inspire people to make a difference,” said SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Corporate Vice President of Culinary Operations Andrew Ngo. “Our friends at The Coca-Cola Company share our commitment to conservation, our passion for the planet, and our innovative approach to consumer experiences. Even more important, this appeals to our guests, who expect and reward recycling and sustainability.” SeaWorld’s switch to PlantBottle plastic in its refillable cups is expected to remove 35 tonnes of CO 2 emissions annually - the equivalent of saving more than 80 barrels of oil a year. SeaWorld takes Coca-Cola’s unique PlantBottle technology to a new level, creating the first commercially available consumer product: a refillable plastic cup. “Once we fully realized the power of PlantBottle technology, we knew it had real-world, global applications well beyond our own products,” said Scott Vitters, general manager, PlantBottle packaging platform, The Coca-Cola Company. “This collaboration with SeaWorld demonstrates that PlantBottle technology can be applied anywhere that PET plastic is traditionally used, but with a lighter footprint on the planet.” Colorful in-park murals and point-of-purchase displays promoting environmental advocacy will help inform park guests of the new product. SeaWorld eventually plans to use Coca-Cola’s PlantBottle technology in the manufacture of many of its souvenir cups and is actively exploring opportunities for its potential use in the development of other merchandise. (Source: PRNewswire, Photo: PRNewsFoto/SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment) MT www.seaworldentertainment.com. bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/14] Vol. 9 7
