Market Think Biopolymer!
Market Think Biopolymer! The online platform “BioFoN - ZUKUNFTSNETZWERK biobasierte Polymere” (Pioneering Network biobased polymers) is a novel, trend-setting business-to-business network in the field of biobased materials, which was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). Since the release in October 2019 the number of BioFoN members has grown to over 80. The first project phase is exclusively dedicated to the D-A-CH region, Germany (D), Austria (A) and Switzerland (CH). Companies in these countries qualifiy for free registration and membership until the end of 2021. The Idea behind BioFoN - Visonary, Interdisciplinary, Evolutionary Further development of successful novel biobased polymer materials and products requires an interdisciplinary pooling of knowledge about synthesis, composition and processing as well as attainable product properties. The transfer of knowledge across different disciplines can reveal trend-setting synergies for the targeted advancement and function as a catalyst for the entire bioplastics industry. The BioFoN network contributes to breaking down scientific barriers and driving research and development forward. The basic philosophy Think Biopolymer! expresses the vision of a fully biobased plastics industry. The BioFoN team is aware of the utopia of an immediate and complete switch from petrochemical to biobased raw materials. For this reason, BioFoN addresses and involves like-minded and interested companies, networks and research institutes. Whether they work in plastics processing or product manufacturing or come from completely different branches of industry, it is of no importance. The full potential of biobased polymer materials can only be tapped through interdisciplinary collaboration and the interaction between experts. “Think Biopolymer!” - Biopolymer? The umbrella term biopolymer is interpreted by BioFoN as biobased polymeric materials which may be both biodegradable and non-biodegradable and may also contain biogenic or other fillers. Benefits of Membership The website www.biofon.net opens up several channels for interacting and exchanging ideas and experiences with companies, research institutions and manufacturers. The most powerful tool to do this is the Competence Map, which represents all members and their expertise in the field of biopolymers within the D-A-CH region. Members can: • Present their company and are addressable via the messaging system • Show their activities and efforts in the field of sustainability • Search and find suitable partners to achieve their goals • Get an overview over participating existing networks (regional or thematically oriented) • Stay in contact with researchers, developers, distributers and product managers BioFoN will be continuously updated and improved. The following additional sections will be added step by step in the nearest future: • Events: Overview all upcoming Conferences, Workshops and Seminars • News: Discover latest development projects as well as research calls and other contemporary topics • Know-How Transfer: Members can upload, share and discuss their current research with other members - privately or in public Use the link-database for faster and easier access to gathered information as well as experiences on processing parameters • Project Groups: Members can initiate and set up a project and invite other members Exchange innovative ideas and discuss future projects Additional features that will be added: • Full text search via the interactive Competence-Map • Link the social media presence for a company with the BioFoN network • List the contact persons for specific topics • As a network: List and present their members www.biofon.net BioFoN Advisory Board – From Industry for Industry In order to act as a professional B2B-network and to address issues important to the industry, the project is supported by a wide range of well-known companies: • Bayerische Landesanstalt für Weinbau und Gartenbau (LWG) • C.A.R.M.E.N. e.V. • CLARIANT PLASTICS & COATINGS LTD • Evonik Industries AG, • J. RETTENMAIER & SÖHNE GmbH + Co KG • Melitta Group Management GmbH & Co. KG • rekuplast GmbH • Rhenoflex GmbH • Steinbeis Forschungszentrum Human Centered Engineering • TECNARO GmbH • UVEX SPORTS GmbH & Co. KG • VAUDE Sport GmbH & Co. KG 18 bioplastics MAGAZINE [01/20] Vol. 15
Market By: Tobias Hartmann Research Area Biopolymers and Natural Fibre Composites Department of Lightweight Structures and Polymer Technology Chemnitz University of Technology Chemnitz, Germany COMPEO Project-Team and Funding “BioFoN - ZUKUNFTSNETZWERK biobasierte Polymere” is a project of the Chemnitz University of Technology (project coordinator), the SKZ - Das Kunststoffzentrum in Würzburg and ICONOMIC Werbeagentur GmbH. Supported by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and the project management organisation Agency of Renewable Resources e.V. (FNR). The duration of the research project is from 09/18 to 08/21. Leading compounding technology for heat- and shear-sensitive plastics Polymers from renewable resources non-biodegradable Visionary. Interdisciplinary. Evolutionary. biodegradable Polymers from fossil resources Schleswig- Holstein Hamburg Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Research Industry North Rhine- Westphalia Rhineland- Palatinate Saarland 3 2 1 17 5 2 4 Bremen Lower Saxony Hesse 5 1 4 10 2 3 1 Baden- Württemberg 2 1 1 13 4 2 3 3 4 5 15 3 1 2 Saxony-Anhalt Thuringia Bavaria 2 3 4 25 8 2 6 Berlin Brandenburg Saxony Industry (SME) Certification Networks Other 1 1 1 7 1 2 1 Uniquely efficient. Incredibly versatile. Amazingly flexible. With its new COMPEO Kneader series, BUSS continues to offer continuous compounding solutions that set the standard for heat- and shear-sensitive applications, in all industries, including for biopolymers. • Moderate, uniform shear rates • Extremely low temperature profile • Efficient injection of liquid components • Precise temperature control • High filler loadings 3 1 Austria www.busscorp.com 1 8 1 1 1 Switzerland The interactive Competence-Map bioplastics MAGAZINE [01/20] Vol. 15 19
