News Bioplastics made
News Bioplastics made simple in new report from SPI As bioplastics become more popular and an emerging material of choice, The Society of the Plastics Industry - SPI’s Bioplastics Division recently released a new report “Bioplastics Simplified: Attributes of Biobased and Biodegradable Products”, which explains bioplastics in simple terms so that people can understand their benefits. The SPI Bioplastics Division defines bioplastics as “partially or fully biobased and/or biodegradable.” “We wanted to simply explain bioplastics and showcase how bioplastics support the plastic industry’s focus and commitment to reduce waste and create products that are sustainable,” said Patrick Krieger, assistant director of regulatory & technical affairs at SPI. “With our members and consumers in mind, we wanted to clarify how these innovative materials are composed, and highlight their benefits to the environment.” This report also helps educate consumers on the meaning behind company-specific claims that their products include biobased content, or are biodegradable. Under U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, companies that make these claims must ensure they have competent and reliable scientific evidence for the origin or degradability claims for their products. Biobased bioplastics can have numerous environmental benefits, including the reduction of fossil fuel usage, potential reduction of carbon footprint and/or reduction of global warming potential. Through composting, anaerobic digestion, and marine and soil environments, biodegradable bioplastics completely degrade, through biological action, into biomass, carbon dioxide or methane, and water. The benefits of biobased and biodegradable plastics reinforce the plastics industry’s commitment to creating sustainable materials. MT http://plasticsindustry.org/files/Bioplastics%20Simplified.pdf Will Metabolix sell off its PHA Business? Metabolix, Inc. has announced that the Company is exploring strategic alternatives for its specialty biopolymers business and for its Yield10 crop science program. The Company cited outside strategic interest in its biopolymers business as well as a challenging financing environment as key considerations leading to this development. Strategic alternatives may include selling the Company’s specialty biopolymers business to a third party with strategic interest in acquiring the business. Metabolix is currently engaged in discussions with interested parties regarding the potential sale of the specialty biopolymers business as an operating business and may engage in discussions with additional parties as it progresses through its strategic review. MT www.metabolix.com Winners of the “Bio-based Material of the Year 2016” On April 5 th the Innovation Award Bio-based Material of the Year 2016 was awarded to three innovative materials in suitable applications. The competition focused on new developments in the bio-based economy, which have had (or will have) a market launch in 2015 or 2016. The winners were elected by the participants of the 9 th International Conference on Bio-based Materials in Cologne, Germany. The International Conference on Bio-based Materials is a well established meeting point for companies working in the field of bio-based chemicals and materials. 200 participants, mainly from the industry and representing 25 countries, met in Cologne to discuss the latest developments in the sector. 24 companies presented their products and services at the exhibition. The discussions showed unexpected impacts of the low oil prices and a less favourable political framework on the bio-based economy: Bio-based drop-in chemical commodities fade more and more from the spotlight. On the other hand, special bio-based fine chemicals and materials for end products are more attractive than ever. Because of their new functionalities and properties, they are not in direct competition with conventional petrochemical products. This will enable them to conquer the market without the need for strong support simply because they have a lot to offer – to the industry and to the consumer. Worldwide substantial investments are being made in this sector with high added value and strong market growth. The winners of the award are nice examples of this new generation of bio-based products with improved features. Six companies were nominated by the conference’s advisory board and experts from nova-Institute. Each nominee introduced its innovation in a short 10-minute presentation to the audience. The three winners were elected by the participants of the conference and announced at the Innovation Award Ceremony. And the winners are: 1) Orineo BVBA (BE): Touch of Nature – Filled biobased resin for stimulating biomaterials 2) Evonik (DE): REWOFERM ® SL 446 – Novel sophorolipid-type biosurfactant 3) Covestro (DE): Impranil ® eco – Bio-based waterborne polyurethane dispersions for textile coatings Details about the three winners and their products can be found on the website. MT www.biowerkstoff-kongress.de/award Covestro application example 8 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/16] Vol. 11
4 th PLA World Congress 24 – 25 MAY 2016 MUNICH › GERMANY says THANK YOU... ...to all of the attendees, sponsors, and speakers who participated in the 4 th PLA World Congress organized by Gold sponsor supported by Media-Partner 1st Media-Partner Silver sponsor Institut für Ökologie und Innovation Coffeebreak sponsor bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/16] Vol. 11 9
