Biodegradable Plastics in Packaging Applications - Aimplas

NEW CONFERENCE
FROM INTERTECH-PIRA!
Biodegradable Plastics in
Packaging Applications
Commercially viable bioplastics and your packaging
Two day Intertech-Pira conference and half day pre-conference workshop
Including presentations from:
Media partner:
Supporting associations:
Tuesday, September 12
and Wednesday,
September 13 2006
Hotel Allegro,
Chicago, IL, US
With presentations from
leading companies:
Alcoa
Wal-Mart
Naturally Iowa
Aveda
Nestlé
Wild Oats Natural Markets
AMUT North America
BASF Corporation
ARS – US Department of Agriculture
Biodegradable Products Institute
Biosphere Industries Corporation
Clarifoil
Fabri-Kal
Heritage Bag
Innovia Films
Institute for Local Self Reliance
Metabolix
Michigan State University
MonoSol LLC
NaturalNano
Packaging Digest
Pira International
US Composting Council
Plus!
Don’t miss the
pre-conference
workshop on Monday,
September 11 2006:
Recycled Plastics in
Packaging Applications

easons to
attend9
■ Understand the pivotal role of
biodegradable plastics in the
environmentally and friendly sustainable
packaging industry of the future.
■ Hear from the entire packaging supply
chain from polymer suppliers to end users and
brand owners.
■ See how going ‘green’ with biodegradable
materials could maximize your profits and
differentiate your products.
■ Hear from the leaders in the field – catch up
with the latest research and the
implementation strategies for
biodegradable plastics in packaging.
■ Learn how growing concerns about the future
of the environment will affect consumer
demands, industry standards and
regulations for your company.
■ Progress your knowledge of natural
polymers, their unique characteristics and
their performance in packaging applications.
■ Better understand which biodegradable
solutions can work for your needs and
how best to incorporate them into
manufacturing.
■ Learn how biodegradable plastics
perform in packaging applications:
printing and processing, barrier and strength
characteristics, compared to conventional
plastics.
■ Hear exclusive case studies from the leading
retailers, such as Wild Oats, Wal-Mart, brand
owners, Aveda, Nestlé, and converters, such
as Alcoa on what they are doing today and
what they see in the future for biodegradable
plastics in packaging.
Biodegradable Pla
Preparing for a biodegradable future
Biodegradable polymers have been commercially available since the early 1990s but
experienced slow growth due to higher prices and consumers’ cynicism about ‘green
packaging’. However, with the sharp rise in global prices for petroleum, growing concerns
about the depletion of non-renewable raw materials and increasing consumer pressure for
more environmentally friendly packaging, retailers and brand owners need to be seen to
be green and biodegradable plastics may be the answer!
Generate revenue from
biodegradables
All the indicators suggest the price gap between
traditional plastics and their biodegradable alternatives
will continue to narrow. Sustainability is becoming a
standard for the industry and consumers demand
packaging that is as good for the environment as the
products it is designed to protect are good for the body.
This presents an excellent opportunity for consumer
product companies to differentiate themselves with a
healthy product in a biodegradable package. With the
growing market for environmentally friendly products,
the whole packaging supply chain can benefit by
adding value to the pack through these novel new
materials.
Uncover the key issues
Biodegradable plastics are a combination of technology
push and market pull. The developments in technology
make them a viable alternative to conventional plastics
with comparable price and performance characteristics.
Consumer preferences and legislative measures are also
driving demand for a more widespread application of
biodegradable packaging. Biodegradable Plastics in
Packaging Applications will cover the hottest issues
you need to understand to succeed, including:
•Performance characteristics of biodegradable
plastics: How do they compare to traditional plastic
materials? What improvements have been achieved in
product protection, shelf impact and barrier
properties? What are the unique properties of
biodegradable plastics not available in their
conventional counterparts?
•The cost of biodegradable packaging: What are
the commercial realities of biodegradable plastics?
Will they be more expansive than conventional
plastics? Will consumers accept higher prices for
greener packs? If not, who in the supply chain will
have to bear it?
•The true environmental impact: How degradable
is biodegradable packaging? Is it really the greenest
solution compared with recycling and material
minimization?
The conference will explore all the market, performance
related, legislative and processing concerns for
biodegradables to help polymer suppliers, converters
and brand owners assess potential future markets.
Who should attend?
Biodegradable Plastics in Packaging
Applications is your chance to hear about the
latest developments in the industry and meet
leading figures and experts from throughout
the supply chain.
Packaging technology specialists from
brand owners and retailers
• Benefit from industry leaders’ insight into the
current state of the market, consumer
demands, profit opportunities and future
prospects for biodegradable plastic
packaging
• Hear from your colleagues and competitors
about their experiences with biodegradable
plastics, performance characteristics, cost
implications, and customer response
• Meet potential partners and suppliers at the
forefront of this new technology
Senior commercial, technical and
development staff from packaging
converters
• Share challenges and success stories with
other converters on how biodegradable
plastics perform as a packaging material
• Discover the latest technological advances
enhancing biodegradable films and plastics
through improved barrier properties,
printability, etc
• Profit from in-depth review of available
options for ‘greener plastics’ to see what will
best suit your needs
• Get answers to your customer’s questions
before they ask you
Suppliers of biodegradable polymers,
natural polymers and additives
• Assess the market size, potential new
applications, main and new players, and
future forecasts
• Hear directly from the end users driving the
market, so you can integrate their needs into
your research and development
• Meet with existing and new customers and
partners
• Learn about the latest new developments
and innovations from competitors and
researchers

stics in Packaging Applicat
Recycled Plastics in
Packaging Applications
Half day pre-conference workshop
Monday, September 11 2006
1:00 – 4:30, coffee break at 3:00
There is still a need for more research and experiments with commercial
applications before biodegradable plastics gain a widespread acceptance. But
conventional plastics have been recycled and reused for decades. This workshop
is designed to complement your conference experience by examining recycled
plastics technology and its potential for packaging applications as one of the
alternative routes to greener plastics.
This is a unique opportunity to better understand how the process of recycling
and reusing plastics works in practice and how it can be applied to your
company. Recycled plastics can be your answer to meeting new industry
requirements on the road to sustainability and this technology may ultimately
help your company differentiate its products from the competition.
Your workshop leader
Anthony Georges (above) is Vice President for
AMUT North America, Inc., a division of AMUT
S.p.A. of Italy, one of the world's largest
companies focusing on extrusion and recycling
technologies. Mr Georges has been involved
in the plastic industry for 20 years and is a
member of the Association of Post-Consumer
Plastics Recyclers (APR) and is part of their
Marketing Development Committee, as well as
an active Board Member of the Environmental
Division for the Society of Plastic Engineers. In
2006, Mr Georges received the Global
Environmental Award for Enabling
Technologies from the Society of Plastics
Engineers for AMUT patented recycling
technology for cleaning and processing postconsumer
plastic.
Workshop agenda
Market for recycled plastics
• Current state of the market for recycled
plastics
• Legislation in place
• Industry leaders in recycled plastics
• Consumer understanding of the
technology
• Future of recycled plastics
Infrastructure in place for recycling
and using recycled plastic
• Recycled plastic materials
• Technology behind plastics recycling
• From recycling to reusing: a roadmap
for recycled plastics
Performance and processing of
recycled plastics
• Performance characteristics
• Processing for recycled plastics
• Markets for recycled plastics: is
packaging one of them?
Comparison and contrast of
traditional, recycled and
biodegradable plastics with regards
to technology, cost and performance
Day One – Tuesday, Sept. 12 2006
8:00 Registration and refreshments
RETAILER PERSPECTIVE CASE STUDY
BRAND OWNER PERSPECTIVE RETAILER PERSPECTIVE KEY NOTE ADDRESS
Market overview for biodegradable plastics
9:00 Opening address from the chair: designing
for disposal with compostable materials
• Science behind biodegradability and
compostability
• Relevant ASTM Standards and the BPI labeling
efforts
• Overview of the market for biodegradable
plastics in the US and worldwide
• Drivers, barriers and trends affecting the industry
• Role of biodegradable plastics in the future
Steve Mojo, Executive Director,
BIODEGRADABLE PRODUCTS INSTITUTE, US
9:35 Retailer perspective on biodegradable
plastics
• What is there in biodegradables for a retailer?
• Assessing consumers’ wants and retailers’ needs
• Successes and challenges to date
• Expectations in the future
Ronald Reed, Corporate Manager Packaging,
WAL-MART, US
10:10 Nestlé’s view on bioplastics in food
packaging
• Performance requirements
• Biodegradability of plastics: renewability vs
environmental performance
• Main development needs
Dr Lars Lundquist, Packaging Research
Scientist, NESTLÉ, Switzerland
10:45 Morning refreshments
11:00 Creating marketing advantage with
biodegradable products
• Recognizing opportunities
• Using biodegradability to differentiate your
products from the competition
• Consumers’ perception of biodegradables
• Using biodegradability to create more appealing
products for the customer
William Horner, President, NATURALLY
IOWA, US
11:35 Standards and regulations on biodegradable
plastics
• Standards for biodegradability
• Biobased and biodegradable plastics
• Existing regulations for biodegradable and
degradable plastics
• Comparing certification systems currently in place
• Special consideration for biodegradable plastics
compared with conventional plastics
Dr Ramani Narayan, Professor of Chemical
and Biochemical Engineering, MICHIGAN
STATE UNIVERSITY, US
12:05 Lunch will be served for speakers and delegates
Materials for biodegradable plastics
1:05 Building a supply relationship
• Selecting a supplier for biodegradable products
• Retailer’s needs and requirements
• Choosing between natural polymers and
traditional materials
• Experience to date: successes and problems
• Customers’ expectations
Jim Middleton, Senior Director of Operations
Support, WILD OATS NATURAL MARKETS INC,
US

ions
1:40 Compostable Packaging through the retail
chain : a case study based on Sainsbury's
supermarkets
• Why make a move to compostable packaging?
• Compostability in the UK context
• Materials employed
• Matching product protection needs with the
right packaging choice
Andy Sweetman, Market Development
Manager: Sustainable Technologies,
INNOVIA FILMS LTD, UK
CASE STUDY
2:15 Water-soluble packaging films
• Types of water-soluble films
• Polyvinyl alcohol film properties
• Biodegradability of PVA films
• Packaging applications
• Edible water-soluble packaging films
Thomas J Yogan, Director Innovation Projects,
MONOSOL LLC, US
2.50 Afternoon refreshments
3:15 Manufacture, properties and uses of cellulose
diacetate films
• Manufacture of acetate film (including raw
materials)
• Environmental aspects of the films
• End uses (current and potential)
Kevin Parker, Technical Service Executive,
CLARIFOIL, UK
3:50 Nanotubes for potential applications in
biodegradable plastics
• A description of halloysite nanotubes
• Considerations for use of halloysite nanotubes in
biodegradable plastics
• Current areas of research and applications for
halloysite nanotubes in packaging
• The future of nanotechnology in biodegradable
plastics
Michael Riedlinger, President, NATURALNANO
INC, US
4:25 Starch based biodegradable edible packaging
• Creating edible films for commercial applications
• Developments to date
• Customers’ perceptions of the technology
• Market segments where this technology can be
applied
• The future of edible films in packaging
Elie Helou Jr, CEO, BIOSPHERE INDUSTRIES
CORPORATION, US
5:00 Edible films and coatings: technology and
applications
• Materials, processing and properties of edible
films
• Applications of edible films
– Coatings for protection from chemical or
physical damage
– Improving food safety with active edible films
and coatings
– Effecting appearance properties with edible
films and coatings
• Future research areas
– Blends
– Modification of materials
– Combination with other processing
technologies
Dr Kirsten Dangaran, Research Food
Technologist, ARS – US Department of
Agriculture (Eastern Regional Research
Center), US
5:35 Closing remarks from the chair
Drinks reception
All speakers and delegates are invited to a relaxed
and informal drinks reception to network and
discuss the day’s proceedings.
Day Two – Wednesday, Sept. 13 2006
8:30 Opening remarks from the chair
Mary Ann Falkman, Editor-in-chief,
PACKAGING DIGEST, US
CONVERTER PERSPECTIVE BRAND OWNER PERSPECTIVE
CASE STUDY
Biodegradable plastics in use
8:40 Biodegradable plastics in packaging
applications
• Current markets for biodegradable plastics in
packaging
• Recent developments
• Future forecasts
Patricia Patrick, Market Research Analyst,
PIRA INTERNATIONAL, US
9:25 Practical consideration for using
biodegradable packaging in consumer
products
• Performance requirements for consumer products
• Consumers’ and retailers’ perceptions of
biodegradables
• Successes and challenges to date
• Hurdles to making biodegradable a mainstream
standard
John DelFausse, Vice President – Package
Development, AVEDA, US
10:00 Alcoa, a converter perspective of using
biodegradable packaging
• What do biodegradable plastics offer to a
converter?
• What are the opportunities?
• Manufacturing considerations for biodegradable
plastics
• Key packaging issues: end-use trends and drivers
Speaker TBA, ALCOA INC, US
10:35 Morning refreshments
10:55 Commercial scale manufacturing for
biodegradable materials
• The challenges of reaching commercial scale
• Sourcing the raw materials
• Processing considerations
• Future projects
Daniel Gilliland, Director of Business
Development, METABOLIX, US
11:30 Performance characteristics of
biodegradable plastics in packaging
• Key challenges with improving the performance
of bioplastics
• Materials currently used to create biodegradable
plastics and their properties
• Printing on biodegradable plastics
Peter Klaich, Director Biodegradable and
Compostable Products, HERITAGE BAG, US
12:05 Achieving better barrier properties in
biodegradable plastics in packaging
applications
• Comparing performance characteristics of
biodegradable and traditional plastics
• Strength and durability
• Barrier performance in various applications
• Future improvements in barrier characteristics
John Kittredge, VP of Marketing, FABRI-KAL,
US
CASE STUDY
12:40 Lunch will be served to all speakers and delegates
Environmental considerations for
biodegradable plastics
1:40 Comparing traditional plastics and paper to
new compostable materials: a life cycle and
total cost of ownership study
• Overview of market for compostable plastics
• Potential applications
• Life cycle comparison for compostable bags
Keith A Edwards, Market Development
Manager, BASF CORPORATION, US
2:15 The composting industry’s role in widespread
acceptance of biodegradables
• How composting ‘closes the loop’ for
biodegradable materials
• Composting infrastructure in the US
• Biodegradable vs compostable
• Role of composting industry in the future of
biodegradables
Dr Stuart Buckner, Executive Director, US
COMPOSTING COUNCIL, US
2:50 NGO’s perspective of the real impact of
biodegradable plastics
• NGO perceptions of conventional plastics
• NGO perceived advantages of bioplastics
– Renewable resource based
– Compostability
– Reduced environmental health impacts
• NGO perceived disadvantages of bioplastics
• Challenges and opportunities to expand the
bioplastic industry
– Educating consumers
– Creating a culture of recycling
– Implementing policies to promote bioplastics
Brenda Platt, Director Waste to Wealth
Program, INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL SELF
RELIANCE, US
3:25 Closing remarks from the chair
PLUS – All presentations on CD!
A CD-Rom of all presentations is included in your
conference fee and will be sent to you after the event.
You’ll get the maximum benefit from the proceedings
by having the information permanently available back
at the office, all at no additional cost!
Your event organizer
Intertech-Pira provides events, training, online information and publications across a wide range of zeitgeist issues and
disruptive technologies affecting industry. Our 100% independent products are provided globally 24/7 and delivered by
teams of independent experts at sites in Portland, US and London, UK through 20 specialized industrial platforms. Our core
competencies are information on: research and product development, globalization and new markets; production methods;
regulatory and compliance.
Exhibition opportunities
If you company supplies products to the biodegradable plastics packaging market, don’t miss the opportunity to reach your
audience by taking advantage of the limited number of exhibition and sponsorship opportunities available. Sponsorship of
the conference will help you realize your marketing objectives and strengthen your company’s position as a leading provider
in these industries. For more details on our sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities, please contact Caroline Potapa on
+44 (0)1372 802101, caroline.potapa@pira-international.com

Biopack news
Exclusive stories every two weeks
Biopack news brings you all the
latest intelligence and industry
developments every fortnight
including legislative and regulatory
changes, breakthroughs in technology
and research and development.
What’s covered?
• New bioresins and biopolymers
• Pilots and roll-outs of biopackaging and
other biodegradable disposable products,
by brand owners and retailers
• Legislative, regulatory and government
issues impacting adoption of biopacks
• Latest on government funded projects that
are pushing biopackaging, including
SustainPack
• Integration of additional functions and
technologies into biopackaging
(antimicrobial, barrier, oxygen-scavenging,
smart, etc.)
• Developments in edible films, coatings
and packaging
Exclusive intelligence on biopack markets
To serve fast-growing markets such as convenience foods and ready meals, retailers and brand
owners are under pressure to adopt greener packaging strategies. More and more companies in the
packaging industry are developing alternatives to petroleum-based resins and packaging materials.
Many of these natural and sustainable polymers are made from cornstarch, soya and other bioresins
that can be easily broken down once discarded. With the help of nanotechnology, and other material
advances, biopolymer products are beginning to match the performance of many mainstream
packaging materials.
But how fast is the market for green packaging growing and how big is it going to be? Are many
companies simply paying lip service to consumers’ and governments’ concerns about packaging
waste issues, or will packaging from sustainable sources grab serious market share from petroleumbased
materials?
Who needs to subscribe?
• Retailers
• Brand owners from food, beverage and other industries
• Paper, board, plastic and label converters
• Suppliers of pulp, polymer resins and other packaging materials
• Adhesive suppliers
• Suppliers of sustainable, biodegradable and degradable resins and polymers
The subscription package
• PDF newsletter delivered to your inbox every fortnight
• 12 months, 26 issues per subscription period
• Access to online archive of all back issues with downloads
• Searchable online database of news stories
• Access to breaking news site with regular updates
• Guaranteed breaking news
• Forward-looking market data
• Industry polls and market analysis
• Pira’s take on breaking news
SPECIAL OFFER – SAVE 10%
Order your subscription to Biopack news before September 12 2006
and get a special 10% discount. To claim your discount, simply order
online at www.piranet.com or call us on T: 011 44 1372 802080
quoting ‘Biopack conference’.
Conference information
Venue
Situated in the heart of beautiful
downtown Chicago, Hotel
Allegro is just minutes away from
The Magnificent Mile, Grant
Park, The Art Institute of
Chicago, Navy Pier, Adler
Planetarium, Field Museum,
Wrigley and US Cellular Field
and Shedd Aquarium. Centrally
located in the financial and
theatre district, the hotel is
readily accessible by plane, train
or automobile.
Accommodation
Delegates are responsible for organizing their own travel and
accommodation. A limited number of rooms have been reserved for
conference delegates wishing to stay at Hotel Allegro at a special rate of
$189. To take advantage of this special rate delegates must reserve their
room no later than August 18. Wherever possible accommodation should
be reserved early as rooms cannot be guaranteed and rates are subject to
change after this date. To book your accommodation or travel please
contact the hotel directly on +1 800 643 1500 or visit
www.allegrochicago.com
(Please state you are attending the Intertech-Pira Biodegradable
Plastics in Packaging Applications conference to get the preferential
rate).
Conference fees
The conference fee includes entry to the conference sessions and the
exhibition, full documentation, lunch and refreshments. However, fees do
not include delegate travel and accommodation.
Cancellations
Cancellations will be accepted and fees will be refunded (less 20%
handling charge) only if made in writing and received ten working days
before the event. Bookings cannot be cancelled or fees refunded
thereafter. Substitutions may be made at any time, please notify Chandra
Leister.
Note
Intertech-Pira does not accept liability for any loss of or damage to the
personal effects of delegates attending the conference. Intertech-Pira
reserves the right to cancel, defer or modify the event proceedings without
prior notice.
Visas
Delegates requiring visas should request a visa invitation letter from
Intertech-Pira at the time of registering for the event, ensuring sufficient
time is left for applications to be completed. Delegates are then
responsible for contacting the relevant/appropriate embassy themselves.
Intertech-Pira can do nothing further to assist in this process.
For further information on the conference please contact:
Booking Inquiries: John Buss
T: +1 207 781 9610
F: +1 207 781 2150
E: john.buss@pira-international.com
Event Manager: Olga Adamovich
T: +1 207 781 9628
F: +1 207 781 2150
E: olga.adamovich@pira-international.com
Conference Coordinator: Chandra Leister
T: +1 207 781 9602
F: +1 207 781 2150
E: chandra.leister@pira-international.com
Marketing: Anne Ashby
T: +44 (0)1372 802042
F: +44 (0)1372 802243
E: anne.ashby@pira-international.com
Exhibition and Sponsoring: Caroline Potapa
T: +44 (0)1372 802101
F: +44 (0)1372 802243
E: caroline.potapa@pira-international.com

1
Biodegradable Plastics in Packaging Applications Two day Intertech-Pira conference, Tuesday, September 12 – Wednesday, September 13 2006
Recycled Plastics in Packaging Applications Pre-conference half day workshop, Monday, September 11 2006
Your details
2 Event options and fees 3 Payment method
4
Biodegradable Plastics in
Packaging Applications
Tuesday, September 12 – Wednesday, September 13 2006 Hotel Allegro, Chicago, IL, US
What previous delegates thought of other
Intertech-Pira events:
'An excellent opportunity to meet key players and learn
about the state of the art product development'
Harald Kaeb, IBAW
'The conference provides a global perspective on the latest
trends and developments in the industry'
Juan G Lopez, Alcoa KAMA
'An excellent resource for biodegradable plastic
manufacturers' Dr Perminus Mungara, Grain Processing
Corporation
For further information visit www.piranet.com / www.intertechusa.com
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