Application News
Application News Foodstuff packaging The compounder and plastics distributor FKuR Kunststoff GmbH, Willich, Germany, the film manufacturer Oerlemans Plastics BV, Genderen, the Netherlands, and the specialist foodstuffs packaging distributor BK Pac AB, Kristianstad, Sweden, are closely working together on expanding the possibilities for using bio-based plastics for sustainable foodstuffs film packaging. In this transnational cooperation project, FKuR is the distributor for the Green PE from the world-leading, Brazilian biopolymer manufacturer Braskem which is used to produce the film. This 100 % recyclable, sugar cane-based polyethylene helps to reduce the environmental impact caused by greenhouse gases because using renewable raw materials binds up to 2.15 tonnes of atmospheric CO 2 for each tonne of Green PE. And since the plastic is not biodegradable, this CO 2 remains bound in the plastic over the entire product life cycle. In the next step, Oerlemans Plastics uses the Braskem bio-based PE supplied by FKuR in its two production sites in Genderen and Giessen in the Netherlands to produce highquality flexible films. The printed and perforated films produced from Green PE are sent to the Scandinavian distributor BK Pac, which specialises in packaging materials such as films, trays, bags, carton boxes etc. for vegetables, fruit, meat and other foodstuffs. Being a local company, BK is highly familiar with the requirements of its customers and the market and can therefore feed valuable information back into the value chain which can be used for further development and innovation. Since the introduction of the product line based on Braskem’s Green PE, the three companies have been continuously working together on extending and further developing the line with the aim of promoting this bio-based plastic as a sustainable alternative on the Scandinavian market. As Patrick Zimmermann, Marketing & Distribution Manager at FKuR Kunststoff, says: “Our successful collaboration with Oerlemans Plastics and BK Pac is typical of our continuous search for ways of increasing product sustainability by using renewable resources. It is also a model for many further possible national and multinational cooperative projects. It clearly demonstrates the potential of such projects to conserve resources and help to maintain an environmental balance while at the same time generating economic benefits along the entire value chain by using Green PE.” www.fkur-biobased.com | www.oerlemansplastics.nl | www.bkpac.se Bioplastic for furniture In JELUPLAST ® , the German company JELU-WERK presents a novel and versatile material for furniture making. Like plastic, Jeluplast can be moulded threedimensionally and offers wide scope for design, yet it possesses the positive attributes of wood. Jeluplast thus attains higher rigidity and flexural strength than plastics. In its appearance, feel and smell, the new material closely resembles wood, delivering creative design and usage opportunities for designers and the furniture industry. Due to its special properties, this versatile material is suitable both for outdoor and indoor use. Jeluplast is free from formaldehyde, chlorine, phenol, plasticisers and PVC. It can be processed, for instance, to make high-quality seating shells, decorative elements or feet for shelves and cabinets using injection moulding. By means of compression moulding, the bioplastic can be processed to produce stable boards for the substructure of upholstered furniture, for example, and for shelving, side and back walls as well as for cabinet doors. Panels and injection moulded parts from Jeluplast can be glued, bolted, dyed, coated and welded. Furniture made from Jeluplast is also suitable for damp interiors, such as bathrooms, kitchens and saunas, because it is resistant to moisture. The bioplastic’s weather resistance makes it an attractive material for outdoor applications too. It is suitable for garden furniture, exterior railings, fences, wall cladding and decking boards. Bioplastic with consistent running properties Jeluplast consists of food-safe thermoplastic and natural fibres. The proportion of natural fibres can be set individually between 50 and 70 %. Depending on the type of plastic, Jeluplast consists up to 100 % of sustainable materials. The properties of the plastic used determine whether the end product is long-lasting or biodegradable. The properties can be further adjusted by means of additives. Flame retardants can be added as well as additives that make the material more resistant to moisture. Jelu-Werk offers biocomposites based on polyethylene, polypropylene, thermoplastic starch (TPS), polylactides (PLA) and other plastics. The fibres used are wood fibres and cellulose fibres. Compounding helps the WPC granulates from Jelu to achieve higher compression and to be processed better. The bioplastic has consistent running properties on the machine, facilitating a higher output. Jeluplast can be processed by injection moulding, extrusion, compression moulding, blow moulding or foaming. MT www.jelu-werk.com 36 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/16] Vol. 11
SUSTPACK 2016 BUSINESS MADE SUSTAINABLE Visit us at Sustpack 2016 Chicago, IL 11 - 13 April 2016 Renewable . Ambient Compostable Plastic . FCN Approved First 30 60 120 180 30 day days 60 days 120 180 days days Excellent Heat sealability Heat resistance up to 100 C Runs well with LDPE machine *This test was conducted under natural condition in Bangkok, Thailand. Dreaming of naturally compostable bioplastic ? Here is the answer. BioPBS is revolutionary in bioplastic technology by excelling 30°C compostable and being essentially bio-based in accordance with OK COMPOST (EN13432), OK COMPOST HOME marks, BPI (ASTM D6400) for composting and DIN CERTCO for biobased products. It is compostable without requiring a composting facility and no adverse effects on the environment. BioPBS is available in various grades, which can be applied in a wide range of end use applications ranking from paper packaging, flexible packaging, agricultural film, and injection molding. It provides non-process changing solution to achieve better results in your manufacturing needs, retains the same material quality, and can be processed in existing machine as good as conventional material. In comparison with other bioplastics, BioPBS is excellent heat properties both heat sealability and heat resistance up to 100 °C. In addition to those benefits, it is only few compostable polymers complying with food contact of U.S.FCN NO.1574, EU 10/2011 and JHOSPA. 8C084/8C085 8C083 BioPBS is available in various grades that conform to the following international standards for composting and biobased. For more information PTTMCC Biochem : +66 (2) 2 140 3555 / info@pttmcc.com MCPP Germany GmbH : +49 (0) 152 018 920 51 / frank.steinbrecher@mcpp-europe.com MCPP France SAS : +33 (0) 6 07 22 25 32 / fabien.resweber@mcpp-europe.com PTT MCC Biochem Co., Ltd. A Joint Venture Company of PTT and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation 555/2 Energy Complex Tower, Building B, 14th Floor, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand T: +66 (0) 2 140 3555 I F: +66(0) 2 140 3556 I www.pttmcc.com
