Biowerkstoff-Report - nova-Institut GmbH

News
Packaging
First compostable packaging
for use on wet products
Sainsbury’s will introduce compostable
films for Wild Rocket salad
Picture: Amcor
Major UK retailer Sainsbury’s will shortly
introduce its Sainsbury’s SO organic Wild
Rocket salad in Amcor’s NaturePlus compostable
film. This innovative concept
which can be used on wet products and is
home compostable has been created
through a joint venture between Amcor
Flexibles and Flextrus. The Material is 40%
renewable and complies to EN13432 compostability.
Today, ninety percent of Sainsbury’s organic
fresh produce is available in compostable,
recycled or recyclable packaging. “Food
packaging is very important to our customers
and it influences their buying decisions.
Amcor’s NaturePlus compostable film
helps us to meet our customers’ needs and
our sustainability goals without compromising
on shelf life and seal performance
requirements” commented Stuart Lendrum,
Packaging Manager at Sainsbury’s.
Speaking to MRW Lendrum said: “This is
a new material that you can use on moist
and damp products and is good for fresh
produce like fresh prepared salad.”
Amcor Flexibles took 18 months to develop
the film. Sustainable product deve -
lopment manager Peter Ettridge said:
“Sainsbury’s challenged us to deliver a nongenetically
modified, compostable film for
prepared produce. We created a revolutionary
new concept which maximises both
4 Biowerkstoff-Report, Okt. / Nov. / Dez. 2008
seal integrity and barrier properties. The
new film is water resistant and can run in a
wet environment at standard speeds.”
Quelle: Amcor Flexibles, September 2008
www.amcor.com
Material News
UK’s first completely
biodegradable natural fibre
reinforced plastics
High Performance Materials from Renewable
Resources
The first generation of high performance
composite materials made from completely
biodegradable natural fibre reinforced plastics
has been produced by a UK-based
consortium. These fabric-based materials
are believed to be the first of their kind,
using long, aligned natural fibres to reinforce
naturally derived plastics.
This work is being undertaken as part of
Combine, a UK based collaborative project
co-funded by the Technology Strategy
Board, whose objectives are to develop high
performance bio-derived composites for
structural applications. Half way through
the two and a half year project, the first generation
of materials has now been developed
and plans are underway to manufacture
three industrial demonstrator parts. Enduser
partners within the consortium, Fairline
Boats and Lightweight Medical, have
begun to develop a marine component and
a section of a mobile incubator respectively.
An opportunity has recently arisen for a
UK based moulding company or end-user
to join the project and to assist with the development
of the case study parts.
Natural fibres are already being used to
reinforce conventional plastics, for example
in injection moulded or press moulded interior
parts for the automotive industry.
However, the natural fibres are generally
short and randomly oriented so their use is
limited due to the relatively low mechanical
properties obtained. Plastics made from
renewable resources are even further from
market when it comes to their use in engineering
products.
The Combine project is converting the natural
fibres into long, aligned reinforcements
to exploit the inherent mechanical
properties of plants in structural applications
with the added advantage of having a
lower weight than conventional reinforcements
such as glass fibres.
Polylactic acid (PLA) has been identified as
a suitable matrix material by the consortium,
whilst polypropylene is also being
considered as a partial nearer-to-market solution.
These are then combined with the
natural fibre reinforcements of choice, flax
and hemp fibre, both easily grown in the
UK. Novel spinning and weaving techniques
are being developed to optimise material
properties. Further work will include
process optimisation, painting, bonding
and moulding.
In addition to Fairline Boats and Lightweight
Medical, the consortium consists of
seven other UK partners – Queen Mary
University of London, Springdale Natural
Products, E&F Composites, John L Brierley,
Sam Weller and Sons, NetComposites
(Project Coordinator) and Tilsatec.
Quelle: Netcomposites, September 2008
www.innovateuk.org
Production & Capacities
China: WPC manufacturer announced
investment of US$ 191
million
Growth of domestic WPC market
expected to slow down
According to a PlasticsNews report from
the China International Forum on Wood
Plastic Composites in Shenyang, the fast
growth of the chinese WPC industry is
showing signs of a slow-down. Despite
this, a chinese-canadian company has announced
plans to invest in three huge WPC
factories in China.
WPC firms heavily involved in exporting
are seeing slowdowns, as the housing crisis
takes its toll in the United States and
Europe, and the rising yuan, new labor laws
and other domestic issues in China risk
putting a damper there. One of China’s largest
WPC firms, Qinchuan Future Plastic
Machinery Co. Ltd., said that the slowdown
in the United States and Europe is having
a big impact on exporters. China’s domestic
building industry, a key market for
WPC windows, doors and decking material,
has not yet slowed down. Some exerts,
however, expect a delayed effect of the global
crisis on China’s domestic markets.