Application News Cutlery
Application News Cutlery made of sustainable material UPM is aiming to find sustainable solutions for replacing fossil-based raw materials and offering environmentally sound alternatives. One of the most recent innovations is UPM Formi EcoAce biocomposite, launched at the beginning of 2020. This revolutionary biocomposite is almost 100 % based on renewable resources. UPM Formi EcoAce contains certified wood and cellulose fibers as well as certified renewable PP polymers from SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE solutions. The renewable PP polymers are made of wood-based feedstock from UPM Biofuels’ production. UPM’s BioVerno production is certified by both ISCC PLUS and RSB, and the sustainability of the material has been verified accordingly. At the beginning of 2020, Akvila Cutlery launched a next generation reusable cutlery made from total wood-based raw materials, UPM Formi EcoAce. The cutlery is made from softwood fibres and wood waste derived ISCC-certified bio-polypropylene, implementation of zero-deforestation. The material does not compete with food production as many other biobased materials, which is totally unique in the world. Nature Line reusable wood fibre cutlery is made of renewable, recyclable, and sustainable raw materials. Nature Line delivers the most responsible alternative to replace current fossil-based, single use plastic cutlery or any other bio-based cutlery. This new cutlery line has over 90 % smaller carbon footprint than cutlery made of fossil-based plastics for single use. The products are also stronger and more durable than single-use cutlery with a guaranteed heat resistance of over 100 °C and suitability for dishwashing. The product safety and reusability of the new Nature Line cutlery have been tested and approved in food migration tests. Washing machine durability tests for getting the EN 12875 certificate are in process. EU will ban certain single-use cutlery by 2021, so this innovation already has a high demand at many European markets. In this new age, Akvila Cutlery will be showing the way and offering the most sustainable solution to a large existing market under rapid change. The Nature Line cutlery is already on sale in many well-equipped European-wide grocery chains and, to some extent, outside Europe. MT www.upm.com Compostable moisture absorption pads keep food freshs Fresh food on self-service shelves, such as meat, poultry, or fish, must be well packaged so that it reaches the consumer’s table clean and germ-free. With its organic and compostable PADECO ® moisture absorption pads, Pomona Company Ltd. Sp. z o.o. from the Polish Żyrardów ensures that liquids are trapped in the packaging and do not get into fresh food. Pomona supplies the food processing industry with a range of absorption pads for fresh foods such as fruit, fish, and meat. At the same time, the company searched for an ecological alternative to traditional pads and packaging that would eliminate harmful chemicals and plastics from fresh food packaging – a completely organic and compostable solution. The company was looking for a material that was compostable, valuable ecologically and which would be easier to process in the production. The absorber consists of cellulose nonwoven fabric, which is combined with the compostable film. A film is produced in a film blowing process, which is then applied to the surface of the absorber. Cologne based Bio-Fed knew a solution and solved the problem. As a branch of Akro Plastic GmbH, Bio-Fed is the specialist for innovative and application-oriented biocompounds. Depending on the requirement profile, their compounds are biodegradable in different environments or suitable for permanent application – completely or partly made of renewable raw materials. A compostable film grade from the M∙VERA range, which is particularly suitable for this food contact application and certified according to EN 13432 with OK compost Iindustrial from TÜV Austria Belgium was recommended for the compostable film applied on the Padeco absorbers. The biodegradable Padeco moisture absorption pads absorb fluids secreted by fresh foods. It has the advantage that their recycling process produces compost – unlike traditional pads, which are destroyed in the combustion process. In accordance with the zero-waste philosophy, the raw materials used to produce Padeco are returned to nature. MT www.bio-fed.com 40 bioplastics MAGAZINE [05/20] Vol. 15
Application News Fruit & veg ice cream packaging Ice cream producer IJsboerke (Tielen,Belgium) markets responsible ice cream under the Fruit & Veg label. These tasty ice creams are a surprising combination of fruit and vegetables and are fully in line with the growing demand for vegan products. Besides the fact that the ice creams are very tasty, they are also responsible because they contain fewer calories. But it doesn’t stop there when it comes to the specialness of this ice cream. The packaging is at least just as responsible; IJsboerke has opted for sustainable packaging from Bio4Pack (Nordhorn, Germany) for the Fruit & Veg ice creams. Responsible packaging for responsible snacking IJsboerke is aware of its position as an ice cream producer. Corporate social responsibility therefore plays an important role in the company. This is reflected in the development of healthier products, but also in the awareness of packaging. For the Fruit & Veg ice creams, a conscious choice was made for sustainable packaging from Bio4Pack. The ice creams are packed in a cellulose film that is FSC / PEFC certified. In addition, the packaging is 4-star biobased certified and both home compostable and industrially compostable. And because the packaging is also “A Planet Plastic” certified, the plastic-free logo can be used. It is clear that IJsboerke takes its social responsibility seriously and wants to contribute to reducing plastic waste. Sustainability is certainly not boring That sustainable packaging can be just as attractive as traditional packaging, IJsboerke proves with the Fruit & Veg packaging. They are fresh and cheerful as a result of the optimal use of the possibility to print the packaging in up to eight colors. So you see that sustainability certainly does not have to be boring. MT https://ijsboerke.be | www.bio4pack.com New biodegradable plastic zipper Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC; Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan) announced that a new zipper made with MCC’s compostable and biodegradable polymer BioPBS and developed by C.I. Takiron Corporation (Head office: Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan) has received “OK Compost” certification from TÜV Austria, . While OK Compost certification is often difficult to acquire for zippers and other products that have a thickness to them, C.I. Takiron successfully developed a biodegradable zipper and obtained the certification by combining its many years of expertise in zipper manufacturing with the benefits of BioPBS. BioPBS is a plant-derived, compostable, and biodegradable polymer developed and patented by MCC and manufactured by PTT MCC Biochem Company Limited, a 50-50 joint venture between MCC and PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited. This is an environmentally friendly polymer, which can decompose into water and carbon dioxide by living microorganisms in the environment. It offers outstanding performance compared with other biodegradable polymers in terms of low-temperature heat sealing properties, heat resistance, and flexibility, among other features. As society confronts critical issues surrounding plastic waste, there is a growing demand for a shift from nonbiodegradable plastic to biodegradable materials in packaging for food and other items. MCC will continue to develop BioPBS into a broad array of applications from clothing packaging to food packaging for snacks, coffee beans, dried fruit, and more. As MCC moves toward fulfilling the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group’s vision of “Realizing KAITEKI,*” itcontinues to accelerate research and development and expand applications for compostable, biodegradable, and plant-derived products, such as BioPBS, to help enable the circular economy and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. MT *The Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group’s original concept, which denotes “the sustainable well-being of people, society and our planet Earth.” https://us.mitsubishi-chemical.com generic photograph bioplastics MAGAZINE [05/20] Vol. 15 41
