Issue 01/2017

ISSN 1862-5258 

Basics 

Can additives make plastics 

biodegradable? | 41 

Jan / Feb 

01 | 2017 

Highlights 

Automotive | 10 

Foam | 32 

BENELUX-Special 

bioplastics MAGAZINE Vol. 12 

... is read in 92 countries

Editorial 

dear 

readers 

I hope you all had a good start to the new year. And, even as I write these lines, our readers 

in China are holding their own New Year’s celebrations as they enter the “Year of 

the Fire Rooster”. 

The new year also marks the start of a new series in bioplastics MAGAZINE. In 

each issue, we will devote attention to a different part of the world, in order to 

explore how well the concept of bioplastics is known and understood in the various 

regions and countries around the globe. To that end, articles will be solicited 

for each edition from companies, researchers and other stakeholders from the 

region in focus in that issue. In addition, we have devised a simple survey, which 

we ourselves will conduct among members of the local population to assess the 

prevailing attitudes towards and general perception of bioplastics. This first issue 

starts with the BENELUX countries. Other areas to follow this year are Germany/ 

Austria/Switzerland, China, Scandinavia, North America and Italy/France. More 

areas, such as UK, New Zealand/Australia, Spain/Portugal, Poland and the Baltic 

States, Thailand and so on to follow later. 

The other highlight topics of this issue include Bioplastic Foams and Bioplastics in 

Automotive Applications. In the Basics section, we once again examine the general 

question of “Can additives make conventional plastics biodegradable?” 

I’d also like to draw your attention to our two conferences this year. In early 

May, our bio!PAC event will take place for the second time. As the World’s biggest 

trade fair on packaging – interpack 2017 – will be hosted in Düsseldorf, Germany, 

we decided to organize bio!PAC this time in the same way as we did the Bioplastics Business 

Breakfast @K. See pp 8-9 for details. End of September, Stuttgart, Germany will again be the 

place to be for all involved in Automotive Applications. The Call for Papers for the second 

edition of bio!CAR is already open (see p. 17). 

EcoComunicazione.it 

www.novamont.com 

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theoriginal_R8_bioplasticmagazine_flagEBC_11.12-2016_210x297_ese.indd 1 18/01/17 11:19 

r8_03.2016 


ISSN 1862-5258 

Basics 



Highlights 


Foam | 32 


Jan / Feb 


... is read in 92 countries 

Until then, please enjoy reading this latest issue of bioplastics MAGAZINE. 

Sincerely yours 

Michael Thielen 

The BENELUX Union is a politico-economic union of three neighbouring 

states in western Europe: Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. 

The name Benelux is formed from joining the first two or three 

letters of each country‘s name – Belgium Netherlands Luxembourg 

– and was first used to name the customs agreement that initiated 

the union (signed in 1944). It is now used more generally to refer to the 

geographic, economic and cultural grouping of the three countries. 

In 1951, these countries joined West Germany, France, and Italy to form 

the European Coal and Steel Community, a 

predecessor of the European Economic Community (EEC) and 

today‘s European Union (EU). (Source: Wikipedia)

Content 

Imprint 

Events 

8 bio!PAC 

Automotive 

10 Biobased engineering plastic for Mazda’s 

Roadstar RF 

11 Panels for trucks and buses 

12 Responsible Sourcing of Biomaterials for 

Epichlorohydrin 

14 Biobased materials – The future for the 

automotive industry 

16 New ABS reinforced with natural fibers 

18 New automotive applications for bio-PA 

Report 

22 25 years of biodegradable testing 

39 Bioplastics Survey 

From Science and Research 

28 How prawn shopping bags could save the 

planet 

30 Chitosan-based polymer developed to 

patch wounds 

Book Review 

29 Book Review 

Foam 

32 Starch based particle foam for 

biodegradable packaging 

33 The biodegradable foam market in China 

34 PLA based particle foam 

36 New compostable particle foam 

Brand Owners 

38 Brand Owners Perspective 

01|2017 

Jan / Feb 

Basics 

40 Can additives make plastics 

biodegradable? 

Ten Years Ago 

41 “Advancing Bioplastics from Down 

Under” (Foam 2007) 

3 Editorial 

5 News 

20 Material News 

26 Application News 

42 Glossary 

46 Suppliers Guide 

49 Event Calendar 

50 Companies in this issue 

Publisher / Editorial 

Dr. Michael Thielen (MT) 

Karen Laird (KL) 

Samuel Brangenberg (SB) 

Head Office 

Polymedia Publisher GmbH 

Dammer Str. 112 

41066 Mönchengladbach, Germany 

phone: +49 (0)2161 6884469 

fax: +49 (0)2161 6884468 

info@bioplasticsmagazine.com 

www.bioplasticsmagazine.com 

Media Adviser 

Samsales (German language) 

phone: +49(0)2161-6884467 

fax: +49(0)2161 6884468 

s.brangenberg@samsales.de 

Chris Shaw (English language) 

Chris Shaw Media Ltd 

Media Sales Representative 

phone: +44 (0) 1270 522130 

mobile: +44 (0) 7983 967471 

and Michael Thielen (see head office) 

Layout/Production 

Kerstin Neumeister 

Print 

Poligrāfijas grupa Mūkusala Ltd. 

1004 Riga, Latvia 

bioplastics MAGAZINE is printed on 

chlorine-free FSC certified paper. 

Print run: 3,400 copies 

bioplastics magazine 

ISSN 1862-5258 

bM is published 6 times a year. 

This publication is sent to qualified 

subscribers (149 Euro for 6 issues). 

bioplastics MAGAZINE is read in 

92 countries. 

Every effort is made to verify all 

Information published, but Polymedia 

Publisher cannot accept responsibility 

for any errors or omissions or for any 

losses that may arise as a result. No 

items may be reproduced, copied or 

stored in any form, including electronic 

format, without the prior consent of the 

publisher. Opinions expressed in articies 

do not necessarily reflect those of 

Polymedia Publisher. 

All articles appearing in bioplastics 

MAGAZINE, or on the website 

www.bioplasticsmagazine.com are 

strictly covered by copyright. 

bioplastics MAGAZINE welcomes contributions 

for publication. Submissions are 

accepted on the basis of full assignment 

of copyright to Polymedia Publisher 

GmbH unless otherwise agreed in advance 

and in writing. We reserve the right 

to edit items for reasons of space, clarity 

or legality. Please contact the editorial 

office via mt@bioplasticsmagazine.com. 

The fact that product names may not be 

identified in our editorial as trade marks 

is not an indication that such names are 

not registered trade marks. 

bioplastics MAGAZINE tries to use British 

spelling. However, in articles based on 

information from the USA, American 

spelling may also be used. 

Envelopes 

A part of this print run is mailed to the 

readers wrapped in BoPLA envelopes 

sponsored by Taghleef Industries, S.p.A. 

Maropack GmbH & Co. KG, and SFV 

Verpackungen 

Cover 

Fotolia: Fisher Photostudio 

Follow us on twitter: 

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Like us on Facebook: 

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daily upated news at 


News 

MHG’s updated corporate 

identity back into “Danimer“ 

Meredian Holdings Group Inc., “MHG”, a leading biopolymer 

manufacturer, announced in late December that it will do 

business as Danimer Scientific, effective immediately. MHG’s 

updated corporate identity is a visual salute to their solid, 

steadfast origins as a biotechnology company committed to 

sustainability and the development of innovative bioplastic 

products that do not contribute to global pollution. 

Danimer Scientific was originally formed in 2004 and provided 

sustainable polymer solutions by developing compostable and 

biodegradable plastic alternatives. Following many years of 

successful R & D, relationship building, and B-to-B launches 

of bioplastic products for use in consumer and business 

applications, the Company has decided to reenergize and 

emphasize the original corporate identity. 

”The adoption of our founding name and logo marks a 

significant milestone as we dedicate ourselves to future 

product innovation and the development of global-scale 

solutions to plastic pollution,” stated CEO Stephen Croskrey. 

“The renewal of our corporate identity signals an exciting 

time for the company as we intensify our dedication to 

the development of dynamic biopolymer solutions, like 

our completely biodegradable PHA plastic for widespread 

commercial use.” 

In 2007, the founders of Danimer Scientific acquired the 

intellectual property from Procter & Gamble, “P&G”, for 

NodaxTM PHA. Nodax PHA was created by the distinguished 

Dr. Isao Noda while at P&G and he is now a Member of 

the Board of Directors at Danimer Scientific. Nodax PHA 

possesses a full spectrum of physical properties that have 

been proven capable of replacing many short-term use 

petroleum-based plastics, for both performance and price. 

Danimer Scientific’s Nodax PHA received OK Marine 

Biodegradable certification from Vinçotte International, the 

first such validation awarded to a biopolymer. The exciting 

biopolymer also has a total of six Vinçotte certifications 

and statements of aerobic and anaerobic compostability 

and biodegradability in soil, fresh water, salt water, and 

industrial and home compost. 

Danimer Scientific currently operates two facilities with 

well over 200,000 square feet of state-of-the-art laboratory 

and manufacturing/testing space. Recently, the Company 

announced the appointment of their new Chief Executive 

Officer, Stephen Croskrey, who is pioneering the Company’s 

planned eightfold expansion of the current PHA biorefinery. MT 

www.danimerscientific.com 

JV to produce biosuccinic 

acid in China 

With an eye to gaining a strong foothold in the world’s 

largest succinic acid market, Canada’s BioAmber Inc. 

and South Korean-based CJ CheilJedang Corporation 

(CJCJ) have announced that they have signed a nonbinding 

letter of intent, under which the two companies 

will establish a Chinese joint venture. 

The goal: to competitively produce bio-succinic acid 

in China and rapidly penetrate the Asian market. The 

new facility would produce up to 36,000 tonnes of biosuccinic 

acid annually and commercialize the output in 

Asia to accelerate sales growth. 

In the announcement, the companies state that 

this can be achieved rapidly, cost effectively and with 

limited capital investment by retrofitting an existing 

CJCJ fermentation facility with BioAmber’s succinic 

acid technology. CJCJ would incur all capital costs 

required to retrofit their fermentation facility, including 

the capital needed during plant commissioning and 

startup, and production would begin in Q1 2018. 

If market demand were to subsequently exceed 

production capacity, the joint venture could expand 

production through debottlenecking and/or additional 

investment. The partners would also have a mutual 

right-of-first-refusal to retrofit additional CJCJ 

fermentation facilities globally. 

The joint venture could offer BioAmber a quick route 

to the Chinese and broader Asian market, as well as 

serve as a blueprint for the build-out of additional 

bio-succinic acid production with very limited capital 

investment, noted Jean-Francois Huc, BioAmber’s 

CEO. For CJCJ, it would provide an opportunity to utilize 

their existing fermentation assets more effectively: “In 

order to competitively supply the growing market for 

bio-succinic acid in Asia,” explained Dr. Hang Duk Roh, 

Head of CJ CheilJedang BIO. 

CJCJ would own 65% of the JV and BioAmber would 

own 35%. The JV would pay BioAmber a technology 

royalty for having access to BioAmber’s proven biosuccinic 

acid technology, and would pay CJCJ a tolling 

fee for producing bio-succinic acid on behalf of the JV. 

Both partners would be entitled to a share of the profits 

equal to their respective equity ownership positions. 

Huc emphasized that the company would remain 

focused on ramping up operations at the Sarnia site 

and building a second plant in North America. However: 

“This JV is an opportunity for BioAmber to accelerate 

the deployment of its bio-succinic acid technology on a 

global scale without capital investment,” he said. 

Fabrice Orecchioni, BioAmber’s COO, added: “CJCJ 

has visited our Sarnia facility and we have visited their 

intended plant in China. Both partners are confident 

that the China plant can be reconfigured to quickly 

produce bio-succinic acid, for a fraction of what it cost 

us to build our Sarnia facility.” KL 

www.bio-amber.com 

bioplastics MAGAZINE [01/17] Vol. 12 5

News 

daily upated news at 


Avantium announced acquisition of Liquid Light 

In early January, Avantium (Amsterdam, The Netherlands), a leading chemical technology company and a forerunner in 

renewable chemistry, announced it had acquired Liquid Light Inc. (Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, USA), a company spun 

out from Princeton University in 2008 that has developed and patented low-energy electrochemistry technologies to convert 

CO 2 

into major chemicals. Their patent portfolio includes filings on producing multiple chemical building blocks used in large 

existing markets, including oxalic acid, glycolic acid, ethylene glycol, propylene, isopropanol, methyl-methacrylate and acetic 

acid for the production of polymers, coatings and cosmetics. 

The development of electrochemistry has the potential to use CO 2 

as a feedstock for the sustainable production of chemicals 

and materials, and is seen as a ’game-changer’ for the chemical industry. The technology behind the process is simple: Take 

CO 2 

and mix it in a water-filled chamber with an electrode and a catalyst. The ensuing chemical reaction converts CO 2 

into a 

new molecule, methanol, which can be used as a fuel, an industrial solvent or a starting material for the manufacture of other 

chemicals. By adjusting the design of their catalyst, Liquid Light can produce a range of commercially important multi-carbon 

chemicals. Additionally, by using ‘co-feedstocks’ along with CO 2 

, a plant built with Liquid Light’s technology may produce 

multiple products simultaneously. 

Tom van Aken, Chief Executive Officer of Avantium, said: “The acquisition of Liquid Light is an important step in our strategy 

to create and commercialize breakthrough technologies in renewable chemistry. It will extend our capabilities beyond catalytic 

conversion of biomass. This acquisition will enable the development of a powerful technology platform on the basis of carbon 

dioxide feedstock, meaning it turns waste into valuable products such as chemicals and plastics.” 

The technology and patent portfolio of Liquid Light will be integrated into Avantium’s Renewable Chemistry business unit and 

its existing R&D program in electrochemistry. The combination of Liquid Light’s expertise in electrochemistry with Avantium’s 

expertise in catalysis and process engineering will be the basis of an unrivaled technology platform to develop novel production 

technologies for converting CO 2 

to chemicals and materials. 

The integration of the Liquid Light assets into Avantium is complete and effective immediately. Financial details of the 

transaction were not disclosed. KL/MT 

www.avantium.com 

Solegear acquires Lindar Bioplastic Division 

The Canada-based producer of plant-based plastics announced end of last year that it was acquiring 100 % of LINDAR 

Corporation’s bioplastic division for CAD$ 845,000, comprising 4,225,000 common shares of the Company at a deemed price 

of $0.20 per share. 

Lindar is a leading manufacturer of plastic thermoformed food packaging, trays and products for industrial OEM industries. 

Located in Baxter, Minnesota (USA), the company has been producing thermoformed packaging since 1993 and is a leader in 

packaging innovations, including single-serve and tamper evident food packaging. 

“Lindar was one of the early innovators to embrace the important role packaging design can play in ensuring food safety. By 

combining Lindar’s thermoformed packaging know-how with Solegear’s commitment to engineering plant-based materials 

with no BPAs or phthalates, this acquisition positions Solegear with the people, infrastructure, products and pricing to further 

scale our business at a faster rate.” 

For Lindar, the acquisition by Solegear will make it possible to create scale and engage more customers about what is 

possible with plant-based packaging. “Something that is much easier to achieve with Solegear than on our own,” said Tom 

Haglin, President of Lindar. “As Lindar’s bioplastic division becomes part of the Solegear family, Lindar will be able to capitalize 

on this business association by introducing new and expanded products with greater capabilities.” 

The purchased assets generated over CAD$1.3 million in revenue in 2015. 

Revenues generated from the purchased assets are expected to be accretive to Solegear during the current fiscal year. 

Issuance of the Shares to LINDAR is conditional upon execution of the Outsourcing Agreement, and completion of the Asset 

Purchase remains subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. The Shares will be issued from treasury and subject to a 24 

-month hold period from the signing date of the Outsourcing Agreement. MT 

www.solegear.ca 

6 bioplastics MAGAZINE [01/17] Vol. 12

News 

Global biodegradable market to show strong 

growth through 2021 

The bioplastics market continues to show healthy growth. Analysts from technology research company Technavio have now 

separately examined the biodegradable plastics market. According to their latest report, the global biodegradable polymers 

market can look forward to growth at a CAGR of 21.1 % over the next five years. 

The research study covers the present scenario and growth prospects of the global biodegradable polymers market for 2017- 

2021. The study considers revenue generated from the sale of biodegradable polymers market across various geographies to 

determine the market size. 

By application, this market is segmented into food packaging, foam packaging, biodegradable bags, agriculture, and other 

segments. Biodegradable polymers find utility in these areas as they are great in reducing carbon footprint and providing 

enhanced sustainability on account of the entire process being cyclic. The global market was valued at USD 2,040.2 million in 

2016 and is forecast to reach USD 5,324.4 million by 2021. 

Region wise, Western Europe is the market leader in the global biodegradable polymers market with a share of over 

41 % (2016 figures). The high levels of consumer awareness and maturity in the region make way for easy adoption of new 

technologies and products, which is the main reason behind the segment’s dominance. The key products available in the 

Western European market are compostable biobased waste bags and loose-fill packaging materials. North America and ROW 

(Rest of World) follow Western Europe. 

Technavio analysts point to the following three factors that they say are contributing to the growth of biodegradable polymers: 

Eco-friendly packaging leading to enhanced customer appeal 

Consumers have shown a clear preference towards sustainable options for plastic bags and food packaging. The preference 

for sustainability in these product categories is pushing vendors to adopt greener technologies and strategies for branding and 

gaining a larger consumer base. Therefore, the increasing acceptance of sustainable packaging and green products among 

consumers is directly driving the biodegradable polymers market. 

Government emphasis on efficient plastic waste management 

Management of plastic waste is a top priority for most governments as mass consumption of products with short lifespans is 

increasing, leading to accumulation of an enormous amount of non-degradable waste. This waste takes up valuable real estate 

space and often ends up in landfills or dumping grounds that have grave environmental impacts. To curb this, governments 

across the globe are aiding in and pushing for the adoption of biodegradable polymers through various initiatives and reforms, 

thus bringing in a steady demand for these products. 

Emergence of biobased and renewable raw materials 

“The global biodegradable polymers market is driven by the emergence of renewable resources, biomass, and biobased 

raw materials such as starch and vegetable crop derivatives. In 2015, biobased plastics accounted for more than 80 % of the 

global biodegradable polymers market. The use of bioplastics in numerous applications such as packaging and retail goods 

has greatly aided market growth,” says Swapnil Tejveer Sharma, one of the lead analysts at Technavio for plastics, polymers, 

and elastomers research. KL/MT 

www.technavio.com 

Apologies 

We sincerely apologize for not mentioning the authors of the article on the 

“Fair Mouse” in the recent new issue of bioplastics MAGAZINE. MT 

The authors are 

Jacek Leciński, Andrea Siebert-Raths 

Daniela Jahn and Jessica Rutz 

Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites 

University of Applied Sciences and Arts 

Hannover, Germany 

You can read the article online on pp 24 

at https://issuu.com/bioplastics/docs/bioplasticsmagazine_1606_ 


Events 

bioplastics MAGAZINE presents: 

The second bio!PAC conference on biobased packaging in Düsseldorf, Germany, 

organised by bioplastics MAGAZINE together with Green Serendipity is the 

must-attend conference for everyone interested in packaging made from renewable 

resources. The conference offers high class presentations from top 

individuals from raw material and packaging providers as well as from brand 

owners already using biobased packaging. The unique event also offers excellent 

networking opportunities. Free access to interpack is also included. 

Please find below the preliminary programme. Find more details and register 

at the conference website. www.bio-pac.info 

bio PAC 

biobased packaging 

conference 

4-5-6 may 2015 

messe düsseldorf 

Preliminary Programme - bio!PAC: Conference on Biobased Packaging 

Other than the first edition in 2015 in Amsterdam, this year bio!PAC will be organized within the framework of interpack, the 

World‘s biggest trade fair on packaging in Düsseldorf, Germany. And bio!PAC will be organized in the same way as the recent 

Bioplastics Business Breakfast @K 2016. 

On three mornings during the show from May 4 - 6, bioplastics MAGAZINE in cooperation with Green Serendipity will host 

a bio!PAC Business Breakfast: From 8:00 am to 12:30 pm the delegates get the chance to listen to and discuss high-class 

presentations and benefit from a unique networking opportunity. The trade fair interpack opens at 10 am. Register soon to 

reserve your seat. Admission starts at EUR 299.00. The conference fee includes a free day-ticket for interpack as well as free 

public transportation in the greater Düsseldorf area (except taxi). 

The programme is divided into three highlight topics: 

• 04 May 2017: Biobased packaging materials & possibilities 

• 05 May 2017: Innovations & inspiration by brand owners 

• 06 May 2017: Biobased packaging & the Bio-Economy 

The preliminary programme below will constantly be amended and updated on the website. 

Martin Bussmann, BASF 

Patrick Gerritsen, Bio4Pack 

Andy Sweetman, Futamura 

Emanuela Bardi, Taghleef Industrie 

Mariagiovanna Vetere, NatureWorks (t.b.c.) 

Hein van den Reek, Billerudkorsnas/Fiberform 

Stefan Corbus, Kuraray EVAL Europe 

Floris Buijzen, Corbion 

Marco Brons, Cumapol 

Remy Jongboom, Biotec 

Martin Clemesha, Braskem 

Ryuichiro Sugimoto, PTT/MCC 

Thijs Rodenburg, Rodenburg 

Jasper Gabrielse, Seepje 

Paul Masselink, O‘Right 

Marcea van Doorn, Bunzl 

Claudio Gemmiti, Coffee Company 

Hasso von Progrell, European Bioplastics (t.b.c.) 

Michael Carus, nova-Institute 

Florian Graichen, Scion 

Sam Deconinck, OWS (t.b.c.) 

Erwin Vink, Holland Bioplastics 

Jan-Govert van Gilst, NNRGY 

Green Serendipity, Caroli Buitenhuis 

Compostable food and transport packaging 

Biobased and biodegradable laminate structures 

State of the art Biolaminate solutions to replace conventional plastics in flexible packaging 

BoPLA flexible film applications in food and non-food packaging (t.b.c.) 

The latest INGEO packaging applications and developments (t.b.c.) 

Formable Paper & Pulp challenge conventional packaging 

Plantic Sheet: biobased, biodegradable and barrier solution for sustainable packaging 

PLA packaging applications and innovations 

Sustainable polyesters such as bio-PET 

Bio back to basics 

Packaging opportunities with Green PE (t.b.c.) 

Biobased and biodegradable PBS for packaging applications 

Development of sustainable flexible packaging based on 2 nd generation feedstock 

Bumpy road in search for the right sustainable packaging 

Tree in a bottle (t.b.c.) 

Connecting the sustainable dots 

Purpod 100 using biodegradable materials and own waste streams (t.b.c.) 

Facts and Myths on biobased plastics packaging(t.b.c.) 

biobased packaging and the bio-economy 

Biobased packaging - the New Zealand perspective (t.b.c.) 

End of life options for biobased packaging 

Creation of better conditions for Compostable Packaging 

Innovative packaging solutions with locally sourced elephantsgras 

Futurelook on biobased and circular packaging 

(subject to changes, visit www.bio-pac.info for updates) 


io PAC 

organized by bioplastics MAGAZINE 

biobased packaging 

conference 

04-05-06 may 2017 

messe düsseldorf 

Packaging is necessary for: 

» protection during transport and storage 

» prevention of product losses 

» increasing shelf life 

» sharing product information and marketing 

BUT: 

Packaging does not necessarily need to be made from petroleum 

based plastics. Most packaging have a short life and therefore 

give rise to 

large quantities of waste. Accordingly, it is vital to use the most 

suitable 

raw materials and implement good ‘end-of-life’ solutions. 

Biobased materials have a key role to play in this respect. 

Gold Sponsor 

Silver Sponsor 

Bronze Sponsors 

Biobased packaging 

» is packaging made from mother nature‘s gifts. 

» can be made from renewable resources or waste streams 

» can offer innovative features and beneficial barrier properties 

» can help to reduce the depletion of finite fossil resources and 

CO 2 

emissions 

» can offer environmental benefits in the end-of-life phase 

» offers incredible opportunities 

www.bio-pac.info 

Early Bird Discount 

in cooperation with 

Save 15% on regular prices 

before February 28, 2017 

www.greenserendipity.nl 

supported by 

Media Partner

Automotive Materials 

Biobased engineering plastic 

for Mazda’s Roadstar RF 

DURABIO, developed by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation 

(MCC), is a biobased engineering plastic made from plantderived 

isosorbide. It features excellent performance, offering 

higher resistance to impact, heat, and weather than conventional 

engineering plastics. Additional benefits include ease of 

coloring – Durabio can be simply mixed with pigment to create 

glossy, highly reflective, and rich hue surfaces – as well its hardness, 

enhancing durability and scratch resistance. These advantages 

eliminate the need for a coating process, thereby reducing 

emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from paints. 

MCC and Mazda jointly developed a new grade of Durabio that can 

be used for exterior design parts without coating. The new grade has 

been used for interior and exterior design parts of Mazda’s CX-9, 

Axela, and Demio since 2015, when it was first adopted for 

the Roadstar launched in the same year. The Roadstar 

RF is the fifth model to use Durabio, and the new grade 

will be adopted for more models. 

Example of adoption: 

Roadstar (top), 

Axela (bottom) 

Photos by Mazda 

MCC will accelerate research and development of 

Durabio, with the goal of expanding applications for 

automobile interior design parts, of course, but also 

expansion of its use in exterior design parts, contributing 

to environment-friendly automobile production. MT 

www.mcpp-europe.com 

Focus: ++ Bio-based Building Blocks & Platform Chemicals ++ Oleochemistry ++ Innovation Award ++ Start-ups ++ 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WORLDWIDE BIOECONOMY 

• Policy and Markets 

• Standardisation, Labelling and Certifications 

• Innovation Award “Bio-based Material of the Year 2017” 

• Bio-based Building Blocks and Platform Chemicals 

• Oleochemicals and Bio-based Polymers 

• Start-Ups 

Organiser 

News 

Start-ups are invited to apply 

for the exciting Start-up 

Session! 

The 10 th International Conference on Bio-based Materials is aimed at 

providing international major players from the bio-based building blocks, 

polymers and industrial biotechnology industries with an opportunity 

to present and discuss their latest developments and strategies. The 

conference builds on successful previous conferences: 300 participants 

and 30 exhibitors mainly from industry are expected. 

www.nova-institute.eu 

Contact 

Dominik Vogt 

Conference Manager 

+49 (0)2233 4814-49 

dominik.vogt@nova-institut.de 

Find more information at: 

www.bio-based-conference.com 


Automotive 

Panels for trucks and buses 

New biodegradable and flame-retardant panels for trucks and buses 

from wastes from the paper industry 

AIMPLAS (Valencia, Spain), the Plastics Technology 

Centre, has finished the European project BRIGIT 

after 48 months of research. In the project, 15 partners 

including the University of Cantabria and the Spanish 

company Green Source S.A. Thanks to these researches, it 

has been obtained a new generation of fire resistant panels 

for trucks and buses manufactured from biopolymers from 

by-products from the cellulose paste manufacturing for the 

paper industry. 

The project BRIGIT (EU Seventh Framework Programme) 

began in August 2012. During its performance, different 

subjects have been tackled, from the obtaining of 

biopolymers, their formulation and modification to improve 

the fire behaviour to the processing of the resulting 

biocomposites for panel manufacturing, which were 

installed inside trucks and buses from Solaris and Fiat. 

Moreover, the economic and environmental viability of the 

new products has been validated. 

High added value for the wastes from the 

cellulose manufacturing 

In order to get these innovative panels, the partners of 

the project developed a new process to obtain bioplastics, in 

particular PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate) and PBS (polybutylene 

succinate), more ecologic than the existing ones. They are 

obtained from by-products from the cellulose production. 

As the main project researcher, Miguel Ángel Valera, says 

“the use of by-products from the cellulose manufacturing 

process as source of sugars needed to carry out the 

fermentation process of the microorganisms producing PHB 

and succinate acid, it allows an integration of the processes 

needed to obtain the biopolymers used in BRIGIT, therefore 

we get a saving in manufacturing costs.” 

More recyclable and eco-friendly vehicles 

By means of compounding techniques, AIMPLAS mixed 

and modified both biopolymers to obtain a biocomposite with 

strict requirements. Firstly, it is a processable material by 

means of extrusion, with the mechanical and fire resistance 

that the transports industry demands, but with the advantage 

of being fully biodegradable and also compostable after its 

grinding, in contrast with the thermosetting resins currently 

used. 

Secondly, by means of continuous compression moulding 

the multilayer panels formed by biocomposite sheets and 

natural fibres (replacing the usual glass fibre) and a light 

cork core inside have been manufactured. In addition to 

be installed inside trucks and buses as columns and side 

panels, these 3D panels could be also used in trains, ships, 

vans and other means of transport of goods and people. MT 

www.aimplas.net 

Solaris Urbino 

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The ABT plant has been operating since 2012 with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes per year. 

Biobased materials derived from plant residues are 

opening up exciting opportunities for environmentally-responsible 

products. As trendsetters like biobased 

epichlorohydrin (ECH), bio-succinic acid and lignin continue 

to offer more sustainable alternatives for traditional chemicals, 

it is increasingly important that the materials are 

sourced responsibly. 

Epicerol ® is an ECH based on 100 % renewable glycerine, 

a by-product from the transformation of vegetable oils. 

Manufactured by Advanced Biochemical Thailand Co., Ltd. 

(ABT) using an innovative process developed by Solvay, the 

drop-in was developed and commercialised because of 

demand for a truly sustainable ECH. 

A comparative Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) benchmarked 

Epicerol against state-of-the-art propylene-based 

processes from cradle-to-gate. It showed that incorporating 

one tonne of Epicerol can reduce a product’s carbon footprint 

by 2.56 tonnes CO 2 

equivalent, which corresponds to a 

61 % reduction of the Global Warming Potential (the sum 

of GHG emissions and biogenic CO 2 

capture). Epicerol also 

benefits from a 57 % reduction of non-renewable energy 

consumption. 

The technology reduces the volume of chlorinated byproducts 

from production by over 80 %, while another 

distinctive technology enables brine recycling and drastically 

reduces liquid effluents. 

Epicerol has recently received awards for its environmental 

profile. The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and 

the JEC Company have both commended it, in 2016 and 

2015 respectively. 

Because the glycerine for the process is a by-product from 

biodiesel and oleochemicals production, it brings added 

value to a material which might otherwise go to waste and 

contributes by supporting smallholders. To this end, ABT 

works with the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials 

(RSB) to manage the impact of its raw materials. 

In 2015, ABT became the first biobased chemical operator 

in Asia to obtain certification from RSB. To further show its 

commitment, ABT joined UN agencies and influential NGOs 

in becoming a full member of RSB as well. Members are 

experts in rural development, food security, environmental 

conservation and industry. 

ABT sources it vegetable glycerine from suppliers which 

are certified and have a number of their own sustainability 

measures in place throughout the value chain. These 

include mills that fuel boilers with waste and generate 

electricity from captured methane. 

Epicerol continues to demonstrate its value as a 

commercially-proven drop-in. As with traditional ECH, it is 

a chemical used for a wide range of industries, including 

the production of epoxy resins for coatings, advanced 

composite materials and electronic components. It is also 

used in the production of lens monomers for eyewear and 

synthetic rubbers for the automotive and printing sectors. 

Supplied in industrial quantities to major producers 

worldwide, Epicerol continues to be demonstrated as the 

most sustainable ECH in terms of carbon footprint and 

process environmental performance. 

www.solvay.com 


Automotive 

Responsible sourcing 

of biomaterials for 

epichlorohydrin 

By: 

Thibaud Caulier 

Epicerol Business Manager 

Solvay Epicerol 

Brussels, Belgium 

Biobased ECH is used for a wide range of industries. 



Biobased materials – The future 

In December 2009, aiming to develop its expertise into a 

sustainable competitive advantage and thus to contribute 

to the profitability of the company and enhance customer 

satisfaction, Renault established a cross-functional 

field dedicated to expertise. One of the strategic areas of 

expertise identified was “Polymers, Characterization & 

Processes of Transformation”, led by Dr. Liraut. 

Renault’s Polymer materials strategy is focused on 

providing sustainable mobility for all. 

As illustrated in Fig. 1, this strategy is built on 4 axes: 

• increase customer value 

• improve durability 

• reduce costs 

• reduce environmental footprint 

Biobased materials are one pillar to support this 

strategy. 

Customer Value 

• Decorations (metal, painting, grains) 

• Skin TPO, Slush, Leather 

• Thermal Comfort 

• Light atmosphere 

Durability 

• Anti scratch 

• Anti durst 

• UV protection 

Reduction of environmental footprint 

Since 2005, Renault has been committed to reducing the 

environmental impact of its vehicles throughout their lifecycle, 

from one generation to the next. In order to ensure 

and monitor compliance with this commitment, Renault has 

measured the environmental impact of its vehicles throughout 

their life-cycle, from the extraction of the raw materials needed 

for manufacturing to their end of life, since 2004. Life-cycle 

analyses (LCA) are carried out in compliance with international 

standards on LCA (ISO 14040 and 14044). 

Cost 

• Alliance Specifications 

• Panel of Materials 

• Local Integration 

Fig 1: strategy built on 4 axes 

Environmental Footprint 

• Weight reduction 

• Recycled materials 

• Biobased materials 

• Recycling in existing fields 

The results of the life-cycle assessments show that usephase 

vehicle emissions account for more than 80 % of the 

CO 2 

and for most atmospheric pollutants emitted over the life 

cycle of an ICE vehicle. 

By curbing emissions during the use phase, therefore, 

Renault can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of 

its vehicles. Improving vehicle fuel efficiency is a crucial part 

of this. 

A potent lever for better fuel economy is weight reduction. 

For example, calculations have shown that reducing vehicle 

weight by 10kg cuts CO 2 

emissions by 1g/km. 

Use of PE+natural fibers 

New Megane’s dashboard insert in NAFilean - 

APM by the end of 2016 

1.270 kg saving 

with an additional 

cost of € 2.50 

per saved kg 

The choice of materials impacts directly on vehicle weight. 

To reduce weight, all families of materials must be taken 

into account: steels with high elasticity; light alloys, such as 

aluminum; composites; and plastics. 

Renault has taken steps to address this concern, starting in 

2016 with the use of PE filled with natural fibers (PE-NF) instead 

of talc or glass fibers, in semi-structural parts requiring a high 

rigidity, low impact resistance and a good thermal resistance. 

The use of PE-NF yields a weight saving of between 6 % and 20 %, 

thanks to a reduction of the thicknesses of the parts. 

In the new Megane, the use of Nafilean , a natural fiber 

composite produced by APM - Automotive Performance 

Materials (PE-Hemp 20 %), for a dashboard insert has enabled 

a weight reduction of 1.27 kg at an additional cost of 2.5 € per 

saved kg. 

Studies of other natural fibers, such as Miscanthus or 

Woodforce, are still in progress. 

The use of these specific biobased materials is also considered 

in the light of the end of life perspective. Their recycling process 

is taken into account. 


Automotive 

for the automotive industry? 

Improvement of durability 

As an example of a biobased material application to 

improve durability, Renault has adopted PA 6.10 and 10.10 for 

several under-the-hood parts, such as for the pipes of fuel 

supply system or brake system. These Bio-PA grades offer 

a good balance between technical and economic benefits, as 

well as very good chemical resistance, particularly in a fuel 

environment. 

Use of PA11, then PA 6.10 or PA 10.10 

• Technical and economic interest 

• Very good chemical resistance 

Under-the-hood parts 

Fuel pipe of 

fuel supply system 

or brake system 

Reduction of cost 

A good example to illustrate how using a biobased 

material can also lead to cost savings is Renault’s use of 

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation’s DURABIO . Durabio is 

a biobased engineering plastic made from plant-derived 

isosorbide. It combines an excellent performance - offering 

a better compromise between resistance to impact, heat, 

and light ageing than conventional engineering plastics - 

with additional benefits, including high reflective surfaces, 

hardness, enhanced durability and scratch resistance. 

Renault has adopted MCC’s Durabio biobased engineering 

plastic for the outer mask of the speedometer-tachometer 

combo in the new generation of its Clio cars. It was introduced 

on June 6, 2016. 

Using Durabio means that no coating process is required, 

which represents a cost saving of 0.40 € per part. 

This marks the first use of Durabio by a European automaker 

(MCC’s press release, August 2 nd , 2016) 

Increase of customer value 

Renault is striving to enhance the perceived quality of its 

new vehicles, was another factor driving the carmaker’s 

research into the use of biobased material. Renault is 

currently looking closely at biobased materials that could 

provide a aesthetics effect and / or an innovative touch 

and feel. 

For Renault, the use of biobased materials is closely 

linked to its polymers strategy. In this context, the 

company is not interested in drop-In biobased solutions 

to replace conventional plastics. New materials must 

provide additional benefits according to the main axes of 

the polymers strategy: durability, customer value, cost, 

and environment. 

The materials engineering department and 

biomaterials specialist need to follow up new innovative 

development of biobased material. To that end, the 

materials engineering department at Renault joined the 

Industry and Agro-resource (IAR) Cluster in November 

2016, which promotes exchanges and project launches. 

The IAR Cluster enables the development and testing 

of new technologies and products, based on a renewable 

approach. It therefore fosters the emergence of new 

markets and boosts companies’ competitiveness in the 

area of agro-resources. 

Under investigation 

• Specific aspect and touch feeling 

• Acoustic / thermal comfort 

Natural fibres, wood 

painting 

relatd products of other industries 

Use of DURABIO - Mitsubishi Chemical 

instead of ABS or ABS-PC + painting 

• Avoid the need of painting for durability 

• Very good micro scratch & impact resistance 

New Clio’s outer-mask 

Cost savings: 0.40 € per part 

Better high gloss surface 

Ecological design 

visible by customer 

By: 

Alexia Delsalle-Roma 

Biomaterials Specialist - Materials Innovation Leader 

Renault Group 

Guyancourt, France 

www.renault.com 



New ABS reinforced with 

natural fibres 

ELIX ABS-NF, an innovative material development from 

ELIX Polymers, is a wood-fibre reinforced ABS that was 

created as part of the company’s strategy to move towards 

a more sustainable product portfolio. Elix Polymers 

is a leading manufacturer of ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene- 

Styrene) resins and derivatives in Europe, headquartered in 

Tarragona, Spain 

Suitable for injection moulding applications, Elix ABS-NF 

offers excellent flowability, making fast and efficient mould 

filling possible. Even very thin walls can be produced easily. 

Moreover, fibre degradation levels are very low, despite shear 

heating. 

The selected wood fibre is a certified 100 % biobased 

product, non-seasonal and a by-product from an industrial 

process with consistent quality performance from batch-tobatch. 

Because the new material is based on ABS, it has generated 

a great deal of interest, especially from the automotive 

industry as, until now, polypropylene (PP) has been the most 

commonly used resin reinforced with natural fibres. The 

target applications for Elix ABS-NF are visible interior parts 

and semi-structural interior parts. 

For visible parts, the wood-like appearance offers interesting 

options, while when coloured, the material opens up new 

design possibilities with different surface textures. Possible 

applications are door trim panels and audio speaker covers. 

OEMs are looking at surface finishes of this kind especially 

for new electric cars; Elix Polymers is already working closely 

with the design departments of several automotive OEMs. 

For semi-structural parts, such as the center console 

carrier, ABS-NF can replace the glass-reinforced ABS that 

is currently used by some OEMs for these applications. 

ABS-NF’s improved stiffness means that the mechanical 

properties of the two materials are very similar. However, 

Elix’s ABS-NF boasts a density of only 1.12 g/cm³ , compared 

to 1.15 for conventional glass-fibre reinforced ABS, which 

translates to a 3 % weight reduction when opting for the new 

material. ABS-NF is more easily recycled than ABS-GF, yet 

retains its properties better than glass-filled ABS after several 

processing cycles, thanks to the lower fibre size reduction. 

Compared to other polymers reinforced with natural fibres 

Elix ABS-NF has a high heat stability Vicat B50 with over 

100 °C and a much better surface quality. Furthermore, the 

emissions are very low according to test results VDA 278 VOC 

= 2 / FOG = 45 μg/g (ppm), which meets the stringent OEM 

requirements. 

Having successfully caught the interest of the main 

automotive OEM’s with the new ABS-NF, Elix says that 

already,several tests are now running at interior Tier1 

suppliers and institutes for bioplastics. Driven by consumer 

demand for more sustainable products and the desire to 

reduce dependency on fossil resources, many other sectors 

have also expressed interest in this product, including the 

furniture industry, consumer goods, toys and the white goods 

industry. 

Elix Polymers was awarded the Frost&Sullivan new product 

innovation award for Automotive natural fibre composites for 

the development of this innovative product. The development 

of Elix ABS-NF was facilitated by the European Economic Area 

(EEA) and Norway Grants which is the first time in the industry 

where a company was supported by a European Grant towards 

developing sustainable ABS materials and composites. 

Through this, Elix Polymers has not only positioned itself 

as a leading supplier of eco-friendly ABS materials, but has 

also extended its commitment to develop an environmentally 

sustainable product portfolio. Elix Polymers holds a superior 

position in sustainability by ensuring an 8.8 % reduction in 

energy intensity and 2.56 % reduction in carbon footprint in 

manufacturing processes, both from 2014 to 2015. MT 

www.elix-polymers.com 


Automotive 

bio CAR 


CALL FOR PAPERS 

NOW OPEN 

biobased materials for 

automotive applications 

conference 

September 2017 

Stuttgart 

» The amount of plastics in modern cars is constantly increasing. 

» Plastics and composites help achieving light-weighting targets. 

» Plastics offer enormous design opportunities. 

» Plastics are important for the touch-and-feel and the safety of cars. 

ANZEIGE 

BUT: 

consumers, suppliers in the automotive industry and OEMs are more and more looking for biobased 

alternatives to petroleum based materials. 

That‘s why bioplastics MAGAZINE is organizing this new conference on biobased materials for 

the automotive industry. 

co-orgnized by 

in cooperation with 

www.bio-car.info 

supported by 

Media Partner


By: 

Erico Spini 

Marketing and Application Development Director Europe 

Radici Group Performance Plastics 

Chignlo d’Isola (BG), Italy 

New automotive 

applications 

for bio-PA 

Air brake pipes and tank breather hose 

made of biobased PA 6.10 

Fig 1: Extruded air pipe made of Radilon D 

40EP25ZW 333 BK for the pneumatic braking system 

of a truck (photo: RadiciGroup) 

Fig 2: Extruded heat and media-resistant car tank 

breather hose (blue) made of partially biobased 

PA6.10, in assembled state (photo: RadiciGroup) 

A more comprehensive version of this article was 

previously published in KUNSTSTOFFE 8/2016 

and can be found here 

http://tinyurl.com/naturally-effective 

In numerous areas of application, materials based on renewable 

resources can already replace plastics based on fossil raw materials 

and thus contribute to the more sustainable handling of 

resources. RadiciGroup Performance Plastics (Chignolo d’Isola, 

Italy), has commercialized a range of partially biobased PA 6.10 

types that are suitable for a wide variety of applications in many 

areas of industry. The examples selected here are an air brake 

pipe for trucks (Fig. 1) and a tank breather hose for passenger 

cars (Fig. 2) from Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA), (Orbassano, Italy). 

Both applications pose particularly high demands on material 

testing and approval procedures. 

Polyamide from renewable raw materials 

PA 6.10 is a partly biobased Polyamide made of petroleum based 

hexamethylene diamine and around 64 % biobased sebacic acid. 

Sebacic acid is obtained from the beans of the castor oil plant 

which is cultivated above all in India and China. Since it grows 

primarily on dry soil, it does not compete for the production of 

foodstuffs. 

Properties 

PA6.10 is a semi-crystalline polymer, available as both an 

injection molding grade and an extrusion grade. Furthermore, 

fillers, stabilizers and additives can be incorporated to finetune 

specific properties for a particular application. Among its 

outstanding characteristics are low water absorption, high heat 

resistance, very good chemical resistance and good mechanical 

properties. The water absorption of test bars according to ISO 62 on 

exposure to a standard climate (23 °C, 50 % relative humidity) and 

on immersion in water is shown in Figure 3. The water absorption 

on immersion is around a third of the value obtained with PA6 

and PA6.6. At 50 % relative humidity, the moisture absorption is 

somewhere between the values for PA6.6 and PA12. The biobased 

PA6.10 is thus suitable for most applications that call for good 

dimensional stability in moist environments. 

The melt and heat deflection temperature (HDT B) are in the 

range of PA6, but significantly higher than PA11 and PA12 (Fig.4). 

This is particularly important if the material is to be used as a 

substitute for PA11 and PA12, for example for applications in which 

the temperatures exceed those tolerated by PA12, as is the case with 

many diesel fuel lines in new cars. Furthermore, the polymer has 

very good chemical resistance (also in the presence of salts such 

as zinc chloride and calcium chloride), high hydrolysis resistance 

and, compared with PA6 and PA6.6, undergoes smaller changes in 

the mechanical properties after the absorption of moisture. 


Automotive 

Pneumatic brake lines 

For pneumatic brake systems air pipes, RadiciGroup has 

developed the extrusion grade Radilon D 40EP25ZW 333 BK 

(Fig. 1). The material has particularly high flexibility in order to 

facilitate installation of the pipes, which, especially with trucks, 

can reach a considerable length. Furthermore, it is heat-stabilized, 

which means that components made from it can be exposed to 

high temperatures even over a prolonged period. 

Based on the burst pressure curve up to a temperature of 

125 °C, the material is suitable according to ISO 7628 for lines at a 

nominal pressure of up to 10 bar and up to 12.5 bar. Figure 5 shows 

the burst pressure after the contact with media that trigger stress 

cracking, and after aging in artificial light. The corrosive solution 

is made up of 50 % water, copper chloride, sodium chloride, 

potassium chloride and zinc chloride. For aging in artificial light, 

the pipe was irradiated with xenon lamps for 750 h at 65°C. In this 

case, too, the burst pressure must be at least 80 % of the original 

value. 

Tank breather hoses 

As part of a joint project with FCA, RadiciGroup has developed 

a material that has similar properties to the material described 

above. At the request of the customer, the material is colored 

blue and is used for the production of tank breather hoses for 

cars (Fig. 2). Such parts are conventionally made of an impactmodified 

PA12 incorporating a plasticizer. 

During development of the material, particular attention was 

placed on the ease of processing via extrusion. Here, low part 

tolerances are essential. The corrugated tubes must, especially 

in the corrugated areas, comply with strict measuring tolerances 

as too thin areas in the wall can lead to failure of the component 

during operation. 

The part was subjected to a number of tests to determine its 

suitability for practical application. The component passed for 

example a pressure test at 2.5 bar before and after thermal aging 

at 90 °C for 168 h. The specimen also successfully passed the 

cold impact strength test using a free falling dart (2 kg weight, 

diameter of the hemispherical ended portion of the dart:10 mm) 

when dropped from a height of 400 mm and 500 mm after storage 

at -40 °C for 4 h. These tests were performed both on fresh new 

parts and on others that had been aged in hot air at 90 °C for 

168 h. Furthermore, a pull-off test was carried out on the hose 

and/ or connections both when new and after aging in fuel vapors 

at 60 °C over a period of 168 h. Subsequently, the specimen was 

bent by 180 °C in a radius corresponding to five times the outer 

diameter of the hose. After this, there was no visible damage, not 

even at the fixing points for the connections. 

Conclusions 

The example of PA6.10 shows that engineering plastics based to 

a large extent on renewable raw materials can replace materials 

of fossil origin even in technical parts. Specific formulations 

geared to the respective application help to meet or even exceed 

the requirements for the approval of critical components such as 

pneumatic brake pipes and tank breather hoses. Potential new 

applications are currently emerging through the demand for 

ever higher operating temperatures. Because of its high thermal 

resistance compared with materials used until now, additional 

possible applications in vehicle fuel systems could thus emerge 

for PA6.10. 

% 

10 

9 

8 

7 

6 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

PA6 PA 6.6 PA6.12 PA6.10 PA12 PA11 PPA 

Moisture Absorption 

Water Absorption 

Fig. 3: PA6.10 has, at 50% relative humidity, a much lower 

water absorption than PA6 and PA6.6 and is approximately 

the same as PA12 following water immersion 

(source: RadiciGroup) 

°C 

300 

250 

200 

150 

100 

50 

0 

PA6 PA 6.6 PA6.12 PA6.10 PA12 PA11 

HDT B value (at 0,45 MPa) 

Melting temperature 

Fig. 4: With PA6.10, the heat deflection temperature and 

melt temperature are in the range of PA6 and significantly 

higher than PA11 and PA12 (source: RadiciGroup) 

bar 

80 

70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 

60 

Burst pressure after stress cracking 

Minimum 40 bar 

for tubes with nominal 

pressure of 12.5 bar 

Minimum 32 bar 

for tubes with nominal 

pressure of 10.0 bar 

69 

Burst pressure after aging in artificial light 

Fig. 5: Burst pressure after exposure to media that trigger 

stress cracking, and after aging in artificial light (source: 

RadiciGroup) 

www.radicigroup.com 


Material-News 

New biodegradable plastic 

for horticultural applications 

Green Dot Bioplastics (Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, USA) has developed a new biodegradable biocomposite for horticultural 

applications made from reclaimed biobased feedstocks. 

What is more symbolic of sustainability than nurturing a healthy garden? Greenhouses and gardeners can now lessen the 

environmental impact of plastic pots with a new high-performing biodegradable plastic from Green Dot Bioplastics. 

Made from 80 % reclaimed and 80 % biobased material, Terratek ® BD2114 from Green Dot Bioplastics is a renewable and 

biodegradable alternative to traditional plastic pots. Reclaimed plant fibers serve as a visual reminder that this planter will safely 

return to nature once its useful life has ended. Biodegradation rates will vary according to environment and part size. 

Using biodegradable plantable pots made with Terratek BD2114 can reduce greenhouse water consumption by more than 80 %. 

Current compostable planters are most often made from paper, peat or cardboard. These absorbent materials allow water to quickly 

evaporate from potting soil, requiring growers to water plants more often. Terratek BD2114 does not absorb water, retaining moisture 

in the potting soil. 

Plantable pots made with Terratek BD2114 also provide advantages for retailers. The biocomposite plastic is more durable and has 

a longer shelf life compared to traditional biodegradable pots. The plastic can be easily colored to enhance product differentiation. 

Green Dot Bioplastics CEO, Mark Remmert explained, “Our new Terratek biodegradable biocomposite offers unique functional and 

aesthetic attributes with a lighter environmental footprint compared to horticulture containers currently in use.” 

Terratek BD2114 from Green Dot is an ideal material to make plantable pots or tree and shrub containers more sustainable. The 

company can provide custom formulations of biobased and biodegradable materials to fit all types of horticultural applications. MT 

www.GreenDotBioplastics.com 

AVALON Industries takes over all biobased 

chemistry activities from AVA-CO2 

AVALON Industries AG, the new entity of Swiss-based company AVA-CO2 Schweiz AG, announced in mid-December it is 

taking over all biobased chemistry activities from AVA-CO2 with immediate effect. 

In response to rapid application developments relating to biobased chemical 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and following 

increased 5-HMF demand from value chain partners, Avalon Industries was created to take advantage of new market 

opportunities and to prepare for future large-scale production in order to meet the huge demand of the rapidly growing market 

for biobased chemicals – specifically in the areas of bioplastics as well as biobased resins and adhesives. A subsidiary of AVA- 

CO2, Avalon Industries is taking over all operational activities from AVA-CO2 and will focus on the global implementation of 

the Hydrothermal Processing (HTP) technology for the industrial-scale production of 5-HMF. This technology was successfully 

developed and patented by AVA-CO2 over the last seven years. 

AVA Biochem BSL AG, the operator of the ‘Biochem-1’ production plant in Muttenz, Switzerland, becomes an Avalon Industries 

subsidiary and will continue to focus on 5-HMF production for the fine chemicals market. With this Avalon Industries is now 

taking control of the existing 5-HMF production capacity, as well as the expertise and know-how related to the proprietary HTP 

technology. In this constellation, Avalon Industries is fully equipped for the future successful, commercial, industrial-scale 

implementation of 5-HMF production. 

“We are excited about this new development, which brings us closer towards the large-scale commercialisation of 5-HMF 

and its downstream applications such as 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), Polyethylene Furanoate (PEF) as well as non-toxic, 

biobased resins and adhesives,” a spokesperson of Avalon mentioned in a press release. MT 

www.avalon-industries.com 


Material-News 

Material-News 

CO 2 

Cyanobacteria 

technology now 

suitable for PLA 

Photanol (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) is a 

platform renewable chemicals company that utilises 

proprietary engineered cyanobacteria to process carbon 

dioxide and sunlight into valuable chemical products. 

Photanol’s technology and patents are based on the 

genetic modification of cyanobacteria to produce a 

broad range of biochemicals. These bacteria are natural 

photosynthesizers, drawing energy from abundant and 

free sunlight on one hand, and carbon from abundant and 

problematic CO 2 

on the other. 

Biobased chemicals have faced challenges in continued 

penetration of the global market, relating to low fossil 

fuel prices, land/food discussions and major supply 

chain constraints. Cyanobacteria offer a much simpler, 

renewable pathway for chemical production and have 

the potential to emerge as the sustainable production 

platform for next-generation clean chemicals. 

Already suitable to produce over 15 chemical 

compounds, Photanol has now developed a pathway 

to produce Lactic Acid using their CO 2 

cyanobacteria 

photosynthesis technology which makes it possible to 

produce PLA bioplastics with many intrinsic advantages 

over feed stocks that are currently in use. 

Firstly, Photanol doesn’t require the use of arable land 

as the photobioreactor can be placed on waste land or 

deserts and is therefore non food-competing. The only 

thing needed is sufficient sunlight. Secondly, it absorbs 

CO 2 

which will not only provide an ecological benefit, it 

also creates potential value in terms of carbon credits. In 

addition, there will be no feedstock volatility and Photanol’s 

technology will be cost competitive with today’s feedstock. 

Having finalised the pilot stage, Photanol is preparing the 

construction and operation of a 20 tonnes Photobioreactor 

Demonstration Plant. Photanol is currently in discussion 

with parties in the biochemical and bioplastics industry 

and welcomes other value chain parties to join the 

Photanol consortium. MT 

www.photanol.com 


Report 

By: 

Sam Deconinck, Marketing & Sales Manager 

Bruno De Wilde, Lab Manager 

OWS 

Gent, Belgium 

25 years of 

bioplastics 

degradation 

testing 

A journey 

Inside (early days) 

OWS (Organic Waste Systems) is one of the world’s leading 

experts in biodegradability, compostability and ecotoxicity 

testing of different types of materials, including 

bioplastics. The Belgium-based company, with some 80 

employees and various laboratories, is housed in a beautifully 

restored building in the old harbour of Gent. The journey 

started in 1990 - right around the time when the first modern 

bioplastics entered the market. 

Slow but steady start 

Novon Polymers, Procter & Gamble and Novamont were 

OWS’s very first customers. Testing was performed at two 

laboratories compliant with the principles of Good Laboratory 

Practice (GLP), one at the head office in Gent, Belgium, the 

other located in Dayton, Ohio in the United States. 

As a result, OWS became one of the pioneers of the 

bioplastics industry. The company’s intensive participation in a 

number of standardization organizations, both at the national 

(ASTM and DIN) and international (CEN and ISO) level, led 

to the co-development over the past 25 years of several test 

methods and standard specifications on biodegradability 

and compostability. This resulted, among other things, in 

the publication of ISO 14855 and ISO 16929: test methods to 

determine the biodegradation and disintegration respectively 

under industrial composting conditions. 

Outside (today) 

Even though no specific standard specification on industrial 

compostability had yet been finalized at the time, Vinçotte, 

the Belgium-based certification institute, had already 

certified the first compostable material in 1995 under their 

OK Compost certification program. Two years later, European 

Bioplastics (then IBAW) and DIN CERTCO jointly introduced 

the Seedling logo. The Biodegradable Plastics Institute 

(BPI), the US counterpart of Vinçotte and DIN CERTCO, 

introduced its logo in 1999. Certification bureaus in Japan, 

Australia, Korea, Canada, etc. soon followed suit; OWS has 

been recognized by all certification bureaus worldwide now 

for many years. 

Early on, the focus was mainly on niche markets for which 

biodegradability and/or compostability was an asset, such as 

biowaste collection bags. This would rapidly change with the 

introduction of EN 13432. 

Significant growth 

It had taken several years and a substantial amount of 

time and the combined efforts of a number of parties, but in 


Report 

February 2001, the European standard EN 13432 on industrial 

compostability was published. The US equivalents ASTM 

D6400 and ASTM D6868 were introduced in, respectively, 

1999 and 2003. This resulted in a significant growth of the 

bioplastics industry, which ultimately led to OWS’s decision to 

concentrate its knowhow at a single site. The company closed 

down the laboratory in the US, invested in the laboratory 

in Gent and switched from GLP compliance to ISO 17025 

accreditation. 

With the expansion of the industry came also the next 

step in the market development. Biodegradable and 

compostable materials were now also being used for organic 

food packaging, matching the image of organic farming. 

Shortly after, bioplastics producers also began to target fast 

food restaurants, festivals, sport events, etc. as potential 

customers. 

At the same time, simple products like bags and single 

layer packaging were further optimized, resulting in more 

complex structures. Compostable materials started being 

used for pizza boxes, frozen food packaging and yoghurt 

cups; today, all kinds of short-life packaging are produced 

from compostable materials. Yet this also served to raise 

new issues. While EN 13432 perfectly prescribes what 

compostability entails, it no longer provided answers to 

questions such as: Do blends of already certified components 

need to undergo full testing? What to do with multi-layered 

structures? And what about inks, additives and adhesives? 

As a result, certification committees were introduced during 

which experts, including OWS, discuss how these new 

complex products needed to be tested to comply with EN 

13432. These are the so-called by-laws. 

Today, OWS has a team of 16 people working exclusively on 

biodegradability, compostability and ecotoxicity testing. 

Biodegradation in other environments 

However, in addition to compostability tests, OWS 

performed other kinds of tests as well. One of the first 

applications tackled by the industry was mulching films. 

A test method to quantify soil biodegradation had been 

developed in 1996 at ASTM level (ASTM D5988). Although it 

subsequently took until 2003 for the international equivalent, 

ISO 17556, to be published, the first certificates for soil 

biodegradable products were granted in 2000 by Vinçotte 

under their OK Biodegradable Soil certification program. 

Today, DIN CERTCO also has a similar certification scheme 

and accompanying certificate and logo. 

Similarly, certification schemes were also developed 

for materials and products that are home compostable or 

biodegradable in fresh water (for example, wet tissues and 

wrappers of dishwasher tablets). In recent years, however, 

marine degradation has received the most attention. Even 

though the only available test method (ASTM D7081) has been 

withdrawn, companies continue to work on developments in 

this field. 

What to expect in the next years 

Short-life packaging and consumer goods will further drive 

the compostable plastic industry in the coming years. Coffee 

capsules, for instance, are a very hot product nowadays and 

OWS has tested several tens of different coffee capsules from 

different companies in the past two to three years. Other 

products generating interest include multi-layered stand- 

Taking a test reactor out of the incubator 

Investigating the content of a composting bin 


Report 

up pouches, fruit stickers and agricultural products used for 

tree and root protection. 

Legislation is another very important driver. In March 

2016, France introduced national legislation requiring home 

compostability for all single use plastic bags (< 50µm). Food 

service ware has since been included in this legislation, and 

is required to be home compostable as of 2020. As a result, 

OWS has seen an exponential growth in home compostability 

testing requests, specifically for the French market. 

Also, at the European level, discussions are ongoing to 

incorporate specific requirements on soil biodegradation 

in the updated Soil Fertilizer Regulation. For instance, all 

major producers of controlled-release fertilizer coatings 

must therefore start investing in the development of soil 

biodegradable coatings. Today, OWS has already started 

working for some of the largest producers of controlledrelease 

coatings in the world, and is in contact with several 

other producers as well. 

“A compostable picnic” 

Anaerobic digestion plant 

Things are also changing in the US. Transparent certification 

schemes and by-laws have been in place in Europe for many 

years, but are unknown in the US. At the end of 2016, BPI 

established a Standards and Procedures Committee, with as 

first priority: the development of a certification scheme and 

set of by-laws. OWS is a member of this committee. 

Shift to “AD-able” plastics? 

Compostable products and their end-of-life characteristics 

perfectly match the European (bio)waste management scene. 

For many years, source-separated biowaste has been treated 

via industrial composting. EN 13432 compliant products 

can be processed by these systems and do not hinder the 

composting process. Furthermore, the separate collection of 

municipal biowaste is also expected to develop further. 

However, there is a clear shift in Europe from industrial 

composting to anaerobic digestion when it comes to the 

biological treatment of organic household waste. Anaerobic 

digestion is a form of organic recycling, just like industrial 

composting. Yet, with the production of biogas, which can be 

converted to electricity, it is also a form of energy recycling. 

As a result, more and more industrial composting plants 

are looking at the possibility of expanding their capacity 

with an anaerobic digestion plant, both in Europe and in the 

US, where they seem to switch directly from landfilling to 

anaerobic digestion. 

While industrial composting is a fairly simple and robust 

treatment, anaerobic digestion is complex and has several 

varying parameters which can influence the conditions (wet 

vs. dry, mesophilic vs. thermophilic temperature, one stage 

vs. two stages, etc.). For instance, OWS’s patented DRANCO 

technology is a dry, thermophilic one stage process. As a 

result, not all compostable plastics (bio)degrade under these 

conditions. This could be a problem. Therefore, as part of the 

European FP7 project Open-Bio (see link below), OWS codeveloped 

a test method and standard specification for so 

called “AD-able” plastics. A representative test method has 

been defined, and criteria have been set. Both documents 

have been transferred to CEN, and, once validated, could add 

an extra driver to this already rapidly growing industry. 

www.ows.be 

www.biobasedeconomy.eu/research/open-bio 


ioplastics MAGAZINE [01/17] Vol. 12 25

Application News 

The world’s first biocomposite car 

Students from Netherlands-based Eindhoven University of 

technology have built a 4-seat electric car weighing a slender 

300 kg – made from a flax sandwich material with a PLA core. 

It is the first time a car body structure has been made from a 

biocomposite. 

As reducing vehicle weight took over as a priority in the 

design and production of new cars, carmakers have increasingly 

resorted to the use of light materials, such as aluminium and 

carbon-fiber composites, for the body chassis structural parts. 

The TU/ecomotive team of students responsible for the design 

of the car called Lina, however, chose a different solution. Using 

sandwich panels comprised of flax-based composite with a PLA 

honeycomb core for Lina’s chassis, they have shown that biobased 

materials can deliver the required strength, without the 

weight, needed for an energy-efficient, light-weight, modern-day 

connected urban minicar. 

They call their approach, characterized by their drive to 

consume the least possible about of energy during production 

through the use of sustainable materials, “reduction during 

production”. Efficient and practical, Lina offers a sustainable 

choice, from cradle to grave. 

A redesigned battery pack from Nova will make swapping 

batteries easy and convenient, while paving the way for new 

battery technologies. In response to the recent car sharing trend, 

the latest NFC technology has also been incorporated into Lina: 

users gain access to the car using a smartphone or a card with 

an NFC chip. The car will recognize the user by the unique NFC 

code, and activate his or her personal user settings, such as 

playlists, frequent destinations or telephone contacts. 

Visualisation by DD COM (www.ddcom.nl) 

The next step is to put Lina through her paces out on the street. To that end, the car will undergo an inspection at the RDW 

Netherlands Vehicle Authority to receive a licence number, which will enable the car to be driven on the public roads. Lina will 

be presented some time before the summer of 2017. KL 

www.tuecomotive.nl 

Toothbrush handle from PLA compound 

The latest toothbrush handles made by Morbach, Germanybased 

SWAK Experience UG are produced from a biobased 

plastic developed by the Junior Research Group at the 

Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites of the University 

of Applied Sciences and Arts Hanover, Germany. Here, a team 

of scientists have successfully modified a PLA-based plastic, 

such that it is now suitable for daily use in dental care. 

The handle is produced mainly from renewably-sourced 

materials from GMO-free feedstocks, thus meeting all the 

requirements of SWAK, the manufacturer of the toothbrush 

and a company that aims, wherever possible, to provide their 

customers with sustainable options to promote oral health. 

For better handling, the injection moulded handle is slightly 

angled, similar to the dental instruments used by dentists. 

While the handle is intended to last as long as possible, 

the brush heads must be regularly changed. These are 

made from the wood of the toothbrush tree, also called 

Miswak (Salvadora persica), which has been used in the Arab 

world for centuries to clean teath. Miswak wood is a natural 

source of fluoride and other minerals that are beneficial to 

dental health. 

The scientists of the Junior Research Group are working 

in close consultation with company of SWAK to optimize the 

handle material and the production process. The goal is to 

increase the biobased content of the material of the handle, 

as well as to explore the use of natural fibres. MT 

www.fng.ifbb-hannover.de | www.swak.de 


Application News 

Shellfish chemistry to create 

new biodegradable adhesive 

Compostable black 

lids for hot drinks 

A new type of adhesive that combines the bonding chemistry of 

shellfish with a bio-based polymer has been shown to perform as well as 

commercially available products and can be easily degraded, representing 

a potential non-toxic alternative. 

“Adhesives releasing toxins including carcinogenic formaldehyde are 

almost everywhere in our homes and offices. The plywood in our walls, 

the chairs we sit on, and the carpet beneath our feet are all off-gassing 

reactive chemicals” said Jonathan Wilker, a professor of chemistry and 

materials engineering at Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana, 

USA). “Most of these glues are also permanent, preventing disassembly 

and recycling of electronics, furniture and automobiles. In order to 

develop the next generation of advanced adhesives we have turned to 

biology for inspiration.” 

Mussels extend hair-like fibers that attach to surfaces using plaques 

of adhesive. Proteins in the glue contain the amino acid DOPA, which 

harbors the chemistry needed to facilitate the cross-linking of protein 

molecules, providing strength and adhesion. Purdue researchers have 

now combined this bonding chemistry of mussel proteins with PLA The 

adhesive was created by harnessing the chemistry of compounds called 

catechols, contained in DOPA. 

“We found the adhesive bonding to be appreciable and comparable to 

several petroleum-based commercial glues,” Wilker said. 

“Results presented (in a research paper published online Jan. 4 in 

the journal Macromolecules) show that a promising new adhesive system 

can be derived from a renewable resource, display high-strength bonding, 

and easily degrade in a controlled fashion,” Wilker said. “Particularly 

unique was the ability to debond this adhesive under mild conditions.” 

“The detrimental health and environmental effects of synthetic glues 

are becoming more of a concern, with alternatives being developed,” 

Wilker said. “Renewable, nontoxic, and removable adhesives are thus in 

great demand to decrease our exposure to pollutants as well as waste in 

landfills.” A YouTube video is available at https://youtu.be/v4cdfWPCi8o. 

The researchers tested the adhesive by measuring the force needed 

to pull apart metal and plastic plates bonded together, finding that it 

compared favorably with various commercial products. Unlike synthetic 

glues, however, the adhesive can be easily degraded in water. MT 

Vegware, headquartered in Edinburgh, 

Scotland, is a manufacturer and visionary 

brand, and the only completely compostable 

packaging company operating globally. End of 

last year Vegware launched compostable black 

lids for hot cups. 

“We made the lids to meet demands of the 

artisan coffee market and contract caterers 

for a black lid that looks great, but doesn’t 

compromise on eco credentials, Our customers 

have been asking for compostable black lids 

for years – we’re delighted to launch them.” 

Vegware’s Sales Director, Teresa Suter, says. 

Sleek and stylish, the matte-finish lids can 

withstand heat up to 85°C. Made from plantbased 

CPLA (crystallised PLA), the black lids 

are certified compostable and 67 % lower in 

embodied carbon than conventional plastic lids. 

The new black lids are available in two 

sizes to fit 8 – 20oz cups. Like all of Vegware’s 

packaging, they’re designed to be recycled with 

food waste. MT 

www.vegware.com 

Purdue graduate student Heather Siebert tests the adhesive. 

(Purdue University photo/Erin Easterling) 

www.purdue.edu 


From Materials Science and Research 

How prawn shopping bags 

could save the planet 

Bioengineers at The University 

of Nottingham (UK) are trialling 

how to use shrimp shells 

to make biodegradable shopping bags, 

as a green alternative to oil-based plastic, 

and as a new food packaging material 

to extend product shelf life.The new material 

for these affordable eco-friendly bags is being optimised 

for Egyptian conditions, as effective waste management 

is one of the country’s biggest challenges. 

An expert in testing the properties of materials, Dr Nicola 

Everitt from the Faculty of Engineering at Nottingham, is 

leading the research together with academics at Nile 

University in Egypt. 

“Non-degradable plastic packaging is causing 

environmental and public health problems in Egypt, 

including contamination of water supplies which 

particularly affects living conditions of the poor,” explains 

Dr Everitt. 

Turning the problem into the solution 

This new project aims to turn shrimp shells, which are a 

part of the country’s waste problem into part of the solution. 

Dr Everitt said: “Use of a degradable biopolymer made of 

prawn shells for carrier bags would lead to lower carbon 

emissions (…). It could also make exports more acceptable 

to a foreign market within a 10-15-year time frame. All 

priorities at a national level in Egypt.” 

Degradable nanocomposite material 

The research is being undertaken to produce an 

innovative biopolymer nanocomposite material which is 

degradable, affordable and suitable for shopping bags and 

food packaging. 

Chitosan is a man-made polymer derived from the organic 

compound chitin, which is extracted from shrimp shells, 

first using acid (to remove the calcium carbonate backbone 

of the crustacean shell) and then alkali (to produce the long 

molecular chains which make up the biopolymer). The dried 

chitosan flakes can then be dissolved into solution and 

polymer film made by conventional processing techniques. 

Chitosan was chosen 

because it is a promising 

biodegradable polymer 

already used in pharmaceutical 

packaging due to its antimicrobial, 

antibacterial and biocompatible 

properties. The second strand of the 

project is to develop an active polymer film that 

absorbs oxygen. 

Enhancing food shelf life and cutting food waste 

This future generation food packaging could have the 

ability to enhance food shelf life with high efficiency and 

low energy consumption, making a positive impact on food 

wastage in many countries. If successful, Dr Everitt plans 

to approach UK packaging manufacturers with the product. 

Additionally, the research aims to identify a production 

route by which these degradable biopolymer materials for 

shopping bags and food packaging could be manufactured. 

Acknowledgement 

The project is sponsored by the Newton Fund and the 

Newton-Mosharafa Fund grant and is one of 13 Newtonfunded 

collaborations for The University of Nottingham. MT 

www.nottingham.ac.uk 

Chitosan film made from shrimp shell in the early developmental 

phase (picture courtesy of University of Nottingham) 


Book Review 

Keratin-based 

Biomaterials 

and 

Bioproducts 

Soy-based 

Bioplastics 

One of the most economical and practical approaches 

to develop bioproducts including bioplastics is to 

use abundant low-cost agricultural byproducts and 

coproducts. Residues left after harvesting food crops, byproducts 

generated during production of biofuels, and 

conversion of animals and plants into food are some of the 

readily available raw materials suitable for development of 

bioproducts. 

Keratins are unique biopolymers that have distinct 

structure, properties and applications. Keratins are the 

major constituents in hairs, feathers, claws, hooves 

and other parts in humans and animals. Unlike many 

body parts, keratins are dispensable and are removed 

periodically. Examples include hairs and nails. Although 

keratins have unique functionality and structure, there are 

limited industrial uses of keratin. Keratin is 

being used commercially 

in cosmetics and some 

medicines. However, 

substantial amounts of 

keratinaceous materials 

are being disposed as waste 

in landfills. 

This book presents the 

structure and properties of 

keratin and their possible 

applications. Information 

in this book will be useful 

to researchers in academia 

and industry working on 

bioproducts and also on tissue 

engineering and drug delivery. 

Brief information on the products developed has also 

been included. Researchers, students, agriculturists, 

and farmers will be able to understand the potential of 

developing various keratin-based bioproducts. 

You can buy the books 

through us: 

http://tinyurl.com/bm201701 

Soy and its coproducts are rapidly emerging as one of 

the most prominent sustainable plastics of the 21 st 

century. The relative abundance of soy and its functional 

and thermoplastic properties, low cost, and biodegradable 

characteristics have made it a material of great 

interest for widespread use in the plastics industry. As most 

of the functional properties of the final products are directly 

related to the physico-chemical properties of the raw material, 

a detailed knowledge of the inherent characteristics 

of soy-based materials is essential for understanding and 

manipulating their properties for better end-user applications. 

This book summarises in a most comprehensive 

manner the recent technical research accomplishments 

in the area of soy-based bioplastics. The prime aim and 

focus of this book is to 

present recent advances 

in the processing and 

applications of soybased 

biopolymers as 

potential bioplastics. 

It reflects recent 

theoretical advances and 

experimental results, 

and opens new avenues 

for researchers as well 

as readers working in 

the field of plastics and 

sustainable materials. 

The different topics 

covered in this book 

include: structural 

analysis of soy-based materials; soy/biopolymer blends; 

films, fibres, foams, and composites; and different 

advanced applications. In addition, several critical issues 

and suggestions for future work are comprehensively 

discussed in the hope that the book will provide a deep 

insight into the state of the art of soy-based bioplastics. 

The book is unique, with contributions from leading 

experts in the bioplastics research area, and is a useful 

reference for scientists, academics, research scholars, and 

technologists. 

www.smithersrapra.com 


From Materials Science and Research 

Chitosan-based polymer 

developed to patch wounds 

Remember Shrilk, anyone? The chitosan bioplastic 

made from natural insect cuticle, such as that found 

in the rigid exoskeleton of a housefly or grasshopper, 

first developed in 2011 by a team of researchers from the 

Wyss Institute at Harvard? Well, they’ve done it again, but 

this time it’s an innovative, chitosan-based wound closure 

technique. 

Moving on from bioplastic, Wyss Institute Founding 

Director Donald Ingber and Javier Fernandez have devoted 

efforts to extending chitosan’s usefulness into the clinical 

realm. “What’s good for the environment is also good 

for us,” said Javier Fernandez, who first developed a 

chitosan bioplastic called ‘Shrilk’ with Ingber back in 2014 

(see bM 03/2014). 

The researchers recently unveiled a new study in the 

journal Tissue Engineering that demonstrates biodegradable 

chitosan bioplastics can be used to bond bodily tissues to 

repair wounds or even to hold implanted medical devices in 

place. As chitosan is already approved for clinical use and 

it has antimicrobial properties, the approach could one day 

be utilized to immediately seal tissue tears or other serious 

injuries, preventing infection from setting in before a patient 

can be moved to a hospital for more in-depth care. 

“This work really spans the entire mission of the Wyss, 

as we have developed a biomaterial that could be used in 

sustainable consumer products and packaging or, as we 

now show, be adapted for clinical uses,” said Fernandez, the 

first author on the new study, who is a former Wyss Institute 

Postdoctoral Fellow and is currently an Assistant Professor 

at Singapore University of Technology and Design. “The 

material is non-toxic and biodegradable, leaving behind no 

trace once it has served its purpose.” 

To adapt chitosan to seal wounds and surgical incisions, 

Ingber and Fernandez searched for a way to quickly and 

tightly bond chitosan materials to living tissues. They 

zeroed in on transglutaminase (TG), a naturally occurring 

enzyme found in the body – where it keeps skin strong and 

strengthens blood clots – that has also been adopted to 

bond proteins together during commercial food processing. 

“As we started thinking about going in vivo, we faced 

the challenge of how to adhere chitosan to living tissues,” 

said senor author Ingber, M.D., Ph.D. “We explored using 

different formulations of transglutaminase to bond various 

forms of chitosan materials, including sheets, foams and 

sprays, to many different types of tissues.” 

A sheet of chitosan may be applied with a transglutaminase 

powder to patch wounds, as the team demonstrated using 

an ex vivo porcine intestine with a large hole in it. A pressure 

test revealed that the chitosan patch was even stronger 

than the native intestinal tissue. 

For the spray, a stream of liquid chitosan and liquid 

transglutaminase combine during application to quickly 

bond chitosan to tissue and close wounds. The team used 

this approach to seal a porcine lung that had sustained a 

puncture wound while it was cyclically insufflated with air 

to mimic inspiration and expiration. The spray application 

could also be useful for covering large areas of vulnerable 

tissue, like might be found on someone whose skin had 

sustained serious burns. 

To treat even larger and more traumatic wounds like those 

that might occur on the battlefield or during a motor vehicle 

accident, Ingber and Fernandez formulated a chitosan foam 

that could potentially be used to fill and seal larger wound 

cavities until a patient can be transported to a hospital for 

surgical intervention. 

The team’s findings also suggest that their approach 

could be tailored to bond inorganic surfaces – which make 

up crucial components of many different kinds of biomedical 

implants and microfluidic devices – to tissue or chitosan. 

“Right now our approach is very general, but we could 

theoretically take this concept and adapt it into almost any 

form imaginable for a broad number of possible uses,” said 

Fernandez. 

Looking ahead, the team hopes to develop an array of 

specific applications through collaboration with clinical 

partners. 

Additional co-authors on the study include Wyss Institute 

researchers Suneil Seetharam, Christopher Ding, and 

Edward Doherty. KL 

In this image of chitosan foam bonded to a one-centimeter-long 

defect in explanted porcine muscle, the foam is so well adhered to 

the muscle that it is notably difficult to distinguish the transition 

between chitosan foam and native tissue. (photo: Wyss Institute at 

Harvard University) 

www.wyss.harvard.edu 


ioplastics MAGAZINE [01/17] Vol. 12 31

Foam 

Starch based particle foam for 

biodegradable packaging 

Thanks to a new processing technique, foamable particles 

that are based on renewable resources can be processed 

into individual molded parts, e. g. for utilization 

as packaging material. Subsequent to use, the foam parts 

are compostable. 

Due to their product properties – light-weight, insulating, 

form-fitting – particle foams can be utilized, among 

other areas, in the automotive, logistics, and packaging 

sectors. Conventional foams, made of – for example – EPS 

(expanded polystyrene) or EPP (expanded polypropylene), are 

based on fossil source materials and are manufactured in 

molding machines with the help of steam and the effects of 

temperature and pressure. Jointly with the project partners 

Loick Biowertstoff and Storopack Deutschland as well as 

the Institute for Food and Environmental Research (ILU), 

Fraunhofer UMSICHT has developed an alternative that 

consists primarily of vegetable starch and water. Additional 

additives can supplement the formulation. 

“Our task was to manufacture starch particles that are as 

sustainable and biodegradable as possible that correspond 

to conventional, petro-chemically based particles in their 

properties’ profile,” explained Stephan Kabasci, Head of the 

Department Biobased Plastics at Fraunhofer UMSICHT. With 

an eye on the existing packaging market, the pricing also 

had to be taken into consideration in the selection of the 

components of the formulation. 

Temperature-controlled slab press 

In multiple series of tests with the novel starch particles, 

different foaming processes were tested. In direct comparison, 

a temperature-controlled slab press provided for the best 

results. For this, the starch particles are filled into a forming 

tool and fixated between two slabs for a specified time under 

pressure. So-called injection compression molds and/or 

die tools that feature a punch protruding into the negative 

mold are being utilized. This allows for a direct build-up of 

pressure in the direction of the particles located in the mold. 

For the expansion effect of the material, the pressure is a 

decisive factor in addition to the correct temperature-control 

that effects the formation of steam. 

Then the distance between the two slabs is being increased 

and the cooling off of the die tool is being initiated. This 

cooling-down process is carried out under counter-pressure 

so that the starch particles can expand, however not beyond 

the desired geometry of the molded part. “This way, we 

can manufacture compact molded parts with a closed and 

flat surface,” said Kabasci. Through water pressure and 

contact pressure, multiple molded parts can be glued to one 

another and additional geometries can be realized through 

cutting. Areas of use are, for example, edge protection for 

the transport of goods that are sensitive to shock, productprotecting 

spacers in packaging, or the replacement of 

polystyrene-based floral arrangement foams. 

www.umsicht.fraunhofer.de 

Molded foam parts glued together with water. 

Bisected molded foam part made of starch particles. 

fill conclude press expand remove 

(Photos and graph by Fraunhofer UMSICHT 


Foam 

The biodegradable foam 

market in China 

By: 

John Leung 

Consultant, Biosolutions 

Hongkong 

(source:Fotolia) 

Although biodegradable plastics first appeared on the 

market over 15 years ago, these plastics still only 

have a share of less than 1 % of the total plastics 

market. The reality is that the cost of some biodegradable 

plastics is more than double that of conventional plastics, 

while their general performance is 20 % lower than comparable 

plastics. Despite strong governmental support in 

some countries, the major market for biodegradable plastics 

is limited to bio-waste collection bags for food waste 

and garden waste. At the end of life, these bags can be 

industrially composted or processed via anaerobic digestion, 

to produce biogas and organic fertilizer. Biodegradable 

plastics are also used for nursery pots used to transplant 

seedlings, as clearing non-degradable plastic containers 

from the soil after harvest is very expensive and the complete 

removal of these containers is impossible. From the 

above, it can be concluded that, if biodegradable plastics 

are to break through, applications should be found which 

are cost competitive with existing products and can provide 

better performance. 

One such application is a biodegradable foam cup to replace 

existing LDPE-coated paper cups. The market price of a 

13 oz. (385 ml) paper cup with LDPE lamination is RMB 0.2 

(EUR 0.027) a piece. Made from biodegradable foam, the 

weight of this same 13 oz. cup can be reduced to 5 g, and the 

cost to RMB 0.16 (EUR 0,02) a piece - but with the following 

comparative advantages. 

Plastic foam is an excellent insulation material; cups 

containing hot liquids made from plastic foam are therefore 

far more comfortable for customers to hold. In addition, hot 

beverages can be kept hot – and ice cream for example can be 

kept cold - for a much longer time. 

The PLA-based foam referred to in the above application is 

biodegradable according to the European standard EN13432 

and has a biobased content that is higher than 80 %. 

In the past, the Chinese government has supported 

biodegradable mulch film projects in the provinces of Yunnan 

and Xinguang. The provinces of Hainan and Jinlin have special 

legislation in place for the application of biodegradable 

shopping bags. A rubbish classification system has been 

initiated in every city in China and at least five cities have already 

launched trial scale anaerobic digestion lines. Those five cities 

are Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Wuhan. 

Although China today accounts for less than 1 % of the global 

consumption of biodegradable products, its strong economic 

growth, huge population and clear government ambition make 

it the biggest potential market for biodegradable products. 

China’s Legal and Reforms Committee have watched the 

biodegradable market for more than 10 years. They are highly 

interested in the biodegradable foam technology presented 

and expect to replace PS foam trays in supermarkets and 

single use serviceware. 

Guizhou Province will be enacting laws that make the use 

of biodegradable foam for serviceware compulsory in tourist 

regions. Since Guizhou Province is one of the poorest areas in 

China, the China Poverty Relief Fund will fund 100 % of cost of 

a model factory in Guizhou. lt will provide over 150 permanent 

job positions. 

Due to the different political system, legislation processes 

can be very fast in China. 

Biodegradable foam products are expected to enter the 

market in the course of 2017. 


Foam 

PLA based particle foam 

The first CO 2 

neutral foam in the world with Cradle to Cradle certification. 

Synbra Technology is currently finalising the certification of 

the world’s first particle foam to receive a Carbon Neutrality 

verification in compliance with the PAS 2060 standard. 

BioFoam ® is a fully biobased particle foam made from 

renewable resources (PLA based). Already starting up in 2006, 

Synbra Technology invented, developed and patented this 

unique material. Through its converting companies, Synbra 

Group wants to become the leading supplier of sustainable and 

biodegradable particle foam. 

Synbra Group companies, such as IsoBouw, Synprodo, 

Plastimar and Styropack, are already using the BioFoam 

material in series production for the white goods sector, ice 

cream packaging and the pharmaceutical sector, amongst 

others. Besides its own production facilities, Synbra is setting 

up a network of pioneering partner companies in the USA, the 

UK, Italy and is seeking coverage in other strategic markets. 

The existing distribution and production network already offers 

BioFoam moulded products as a valuable and sustainable 

addition to the existing range of particle foam products. 

About PLA & BioFoam: 

Based on renewable resources, BioFoam is extremely 

environmentally friendly. After use BioFoam can be either reformed 

into a new foam product or recycled into solid PLA. 

Besides that it’s got the unique possibility to be fully composted. 

Since 2009 BioFoam is a C2CCM (Silver) certified foam – the 

first foam to obtain this certification. It is already used in many 

applications and has become a driver for product innovation 

within many industries (see also the cases below). Some recent 

applications are Alabastine (Akzo Nobel) trays for tubes (DIY 

market), Zandonella ice-cream box (Germany), Greeny icecream 

box (Italy), Cryostore (cold chain boxes), IsoBouw (Deco- 

Bio) and Termokomfort (BioFoam pearls). 

BioFoam and LCA – Life Cycle Analysis 

The peer reviewed BioFoam LCA was originally prepared 

by Akzo Nobel Sustainable Development in October 2010. 

It was updated by thinkstep AG in September 2016 (see 

Table 1). Through the use of biomass, short-cycle CO 2 

is used 

for the growth of plants, and this contributes to the reduction 

of the greenhouse effect, which constitutes in itself again a 

compensation for a part of the emissions further in the chain. 

This production chain includes transport, fermenting lactic 

acid and lactide production and PLA polymerisation, where 

electricity, gas and oil are used. The entire chain is, therefore, 

still not Carbon Neutral. It is exactly known how much emission 

takes place, and in which manufacturing step it takes place. This 

applies to CO 2 

emission, but also for other emission sources, 

which are important for a Life-Cycle-Analysis 

In the development process, Synbra Technology has always 

aimed at the most sustainable solutions possible. And with a high 

interest from both large retail chains and producers, Synbra has 

put extra effort into making BioFoam CO 2 

neutral. Please note 

for sake of clarity, it is not emission neutral. But the emissions 

related to CO 2 

emissions of gas are compensated annually with 

CO 2 

certificates and in this way the emissions related to the 

BioFoam productions becomes neutral. The emissions related 

to CO 2 

emissions remaining in the value chain and which does 

not fall under their direct influence, Synbra compensates for the 

full 100 %. The certificates are available in different quality levels. 

Synbra has chosen the highest level: Gold Standard certificates. 

Electricity used is derived from hydropower. 

Environmentally friendly and CO 2 

-neutral 

During composting, biodegradable blends of fossil and 

biobased plastics on the market, still may release fossil CO 2 

, 

this is not the case for BioFoam, which is fully biobased. It was 

the first foam to be awarded the Cradle to Cradle CM certificate 

and has also received a material health certificate from EPEA - 

Hamburg, Germany certifying that BioFoam is free from any 

CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic) substance. 

Unlike any other particle foam on the market, only CO 2 

(taken 

from the atmosphere) is used as a blowing agent. No VOC’s are 

emitted during production. BioFoam is a certified food-approved 

Application example: white goods buffer. 

Application example: colorFabb 3D printing reel 


Foam 

Buss Laboratory Kneader MX 30-22 

Foam 

By: 

Jan Noordegraaf - Synbra Technology, Etten Leur, The Netherlands 

Peter de Bruijn - Synprodo, Wijchen,The Netherlands 

Anette Priess Gade - Styropack, Glejbjerg, Denmark 

material. Without addition of a flame retardant it meets the 

Euro class E fire standard. 

New product developments 

In December 2016 BioFoam E-PLA has been approved 

as a material that can be used in the entire range of a large 

furniture retail chain and has also been approved as filler 

protection in furniture products. In January 2017 it was 

approved as a buffer protection material by several white 

goods producers. 

ColorFabb, Venlo, The Netherlands, Europe’s leading 

and most innovative 3D wire printing producer has chosen 

to introduce BioFoam reels instead of the much heavier 

polycarbonate injection moulded reels. This reduced the reel 

weight by 80 %, saving weight in internet shipping. In addition 

after its use the reel can be composted or brought back to a 

distribution hub for regrinding and re-extrusion into 3D wire. 

Synbra is working actively on further breakthrough 

developments in substrates, fish boxes and leisure 

applications. 

www.biofoam.nl | www.synbra-technology.nl 

www.synprodo.nl | www.styropack.dk 

indicator 

Non-Renewable 

Energy Use, MJ 

Renewable Energy 

Use MJ 

Carbon Footprint, kg 

CO 2 

-Equiv. 

Acidification,kg SO 2 

- 

Equiv. 

Photochemical 

Oxidant Formation, 

kg Ethene-Equiv. 

Eutrophication, kg 

Phosphate-Equiv. 

1 kg of moulded 

BioFoam 

1 kg of moulded 

BioFoam 

(compensated) 

35.6 35.6 

56.8 56.8 

1.74 0.00 

0.0337 0.0337 

0.00262 0.00262 

0.0107 0.0107 

Table 1: The CO 2 

offsetting is not included in the GABI LCA 

i-report. In the Technical Specification “ISO/TS 14067:2013 

Greenhouse gases -- Carbon footprint of products 

-- Requirements and guidelines for quantification and 

communication” it is stated that “The CFP (Carbon Footprint) 

and the partial CFP shall not include offsetting.” (chapters 

3.1.1.4. and 6.3.4.1.). Also for example in the PCR (Product 

Category Rules) of the German EPD system (IBU) it is specified 

that “IBU does not allow CO 2 

certificates to be included in 

the quantification of the global warming potential.” (chapter 

5.5.8, see attachment p.17). Based on these methodological 

guidance documents thinkstep does not recommend to include 

the offsetting into the calculations but to communicate it in 

a qualitative way to show your commitment. The table below 

summarises this in a transpararent way. 

Buss Kneader Technology 

Leading Compounding Technology 

for heat and shear sensitive plastics 

For more than 60 years Buss Kneader technology 

has been the benchmark for continuous preparation 

of heat and shear sensitive compounds – 

a respectable track record that predestines this 

technology for processing biopolymers such 

as PLA and PHA. 

> Uniform and controlled shear mixing 

> Extremely low temperature profile 

> Precise temperature control 

> High filler loadings 

Buss AG 

Switzerland 

www.busscorp.com 


Foam 

New 

compostable 

particle foam 

BASF presents ecovio ® EA with high 

bio-based content for packaging 

solutions 

During K-fair 2016, BASF launched its new innovative expandable 

ecovio ® EA particle foam. This product is predominantly 

biobased (>70 %) and, like all of the grades 

under the ecovio brand, it supports the biological cycle through 

its certified compostability. 

ecovio EA is a patented product made out of BASF’s 

biodegradable polyester ecoflex ® type and Polylactic acid (PLA). 

It is the first expandable, closed cell particle foam developed 

as a drop-in solution for Expandable Polystyrene (EPS) and 

Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) customers. By utilizing an 

innovative continuous process, the ecovio polymer is charged 

with the blowing agent pentane to produce expandable beads. 

These expandable ecovio EA beads are shipped globally using 

a standard EPS octabin packaging. Under ambient storage 

conditions, these beads have a shelf-life of more than 6 months 

without any quality impairment. 

BASF 

Convertors OEM‘s 

End of life 

steam 

steam 

Expandable beads 

Foam beads 

Shape molded parts 

Compostable 

Drop-in processing solution for EPS customers 

The major advantage of this product is that the convertors can 

use their existing machineries to process ecovio EA. 

ecovio EA enables trouble-free pre-expansion of the beads 

on conventional EPS pre-expanders. The foam density can be 

adjusted by simply tuning the steaming time and temperature. 

The minimum density of 23 g/l can be achieved in a one-step 

and above 16 g/l in a two-step expansion. It also expands at 

least three times faster than EPS, which leads to significantly 

lower steam consumption and faster production cycle times. The 

subsequent shape moulding can also be done using EPS or EPP 

machines. The innovative blend recipe with modified ecoflex acts 

as an in-situ hot melt adhesive which facilitates superior bead 

fusion of shape moulded parts and leads to good surface quality. 

In some cases, the mould needs to be adapted/modified to 

process ecovio EA foam beads due to different shrinkage than 

EPS and EPP. The major requirement of the mould is to provide a 

sufficient number of filling injectors as to achieve good filling and 

evenly distributed steam holes add to a perfect part appearance 

and performance. By doing so, high quality ecovio foam products 

can be produced continuously on standard commercial machines. 


Foam 

By: 

Bangaru Sampath 

Global Technical Marketing Manager 

BASF SE 

Ludwigshafen, Germany 

Biobased content between 60% and 80% 

The major benefits for the convertors/moulders 

include 

• Utilization of their existing machineries (no major 

investment needed) 

• Low transportation cost due to shipment and storage of 

high density beads (density 700 g/l) 

• Foaming to all desired density ranges whenever required 

• Full flexibility in terms of density and complex dimension 

of shape moulded parts 

• Less energy consumption during foam processing 

Performance and applications 

ecovio EA foam offers better thermal and chemical 

resistance in comparison to EPS and its outstanding 

mechanical properties boast very good energy absorption 

and resilience even when subjected to multiple, heavy 

impacts. These excellent properties make it particularly 

suitable for transport packaging for heavy, high-value or 

delicate goods (e.g. washing machines, television screens) 

where a high level of impact resistance and robustness is 

vital. The foam application can also be extended for its use in 

the food packaging sector due to its good thermal insulation 

performance. For example, to maintain the cooling chain at 

all times for temperature-sensitive goods such as packaged 

vegetables, fruit, meat, frozen goods or even drugs. This 

effectively prevents the goods from being spoiled. Soon, a 

new ecovio EA food contact grade will be launched and this 

will extend the range of applications to all of the areas in 

which foam is in direct contact with processed food. 

End of life 

ecovio EA is highly durable under normal environmental 

conditions but degrades very quickly within five weeks under 

industrial composting conditions. Prior to composting, the 

foam material may also be recycled to alternate plastic 

products (e.g. with injection moulding technology) in 

customised recycling processes. The high biobased content 

and the certified compostability make ecovio EA particularly 

attractive wherever a fossil packaging solution no longer 

meets customers’ requirements for a biobased and 

biodegradable packaging solution. Due to its high biobased 

content the CO 2 

footprint is much lower as compared to 

completely fossil based foam products. 

www.ecovio.com 

Physical properties of ecovio EA for packaging 

Properties Test standard Unit Test result Test result 

Density DIN EN ISO 845 kg/m 3 25 30 

Thermal conductivity 

Compressive stress 

at 10°C 

at 35°C 

at 60°C 

at 10 % strain 



DIN EN 12667 

ISO 844 

mW/(m·K) 

kPa 

32 - 33 

36 - 37 

40 - 41 

95 

127 

180 

32 - 33 

36 - 37 

41 - 42 

Specific cushioning 

factor, C* 

ISO 4651 2.7 2.7 

Bending strength DIN EN 12089 kPa 210 - 230 250 - 270 

Tensile strength DIN EN ISO 1798 kPa 224 258 

Elongation at break DIN EN ISO 1798 % 10 8.5 

Short term 

resistance to heat 

deformation 

°C 100 100 

124 

161 

227 


Brand Owner 

Brand-Owner’s perspective 

on bioplastics and how to 

unleash its full potential 

“As the world’s leading supplier of carton packaging, 

we believe using renewable resources, when managed 

responsibly, is a more sustainable source of raw materials. 

A renewable resource is a resource that can replenish 

itself naturally over time and, therefore, be used again. 

Our ambition is to achieve fully renewable packaging using 

100% renewable materials – helping us to ensure a supply of 

packaging material that both protects the food they contain, 

as well as the resources they were sourced from. 

By introducing biobased polymers made from sugar cane 

we are taking an important step towards sustainable sourcing 

in our packaging. Today the source is Brazilian sugar cane, 

the only commercially available, fully traceable source for 

renewable polyethylene (PE). It is important for us to source 

renewable materials for packaging by focusing on three key 

areas: traceability, certification and recyclability. 

We started from a strong foundation with a package that is made 

from over 70% paperboard, which is made from wood. Adding to 

that, we have introduced the first biobased caps in our sector, 

MARIO ABREU, VP ENVIRONMENT, TETRA PAK 

and now leading the way with the use of certified biobased 

plastic coatings and biobased adhesive layers which brings 

us closer to our long term ambition by taking the biobased 

content of a package to over 80%. And we will continue to 

innovate and look for ways to incorporate more renewable 

materials into our packages towards our ambition for fully 

renewable packaging.” 

www.tetrapak.com 


Report 

Bioplastics Survey 

By: 

Michael Thielen 

As you may have noticed, we have started a new series 

“Special focus on certain geographical areas”. ‘As part 

of this new series we will also focus on the attitudes towards 

and general perception of bioplastics across the world. 

With the help of a simple survey, we want to try to explore 

how well the concept of bioplastics is known and understood 

throughout the various countries. 

We have kicked off with a report on a visit to a shopping 

center in the Netherlands, where we conducted our survey 

among a (non-representative) sample of normal people. 

Of those we interviewed, 63 % were male and 37 % were 

female. About 23 % were aged between 20 and 40, while 

77 % were between the ages of 40 and 60. This represents 

the average distribution of people browsing this particular 

shopping center on this Saturday morning. 

When asked whether they knew what bioplastics were, 

around one third responded with yes (and went on to back 

this up by correctly defining these as materials of biobased 

origin and/or with biodegradable features). The other 67 % 

all indicated that they were interested in learning about 

what bioplastics were. We briefly explained that conventional 

plastics were made from oil, a scarce and depletable resource … 

that burning petroleum-based products would affect climate … 

that biobased plastics can be made from renewable resources 

or waste streams, such as corn, sugar beet, sugar cane 

or e.g. waste starch from the potato industry … and that 

biodegradable/compostable plastics (whether biobased or 

otherwise) can offer significant benefits, depending on the 

application. 

After this brief explanation, almost all of those interviewed 

expressed the opinion that bioplastics were beneficial for the 

environment and for the climate, or at least “less bad”, as one 

young man was at pains to point out. 

Asked whether they would buy products made of bioplastics, 

if they should happen to see them on display at the store, 93% 

confirmed that they would. Yet “only” 73 % reported that they 

would be willing to pay more for such products, with most 

responding: “a little more, yes”, or “but not twice as much”… 

In sum, not many consumers know about or are aware 

of bioplastics and their potential. However, the results 

of this survey reveal that given the knowledge and the 

chance, consumers – at least those we interviewed- would 

opt for products using bioplastics and even be willing to 

pay a small premium. This indicates an obvious need for 

comprehensive end consumer education. Consumer behavior 

can make a significant impact on the ways products affect the 

environment. Educating consumers about bioplastics offers 

a huge opportunity to promote these materials and to effect 

positive changes in the shopping choices people make. 

Please note that this was not a representative survey. Our survey did not ask 

about factors such as educational background, family status, urban or rural 

residency, etc. but was merely conducted in order to gain a first, rough idea. 


10 

Years ago 

From Science & Research 

Controlled (soil) biodegradation 

Published in 

bioplastics MAGAZINE 

In Jan 2017, Kate Parker (Zealafoam) says: 

“The ten years since first introducing our PLA foaming 

technology have been an exciting and busy period for the 

Biopolymer Network Limited (BPN) team from New Zealand. 

Over that time BPN has continued working on their patented 

process for making Zealafoam ® , a PLA based alternative to 

expanded polystyrene (EPS), which uses CO 2 

as a green blowing 

agent to produce low density particle PLA foam. Advances 

have been made in base material with work focussed 

on optimisation of PLA grades, blends and additives 

(bM 01/13). Cost-effective biomass fillers have shown 

excellent results in producing novel foams. A focus on 

commercialisation has led to a multitude of industry 

trials worldwide (bM 01/11) allowing us to prove our 

technology on a range of existing foaming and moulding 

machines. This has enabled us to address issues around 

commercial production. It has also led to foams of lower density 

with moulded products under 20 g/l being achieved. Applications 

today include products ranging from loose bead (used in furniture 

and loose fill packaging), to fish boxes and cycle helmets. The next 

stages for the research team include leveraging this technology for 

other product lines including foamed cups and thin, lightweight 

labelling film (bM 01/16).” 

Advancing Bioplastics from Down-Under: 

CO 2 production in bioplastic-additive degradation trials 

mmol CO 2 

8.00 

7.00 

6.00 

5.00 

4.00 

3.00 

2.00 

1.00 

0.00 

Fig 1 

Impact Resistance (kJ/m 2 ) 

4.5 

4.0 

3.5 

3.0 

2.5 

2.0 

1.5 

1.0 

0.5 

0.0 

PLA 

Fig 2 

Bioplastic with 

various additives 

Bioplastic only 

www.scionresearch.com 

PLA 1 

PLA 2 

New Developments in Environmentally Intelligent 

Bioplastic Additives & Compounds 

Advancing Bioplastics from Down-Under: 

Time (days) 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 

Impact strength PLA compounds 

Article contributed by 

Dr. Alan Fernyhough, Unit Manager of the Bioplastics 

Engineering Group, Scion, Rotorua, New Zealand 

PLA 3 

Scion, based in Rotorua, New Zealand, is a research organisation 

with approx. 390 employees firmly focused on a biomaterials 

future and has been working with bioplastics for about 

10 years. 

Scion recognised at an early stage that bioplastics represented 

a huge opportunity for New Zealand, with its traditional 

strengths in all aspects of the agriculture, horticulture, and 

forestry industries’ value chains. Each year large volumes of a 

wide range of biomasses are processed for an increasing range 

of end uses in New Zealand. Such resources, and the residues 

from the harvesting and downstream processing, represent valuable 

sources of fibres, fillers, polymers and functional chemical 

additives for use in industrial biopolymer products, such as 

bioplastics. 

The core focus of Scion has been on additives and compounding 

formulations for enhanced performance in commercial bioplastics. 

One of the early areas of research was the compatibilised 

combination of wood and other natural fibres with a range 

of commercial bioplastics such as MaterBi, Solanyl, Biopol 

(PHA), PLA and others. Scion then developed a novel technology 

for wood-fibre (as opposed to wood flour) pellet manufacture for 

bioplastics compounding and moulding- showing markedly superior 

performance to wood flour and to agri-fibre reinforced bioplastics. 

A database of properties and formulations for a wide 

range of biobased additives, fillers/fibres, compatibilisers etc 

was established with data on mechanical properties, processability, 

water and biodegradation responses, durability/weathering 

(UV/humidity) and other properties such as flame retardancy. 

Now the database comprises in excess of 300 formulations 

with such data, using major commercial bioplastics, variously 

compounded with novel (biobased) additives, or combinations of 

additives, sourced primarily from readily available biomasses. 

With moulders and compounders Scion is developing several 

applications in New Zealand, ranging from controllably degradable 

plant pots, erosion control products, underground temporary 

fixtures, office furniture and stationery products. The 

knowhow in enhancing bioplastics performance, together with 

an ability to control the degradation (accelerate or decelerate) 

profiles of commercial bioplastics, in soil and aqueous media, is 

now being applied to such product developments. Most interest 

has been for injection moulding, but there is increasing interest 

in extrusions and thermoforming. Examples of some of Scion’s 

developments are: 

Controlled Degradation Compounds 

The biodegradation of PLA and other bioplastics in soil 

media can be controlled by (biobased) additive technologies, 

while maintaining processability and mechanical integrity. For 

example Figure 1 shows examples of different biodegradation 

profiles, in soil, of PLA compounds with the addition of biomass 

additive systems, selected from the database. 

High Impact PLA 

Another outcome from Scions screening work has been 

clues to improving the impact resistance of brittle bioplastics, 

such as PLA. While it is relatively straightforward to improve 

stiffness and strength in PLA, for example by compatibilised 

addition of natural fibres or fillers, it is less easy to improve 

impact strength at the same time. However, researchers at 

Scion have identified some approaches which can do this. 

Figure 2 shows example data on impact strength for some 

injection moulded PLA formulations. 

Visualising Biopolymers in Natural Fibres 

A unique approach to ‘track’ biopolymers in moulded compounds 

has been developed by Dr Grigsby and Armin Thumm. 

Natural fibres differ from glass and carbon fibres in that they 

are permeable, and have cell walls and hollow centres of 

various dimensions (lumen). Confocal microscopy has been 

applied (Figure 3) to visualise differences in interfacial behaviours, 

at a fibre cell wall level. Use of selected flow modifiers, 

and/or certain processing conditions can lead to lower 

instances of voids between the biopolymer and fibre, and, can 

promote (or reduce) lumen filling. The implications of such 

differences on properties are being evaluated. 

New Functional Additives for Bioplastics 

Scion continues to screen biomass streams for functional 

Biofoam Developments 

Work on biofoams has focused on a new PLA foaming technology 

which uses carbon dioxide as blowing agent. Dr Witt 

has led this work and developed novel routes to the manufacture 

of very low density moulded blocks (~20g/l; Figure 4). Scion 

also works with a major foam moulder in New Zealand to 

further develop their bioplastic foaming technology for packaging 

products. Much of this is undertaken within Biopolymer 

Network Ltd, a JV between Scion and two other NZ research 

institutes, AgResearch and Crop & Food Research. 

About Scion 

Scion was established in 1947 as the New Zealand Forest 

Research Institute. From its forestry science roots, the government-owned 

Institute branched out into other areas of 

research: exploring the potential of trees, and other plants, 

crops and biomass residues to produce new bio-based materials. 

To mark this shift in emphasis, the organisation changed 

its trading name to “Scion”, which refers to a piece of plant 

material that is grafted onto an established rootstock. This 

new name symbolises the growth of research towards a future 

world where bio-based materials are required to replace 

non-renewable synthetics. 

This article could only give a condensed and incomplete 

overview of Scions activities. In future issues bioplastics MAG- 

AZINE will address one or the other activity in more detail. 

Fig 3 all pictures: Scion 

Fig 4 

additives of potential use in bioplastics. Scion has developed 

34 bioplastics MAGAZINE [01/07] Vol. 2 

extractions, fractionations and derivatisations of such extracts 

and has developed novel ways of using them. For example, 

they can be used as components in high performance 

adhesive formulations and as functional additives for bioplastic 

compounds. 

bioplastics MAGAZINE [01/07] Vol. 2 35 

tinyurl.com/foam2007 


Basics 


biodegradable? 

By: 

Constance Ißbrücker 

European Bioplastics 

Berlin Germany 

Biodegradability is an inherent property of a material 

or product resulting from the action of naturally 

occurring microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, 

and algae. The process produces water, carbon dioxide, 

and biomass. No additives are needed and no fragments 

remain in the environment. In the case of industrial 

composting, the requirements are clearly defined in internationally 

agreed standards such as EN13432, or ISO 

18606. For biodegradation in other environments other 

standards can and should regulate the framework conditions 

and pass/fail criteria. 

So-called oxo-degradable plastics are commonly 

fossil-based, non-biodegradable polyolefins or 

polyesters (e.g. PE or PET) supplemented with salts 

of transition metals. These additives are supposed 

to enable the biodegradation of apparently nonbiodegradable 

plastics. However, to date no reproducible 

study could provide satisfactory evidence for this, for 

example by measuring a significant amount of carbon 

dioxide evolvement, which is the standard indicator of 

and verification method for biodegradation. Publications 

in support of oxo-degradable plastics have claimed 

about 60% biodegradation in two years, leaving the fate 

of the remaining 40% up to speculation. Apart from the 

comparatively long time span (EN 13432 requires 90% 

disintegration in 12 weeks and biodegradation of 90% 

within six months), there are serious implications: It is 

assumed that oxo-degradable materials only disintegrate 

and finally visibly disappear under the influence of light 

(UV radiation) and oxygen. If no real biodegradation takes 

place simultaneously and subsequently, the process of 

disintegration results in the formation of invisible plastic 

fragments, contributing to the ubiquitous environmental 

and health hazard of microplastics in the environment. 

Another group of plastic materials supplemented with 

additives that are supposed to support biodegradation 

are so-called enzyme-mediated plastics. Naturally 

occurring biodegradation relies on enzymatic reactions 

initiated by naturally present organisms. The producers of 

enzyme-mediated plastics intend to emulate the process 

of biodegradation by adding enzymes to conventional 

polyolefins. So far no independent study or publication 

shows any positive results for such materials with regard 

to biodegradation, even though most of the producing 

companies are claiming that their plastics are 100% 

biodegradable or even compliant with accepted composting 

standards. These claims are often made not on the basis of 

conversion to carbon dioxide, but instead on the basis of mass 

loss, which is no scientific proof of biodegradation taking place. 

It is important to clearly differentiate between different 

concepts in this context: Enzyme-mediated plastics should not 

be confused with recent promising research efforts focussing 

on a kind of enzymatic recycling. In the latter case waste of 

conventional plastics (e.g. PET or PU) waste are depolymerised 

through tailor-made enzymes. The obtained monomers then 

can function as raw material for the production of bioplastics 

such as PHA, which is biodegradable in numerous environments 

without the use of any supporting additives. 

www.european-bioplastics.org 

Home Compostable* 

Mailing Film 

* According to OK Compost Home and NF T51-800 (11-2015) 

NEW 

Bio4Pack GmbH • PO Box 5007 • D-48419 Rheine • Germany 

T +49 (0) 5975 955 94 57 • www.bio4pack.com 


Basics 

Glossary 4.2 last update issue 02/2016 

In bioplastics MAGAZINE again and again 

the same expressions appear that some of our readers 

might not (yet) be familiar with. This glossary shall help 

with these terms and shall help avoid repeated explanations 

such as PLA (Polylactide) in various articles. 

Bioplastics (as defined by European Bioplastics 

e.V.) is a term used to define two different 

kinds of plastics: 

a. Plastics based on → renewable resources 

(the focus is the origin of the raw material 

used). These can be biodegradable or not. 

b. → Biodegradable and → compostable 

plastics according to EN13432 or similar 

standards (the focus is the compostability of 

the final product; biodegradable and compostable 

plastics can be based on renewable 

(biobased) and/or non-renewable (fossil) resources). 

Bioplastics may be 

- based on renewable resources and biodegradable; 

- based on renewable resources but not be 

biodegradable; and 

- based on fossil resources and biodegradable. 

1 st Generation feedstock | Carbohydrate rich 

plants such as corn or sugar cane that can 

also be used as food or animal feed are called 

food crops or 1 st generation feedstock. Bred 

my mankind over centuries for highest energy 

efficiency, currently, 1 st generation feedstock 

is the most efficient feedstock for the production 

of bioplastics as it requires the least 

amount of land to grow and produce the highest 

yields. [bM 04/09] 

2 nd Generation feedstock | refers to feedstock 

not suitable for food or feed. It can be either 

non-food crops (e.g. cellulose) or waste materials 

from 1 st generation feedstock (e.g. 

waste vegetable oil). [bM 06/11] 

3 rd Generation feedstock | This term currently 

relates to biomass from algae, which – having 

a higher growth yield than 1 st and 2 nd generation 

feedstock – were given their own category. 

It also relates to bioplastics from waste 

streams such as CO 2 

or methane [bM 02/16] 

Aerobic digestion | Aerobic means in the 

presence of oxygen. In →composting, which is 

an aerobic process, →microorganisms access 

the present oxygen from the surrounding atmosphere. 

They metabolize the organic material 

to energy, CO 2 

, water and cell biomass, 

whereby part of the energy of the organic material 

is released as heat. [bM 03/07, bM 02/09] 

Since this Glossary will not be printed 

in each issue you can download a pdf version 

from our website (bit.ly/OunBB0) 

bioplastics MAGAZINE is grateful to European Bioplastics for the permission to use parts of their Glossary. 

Version 4.0 was revised using EuBP’s latest version (Jan 2015). 

[*: bM ... refers to more comprehensive article previously published in bioplastics MAGAZINE) 

Anaerobic digestion | In anaerobic digestion, 

organic matter is degraded by a microbial 

population in the absence of oxygen 

and producing methane and carbon dioxide 

(= →biogas) and a solid residue that can be 

composted in a subsequent step without 

practically releasing any heat. The biogas can 

be treated in a Combined Heat and Power 

Plant (CHP), producing electricity and heat, or 

can be upgraded to bio-methane [14] [bM 06/09] 

Amorphous | non-crystalline, glassy with unordered 

lattice 

Amylopectin | Polymeric branched starch 

molecule with very high molecular weight 

(biopolymer, monomer is →Glucose) [bM 05/09] 

Amylose | Polymeric non-branched starch 

molecule with high molecular weight (biopolymer, 

monomer is →Glucose) [bM 05/09] 

Biobased | The term biobased describes the 

part of a material or product that is stemming 

from →biomass. When making a biobasedclaim, 

the unit (→biobased carbon content, 

→biobased mass content), a percentage and 

the measuring method should be clearly stated [1] 

Biobased carbon | carbon contained in or 

stemming from →biomass. A material or 

product made of fossil and →renewable resources 

contains fossil and →biobased carbon. 

The biobased carbon content is measured via 

the 14 C method (radio carbon dating method) 

that adheres to the technical specifications as 

described in [1,4,5,6]. 

Biobased labels | The fact that (and to 

what percentage) a product or a material is 

→biobased can be indicated by respective 

labels. Ideally, meaningful labels should be 

based on harmonised standards and a corresponding 

certification process by independent 

third party institutions. For the property 

biobased such labels are in place by certifiers 

→DIN CERTCO and →Vinçotte who both base 

their certifications on the technical specification 

as described in [4,5] 

A certification and corresponding label depicting 

the biobased mass content was developed 

by the French Association Chimie du Végétal 

[ACDV]. 

Biobased mass content | describes the 

amount of biobased mass contained in a material 

or product. This method is complementary 

to the 14 C method, and furthermore, takes 

other chemical elements besides the biobased 

carbon into account, such as oxygen, nitrogen 

and hydrogen. A measuring method has 

been developed and tested by the Association 

Chimie du Végétal (ACDV) [1] 

Biobased plastic | A plastic in which constitutional 

units are totally or partly from → 

biomass [3]. If this claim is used, a percentage 

should always be given to which extent 

the product/material is → biobased [1] 

[bM 01/07, bM 03/10] 

Biodegradable Plastics | Biodegradable Plastics 

are plastics that are completely assimilated 

by the → microorganisms present a defined 

environment as food for their energy. The 

carbon of the plastic must completely be converted 

into CO 2 

during the microbial process. 

The process of biodegradation depends on 

the environmental conditions, which influence 

it (e.g. location, temperature, humidity) and 

on the material or application itself. Consequently, 

the process and its outcome can vary 

considerably. Biodegradability is linked to the 

structure of the polymer chain; it does not depend 

on the origin of the raw materials. 

There is currently no single, overarching standard 

to back up claims about biodegradability. 

One standard for example is ISO or in Europe: 

EN 14995 Plastics- Evaluation of compostability 

- Test scheme and specifications 

[bM 02/06, bM 01/07] 

Biogas | → Anaerobic digestion 

Biomass | Material of biological origin excluding 

material embedded in geological formations 

and material transformed to fossilised 

material. This includes organic material, e.g. 

trees, crops, grasses, tree litter, algae and 

waste of biological origin, e.g. manure [1, 2] 

Biorefinery | the co-production of a spectrum 

of bio-based products (food, feed, materials, 

chemicals including monomers or building 

blocks for bioplastics) and energy (fuels, power, 

heat) from biomass.[bM 02/13] 

Blend | Mixture of plastics, polymer alloy of at 

least two microscopically dispersed and molecularly 

distributed base polymers 

Bisphenol-A (BPA) | Monomer used to produce 

different polymers. BPA is said to cause 

health problems, due to the fact that is behaves 

like a hormone. Therefore it is banned 

for use in children’s products in many countries. 

BPI | Biodegradable Products Institute, a notfor-profit 

association. Through their innovative 

compostable label program, BPI educates 

manufacturers, legislators and consumers 

about the importance of scientifically based 

standards for compostable materials which 

biodegrade in large composting facilities. 

Carbon footprint | (CFPs resp. PCFs – Product 

Carbon Footprint): Sum of →greenhouse 

gas emissions and removals in a product system, 

expressed as CO 2 

equivalent, and based 

on a →life cycle assessment. The CO 2 

equivalent 

of a specific amount of a greenhouse gas 

is calculated as the mass of a given greenhouse 

gas multiplied by its →global warmingpotential 

[1,2,15] 


Basics 

Carbon neutral, CO 2 

neutral | describes a 

product or process that has a negligible impact 

on total atmospheric CO 2 

levels. For 

example, carbon neutrality means that any 

CO 2 

released when a plant decomposes or 

is burnt is offset by an equal amount of CO 2 

absorbed by the plant through photosynthesis 

when it is growing. 

Carbon neutrality can also be achieved 

through buying sufficient carbon credits to 

make up the difference. The latter option is 

not allowed when communicating → LCAs 

or carbon footprints regarding a material or 

product [1, 2]. 

Carbon-neutral claims are tricky as products 

will not in most cases reach carbon neutrality 

if their complete life cycle is taken into consideration 

(including the end-of life). 

If an assessment of a material, however, is 

conducted (cradle to gate), carbon neutrality 

might be a valid claim in a B2B context. In this 

case, the unit assessed in the complete life 

cycle has to be clarified [1] 

Cascade use | of →renewable resources means 

to first use the →biomass to produce biobased 

industrial products and afterwards – due to 

their favourable energy balance – use them 

for energy generation (e.g. from a biobased 

plastic product to →biogas production). The 

feedstock is used efficiently and value generation 

increases decisively. 

Catalyst | substance that enables and accelerates 

a chemical reaction 

Cellophane | Clear film on the basis of →cellulose 

[bM 01/10] 

Cellulose | Cellulose is the principal component 

of cell walls in all higher forms of plant 

life, at varying percentages. It is therefore the 

most common organic compound and also 

the most common polysaccharide (multisugar) 

[11]. Cellulose is a polymeric molecule 

with very high molecular weight (monomer is 

→Glucose), industrial production from wood 

or cotton, to manufacture paper, plastics and 

fibres [bM 01/10] 

Cellulose ester | Cellulose esters occur by 

the esterification of cellulose with organic 

acids. The most important cellulose esters 

from a technical point of view are cellulose 

acetate (CA with acetic acid), cellulose propionate 

(CP with propionic acid) and cellulose 

butyrate (CB with butanoic acid). Mixed polymerisates, 

such as cellulose acetate propionate 

(CAP) can also be formed. One of the most 

well-known applications of cellulose aceto 

butyrate (CAB) is the moulded handle on the 

Swiss army knife [11] 

Cellulose acetate CA | → Cellulose ester 

CEN | Comité Européen de Normalisation 

(European organisation for standardization) 

Certification | is a process in which materials/products 

undergo a string of (laboratory) 

tests in order to verify that the fulfil certain 

requirements. Sound certification systems 

should be based on (ideally harmonised) European 

standards or technical specifications 

(e.g. by →CEN, USDA, ASTM, etc.) and be 

performed by independent third party laboratories. 

Successful certification guarantees 

a high product safety - also on this basis interconnected 

labels can be awarded that help 

the consumer to make an informed decision. 

Compost | A soil conditioning material of decomposing 

organic matter which provides nutrients 

and enhances soil structure. 

[bM 06/08, 02/09] 

Compostable Plastics | Plastics that are 

→ biodegradable under →composting conditions: 

specified humidity, temperature, 

→ microorganisms and timeframe. In order 

to make accurate and specific claims about 

compostability, the location (home, → industrial) 

and timeframe need to be specified [1]. 

Several national and international standards 

exist for clearer definitions, for example EN 

14995 Plastics - Evaluation of compostability - 

Test scheme and specifications. [bM 02/06, bM 01/07] 

Composting | is the controlled →aerobic, or 

oxygen-requiring, decomposition of organic 

materials by →microorganisms, under controlled 

conditions. It reduces the volume and 

mass of the raw materials while transforming 

them into CO 2 

, water and a valuable soil conditioner 

– compost. 

When talking about composting of bioplastics, 

foremost →industrial composting in a 

managed composting facility is meant (criteria 

defined in EN 13432). 

The main difference between industrial and 

home composting is, that in industrial composting 

facilities temperatures are much 

higher and kept stable, whereas in the composting 

pile temperatures are usually lower, 

and less constant as depending on factors 

such as weather conditions. Home composting 

is a way slower-paced process than 

industrial composting. Also a comparatively 

smaller volume of waste is involved. [bM 03/07] 

Compound | plastic mixture from different 

raw materials (polymer and additives) [bM 04/10) 

Copolymer | Plastic composed of different 

monomers. 

Cradle-to-Gate | Describes the system 

boundaries of an environmental →Life Cycle 

Assessment (LCA) which covers all activities 

from the cradle (i.e., the extraction of raw materials, 

agricultural activities and forestry) up 

to the factory gate 

Cradle-to-Cradle | (sometimes abbreviated 

as C2C): Is an expression which communicates 

the concept of a closed-cycle economy, 

in which waste is used as raw material 

(‘waste equals food’). Cradle-to-Cradle is not 

a term that is typically used in →LCA studies. 

Cradle-to-Grave | Describes the system 

boundaries of a full →Life Cycle Assessment 

from manufacture (cradle) to use phase and 

disposal phase (grave). 

Crystalline | Plastic with regularly arranged 

molecules in a lattice structure 

Density | Quotient from mass and volume of 

a material, also referred to as specific weight 

DIN | Deutsches Institut für Normung (German 

organisation for standardization) 

DIN-CERTCO | independant certifying organisation 

for the assessment on the conformity 

of bioplastics 

Dispersing | fine distribution of non-miscible 

liquids into a homogeneous, stable mixture 

Drop-In bioplastics | chemically indentical 

to conventional petroleum based plastics, 

but made from renewable resources. Examples 

are bio-PE made from bio-ethanol (from 

e.g. sugar cane) or partly biobased PET; the 

monoethylene glykol made from bio-ethanol 

(from e.g. sugar cane). Developments to 

make terephthalic acid from renewable resources 

are under way. Other examples are 

polyamides (partly biobased e.g. PA 4.10 or PA 

6.10 or fully biobased like PA 5.10 or PA10.10) 

EN 13432 | European standard for the assessment 

of the → compostability of plastic 

packaging products 

Energy recovery | recovery and exploitation 

of the energy potential in (plastic) waste for 

the production of electricity or heat in waste 

incineration pants (waste-to-energy) 

Environmental claim | A statement, symbol 

or graphic that indicates one or more environmental 

aspect(s) of a product, a component, 

packaging or a service. [16] 

Enzymes | proteins that catalyze chemical 

reactions 

Enzyme-mediated plastics | are no →bioplastics. 

Instead, a conventional non-biodegradable 

plastic (e.g. fossil-based PE) is enriched 

with small amounts of an organic additive. 

Microorganisms are supposed to consume 

these additives and the degradation process 

should then expand to the non-biodegradable 

PE and thus make the material degrade. After 

some time the plastic is supposed to visually 

disappear and to be completely converted to 

carbon dioxide and water. This is a theoretical 

concept which has not been backed up by 

any verifiable proof so far. Producers promote 

enzyme-mediated plastics as a solution to littering. 

As no proof for the degradation process 

has been provided, environmental beneficial 

effects are highly questionable. 

Ethylene | colour- and odourless gas, made 

e.g. from, Naphtha (petroleum) by cracking or 

from bio-ethanol by dehydration, monomer of 

the polymer polyethylene (PE) 

European Bioplastics e.V. | The industry association 

representing the interests of Europe’s 

thriving bioplastics’ industry. Founded 

in Germany in 1993 as IBAW, European 

Bioplastics today represents the interests 

of about 50 member companies throughout 

the European Union and worldwide. With 

members from the agricultural feedstock, 

chemical and plastics industries, as well as 

industrial users and recycling companies, European 

Bioplastics serves as both a contact 

platform and catalyst for advancing the aims 

of the growing bioplastics industry. 

Extrusion | process used to create plastic 

profiles (or sheet) of a fixed cross-section 

consisting of mixing, melting, homogenising 

and shaping of the plastic. 

FDCA | 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, an intermediate 

chemical produced from 5-HMF. 

The dicarboxylic acid can be used to make → 

PEF = polyethylene furanoate, a polyester that 

could be a 100% biobased alternative to PET. 

Fermentation | Biochemical reactions controlled 

by → microorganisms or → enyzmes (e.g. 

the transformation of sugar into lactic acid). 

FSC | Forest Stewardship Council. FSC is an 

independent, non-governmental, not-forprofit 

organization established to promote the 

responsible and sustainable management of 

the world’s forests. 


Basics 

Gelatine | Translucent brittle solid substance, 

colorless or slightly yellow, nearly tasteless 

and odorless, extracted from the collagen inside 

animals‘ connective tissue. 

Genetically modified organism (GMO) | Organisms, 

such as plants and animals, whose 

genetic material (DNA) has been altered 

are called genetically modified organisms 

(GMOs). Food and feed which contain or 

consist of such GMOs, or are produced from 

GMOs, are called genetically modified (GM) 

food or feed [1]. If GM crops are used in bioplastics 

production, the multiple-stage processing 

and the high heat used to create the 

polymer removes all traces of genetic material. 

This means that the final bioplastics product 

contains no genetic traces. The resulting 

bioplastics is therefore well suited to use in 

food packaging as it contains no genetically 

modified material and cannot interact with 

the contents. 

Global Warming | Global warming is the rise 

in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere 

and oceans since the late 19th century 

and its projected continuation [8]. Global 

warming is said to be accelerated by → green 

house gases. 

Glucose | Monosaccharide (or simple sugar). 

G. is the most important carbohydrate (sugar) 

in biology. G. is formed by photosynthesis or 

hydrolyse of many carbohydrates e. g. starch. 

Greenhouse gas GHG | Gaseous constituent 

of the atmosphere, both natural and anthropogenic, 

that absorbs and emits radiation at 

specific wavelengths within the spectrum of 

infrared radiation emitted by the earth’s surface, 

the atmosphere, and clouds [1, 9] 

Greenwashing | The act of misleading consumers 

regarding the environmental practices 

of a company, or the environmental benefits 

of a product or service [1, 10] 

Granulate, granules | small plastic particles 

(3-4 millimetres), a form in which plastic is 

sold and fed into machines, easy to handle 

and dose. 

HMF (5-HMF) | 5-hydroxymethylfurfural is an 

organic compound derived from sugar dehydration. 

It is a platform chemical, a building 

block for 20 performance polymers and over 

175 different chemical substances. The molecule 

consists of a furan ring which contains 

both aldehyde and alcohol functional groups. 

5-HMF has applications in many different 

industries such as bioplastics, packaging, 

pharmaceuticals, adhesives and chemicals. 

One of the most promising routes is 2,5 

furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), produced as an 

intermediate when 5-HMF is oxidised. FDCA 

is used to produce PEF, which can substitute 

terephthalic acid in polyester, especially polyethylene 

terephthalate (PET). [bM 03/14, 02/16] 

Home composting | →composting [bM 06/08] 

Humus | In agriculture, humus is often used 

simply to mean mature →compost, or natural 

compost extracted from a forest or other 

spontaneous source for use to amend soil. 

Hydrophilic | Property: water-friendly, soluble 

in water or other polar solvents (e.g. used 

in conjunction with a plastic which is not water 

resistant and weather proof or that absorbs 

water such as Polyamide (PA). 

Hydrophobic | Property: water-resistant, not 

soluble in water (e.g. a plastic which is water 

resistant and weather proof, or that does not 

absorb any water such as Polyethylene (PE) 

or Polypropylene (PP). 

Industrial composting | is an established 

process with commonly agreed upon requirements 

(e.g. temperature, timeframe) for transforming 

biodegradable waste into stable, sanitised 

products to be used in agriculture. The 

criteria for industrial compostability of packaging 

have been defined in the EN 13432. Materials 

and products complying with this standard 

can be certified and subsequently labelled 

accordingly [1,7] [bM 06/08, 02/09] 

ISO | International Organization for Standardization 

JBPA | Japan Bioplastics Association 

Land use | The surface required to grow sufficient 

feedstock (land use) for today’s bioplastic 

production is less than 0.01 percent of the 

global agricultural area of 5 billion hectares. 

It is not yet foreseeable to what extent an increased 

use of food residues, non-food crops 

or cellulosic biomass (see also →1 st /2 nd /3 rd 

generation feedstock) in bioplastics production 

might lead to an even further reduced 

land use in the future [bM 04/09, 01/14] 

LCA | is the compilation and evaluation of the 

input, output and the potential environmental 

impact of a product system throughout its life 

cycle [17]. It is sometimes also referred to as 

life cycle analysis, ecobalance or cradle-tograve 

analysis. [bM 01/09] 

Littering | is the (illegal) act of leaving waste 

such as cigarette butts, paper, tins, bottles, 

cups, plates, cutlery or bags lying in an open 

or public place. 

Marine litter | Following the European Commission’s 

definition, “marine litter consists of 

items that have been deliberately discarded, 

unintentionally lost, or transported by winds 

and rivers, into the sea and on beaches. It 

mainly consists of plastics, wood, metals, 

glass, rubber, clothing and paper”. Marine 

debris originates from a variety of sources. 

Shipping and fishing activities are the predominant 

sea-based, ineffectively managed 

landfills as well as public littering the main 

land-based sources. Marine litter can pose a 

threat to living organisms, especially due to 

ingestion or entanglement. 

Currently, there is no international standard 

available, which appropriately describes the 

biodegradation of plastics in the marine environment. 

However, a number of standardisation 

projects are in progress at ISO and ASTM 

level. Furthermore, the European project 

OPEN BIO addresses the marine biodegradation 

of biobased products.[bM 02/16] 

Mass balance | describes the relationship between 

input and output of a specific substance 

within a system in which the output from the 

system cannot exceed the input into the system. 

First attempts were made by plastic raw material 

producers to claim their products renewable 

(plastics) based on a certain input 

of biomass in a huge and complex chemical 

plant, then mathematically allocating this 

biomass input to the produced plastic. 

These approaches are at least controversially 

disputed [bM 04/14, 05/14, 01/15] 

Microorganism | Living organisms of microscopic 

size, such as bacteria, funghi or yeast. 

Molecule | group of at least two atoms held 

together by covalent chemical bonds. 

Monomer | molecules that are linked by polymerization 

to form chains of molecules and 

then plastics 

Mulch film | Foil to cover bottom of farmland 

Organic recycling | means the treatment of 

separately collected organic waste by anaerobic 

digestion and/or composting. 

Oxo-degradable / Oxo-fragmentable | materials 

and products that do not biodegrade! 

The underlying technology of oxo-degradability 

or oxo-fragmentation is based on special additives, 

which, if incorporated into standard 

resins, are purported to accelerate the fragmentation 

of products made thereof. Oxodegradable 

or oxo-fragmentable materials do 

not meet accepted industry standards on compostability 

such as EN 13432. [bM 01/09, 05/09] 

PBAT | Polybutylene adipate terephthalate, is 

an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester that has the 

properties of conventional polyethylene but is 

fully biodegradable under industrial composting. 

PBAT is made from fossil petroleum with 

first attempts being made to produce it partly 

from renewable resources [bM 06/09] 

PBS | Polybutylene succinate, a 100% biodegradable 

polymer, made from (e.g. bio-BDO) 

and succinic acid, which can also be produced 

biobased [bM 03/12]. 

PC | Polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyester, 

petroleum based and not degradable, used 

for e.g. baby bottles or CDs. Criticized for its 

BPA (→ Bisphenol-A) content. 

PCL | Polycaprolactone, a synthetic (fossil 

based), biodegradable bioplastic, e.g. used as 

a blend component. 

PE | Polyethylene, thermoplastic polymerised 

from ethylene. Can be made from renewable 

resources (sugar cane via bio-ethanol) [bM 05/10] 

PEF | polyethylene furanoate, a polyester 

made from monoethylene glycol (MEG) and 

→FDCA (2,5-furandicarboxylic acid , an intermediate 

chemical produced from 5-HMF). It 

can be a 100% biobased alternative for PET. 

PEF also has improved product characteristics, 

such as better structural strength and 

improved barrier behaviour, which will allow 

for the use of PEF bottles in additional applications. 

[bM 03/11, 04/12] 

PET | Polyethylenterephthalate, transparent 

polyester used for bottles and film. The 

polyester is made from monoethylene glycol 

(MEG), that can be renewably sourced from 

bio-ethanol (sugar cane) and (until now fossil) 

terephthalic acid [bM 04/14] 

PGA | Polyglycolic acid or Polyglycolide is a biodegradable, 

thermoplastic polymer and the 

simplest linear, aliphatic polyester. Besides 

ist use in the biomedical field, PGA has been 

introduced as a barrier resin [bM 03/09] 

PHA | Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) or the 

polyhydroxy fatty acids, are a family of biodegradable 

polyesters. As in many mammals, 

including humans, that hold energy reserves 

in the form of body fat there are also bacteria 

that hold intracellular reserves in for of 

of polyhydroxy alkanoates. Here the microorganisms 

store a particularly high level of 


Basics 

energy reserves (up to 80% of their own body 

weight) for when their sources of nutrition become 

scarce. By farming this type of bacteria, 

and feeding them on sugar or starch (mostly 

from maize), or at times on plant oils or other 

nutrients rich in carbonates, it is possible to 

obtain PHA‘s on an industrial scale [11]. The 

most common types of PHA are PHB (Polyhydroxybutyrate, 

PHBV and PHBH. Depending 

on the bacteria and their food, PHAs with 

different mechanical properties, from rubbery 

soft trough stiff and hard as ABS, can be produced. 

Some PHSs are even biodegradable in 

soil or in a marine environment 

PLA | Polylactide or Polylactic Acid (PLA), a 

biodegradable, thermoplastic, linear aliphatic 

polyester based on lactic acid, a natural acid, 

is mainly produced by fermentation of sugar 

or starch with the help of micro-organisms. 

Lactic acid comes in two isomer forms, i.e. as 

laevorotatory D(-)lactic acid and as dextrorotary 

L(+)lactic acid. 

Modified PLA types can be produced by the 

use of the right additives or by certain combinations 

of L- and D- lactides (stereocomplexing), 

which then have the required rigidity for 

use at higher temperatures [13] [bM 01/09, 01/12] 

Plastics | Materials with large molecular 

chains of natural or fossil raw materials, produced 

by chemical or biochemical reactions. 

PPC | Polypropylene Carbonate, a bioplastic 

made by copolymerizing CO 2 

with propylene 

oxide (PO) [bM 04/12] 

PTT | Polytrimethylterephthalate (PTT), partially 

biobased polyester, is similarly to PET 

produced using terephthalic acid or dimethyl 

terephthalate and a diol. In this case it is a 

biobased 1,3 propanediol, also known as bio- 

PDO [bM 01/13] 

Renewable Resources | agricultural raw materials, 

which are not used as food or feed, 

but as raw material for industrial products 

or to generate energy. The use of renewable 

resources by industry saves fossil resources 

and reduces the amount of → greenhouse gas 

emissions. Biobased plastics are predominantly 

made of annual crops such as corn, 

cereals and sugar beets or perennial cultures 

such as cassava and sugar cane. 

Resource efficiency | Use of limited natural 

resources in a sustainable way while minimising 

impacts on the environment. A resource 

efficient economy creates more output 

or value with lesser input. 

Seedling Logo | The compostability label or 

logo Seedling is connected to the standard 

EN 13432/EN 14995 and a certification process 

managed by the independent institutions 

→DIN CERTCO and → Vinçotte. Bioplastics 

products carrying the Seedling fulfil the 

criteria laid down in the EN 13432 regarding 

industrial compostability. [bM 01/06, 02/10] 

Saccharins or carbohydrates | Saccharins or 

carbohydrates are name for the sugar-family. 

Saccharins are monomer or polymer sugar 

units. For example, there are known mono-, 

di- and polysaccharose. → glucose is a monosaccarin. 

They are important for the diet and 

produced biology in plants. 

Semi-finished products | plastic in form of 

sheet, film, rods or the like to be further processed 

into finshed products 

Sorbitol | Sugar alcohol, obtained by reduction 

of glucose changing the aldehyde group 

to an additional hydroxyl group. S. is used as 

a plasticiser for bioplastics based on starch. 

Starch | Natural polymer (carbohydrate) 

consisting of → amylose and → amylopectin, 

gained from maize, potatoes, wheat, tapioca 

etc. When glucose is connected to polymerchains 

in definite way the result (product) is 

called starch. Each molecule is based on 300 

-12000-glucose units. Depending on the connection, 

there are two types → amylose and → 

amylopectin known. [bM 05/09] 

Starch derivatives | Starch derivatives are 

based on the chemical structure of → starch. 

The chemical structure can be changed by 

introducing new functional groups without 

changing the → starch polymer. The product 

has different chemical qualities. Mostly the 

hydrophilic character is not the same. 

Starch-ester | One characteristic of every 

starch-chain is a free hydroxyl group. When 

every hydroxyl group is connected with an 

acid one product is starch-ester with different 

chemical properties. 

Starch propionate and starch butyrate | 

Starch propionate and starch butyrate can be 

synthesised by treating the → starch with propane 

or butanic acid. The product structure 

is still based on → starch. Every based → glucose 

fragment is connected with a propionate 

or butyrate ester group. The product is more 

hydrophobic than → starch. 

Sustainable | An attempt to provide the best 

outcomes for the human and natural environments 

both now and into the indefinite future. 

One famous definition of sustainability is the 

one created by the Brundtland Commission, 

led by the former Norwegian Prime Minister 

G. H. Brundtland. The Brundtland Commission 

defined sustainable development as 

development that ‘meets the needs of the 

present without compromising the ability of 

future generations to meet their own needs.’ 

Sustainability relates to the continuity of economic, 

social, institutional and environmental 

aspects of human society, as well as the nonhuman 

environment). 

Sustainable sourcing | of renewable feedstock 

for biobased plastics is a prerequisite 

for more sustainable products. Impacts such 

as the deforestation of protected habitats 

or social and environmental damage arising 

from poor agricultural practices must 

be avoided. Corresponding certification 

schemes, such as ISCC PLUS, WLC or Bon- 

Sucro, are an appropriate tool to ensure the 

sustainable sourcing of biomass for all applications 

around the globe. 

Sustainability | as defined by European Bioplastics, 

has three dimensions: economic, social 

and environmental. This has been known 

as “the triple bottom line of sustainability”. 

This means that sustainable development involves 

the simultaneous pursuit of economic 

prosperity, environmental protection and social 

equity. In other words, businesses have 

to expand their responsibility to include these 

environmental and social dimensions. Sustainability 

is about making products useful to 

markets and, at the same time, having societal 

benefits and lower environmental impact 

than the alternatives currently available. It also 

implies a commitment to continuous improvement 

that should result in a further reduction 

of the environmental footprint of today’s products, 

processes and raw materials used. 

Thermoplastics | Plastics which soften or 

melt when heated and solidify when cooled 

(solid at room temperature). 

Thermoplastic Starch | (TPS) → starch that 

was modified (cooked, complexed) to make it 

a plastic resin 

Thermoset | Plastics (resins) which do not 

soften or melt when heated. Examples are 

epoxy resins or unsaturated polyester resins. 

Vinçotte | independant certifying organisation 

for the assessment on the conformity of bioplastics 

WPC | Wood Plastic Composite. Composite 

materials made of wood fiber/flour and plastics 

(mostly polypropylene). 

Yard Waste | Grass clippings, leaves, trimmings, 

garden residue. 

References: 

[1] Environmental Communication Guide, 

European Bioplastics, Berlin, Germany, 

2012 

[2] ISO 14067. Carbon footprint of products - 

Requirements and guidelines for quantification 

and communication 

[3] CEN TR 15932, Plastics - Recommendation 

for terminology and characterisation 

of biopolymers and bioplastics, 2010 

[4] CEN/TS 16137, Plastics - Determination 

of bio-based carbon content, 2011 

[5] ASTM D6866, Standard Test Methods for 

Determining the Biobased Content of 

Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using 

Radiocarbon Analysis 

[6] SPI: Understanding Biobased Carbon 

Content, 2012 

[7] EN 13432, Requirements for packaging 

recoverable through composting and biodegradation. 

Test scheme and evaluation 

criteria for the final acceptance of packaging, 

2000 

[8] Wikipedia 

[9] ISO 14064 Greenhouse gases -- Part 1: 

Specification with guidance..., 2006 

[10] Terrachoice, 2010, www.terrachoice.com 

[11] Thielen, M.: Bioplastics: Basics. Applications. 

Markets, Polymedia Publisher, 


[12] Lörcks, J.: Biokunststoffe, Broschüre der 

FNR, 2005 

[13] de Vos, S.: Improving heat-resistance of 

PLA using poly(D-lactide), 

bioplastics MAGAZINE, Vol. 3, Issue 02/2008 

[14] de Wilde, B.: Anaerobic Digestion, bioplastics 

MAGAZINE, Vol 4., Issue 06/2009 

[15] ISO 14067 onb Corbon Footprint of 

Products 

[16] ISO 14021 on Self-declared Environmental 

claims 

[17] ISO 14044 on Life Cycle Assessment 


Suppliers Guide 

1. Raw Materials 

AGRANA Starch 

Bioplastics 

Conrathstraße 7 

A-3950 Gmuend, Austria 

technical.starch@agrana.com 

www.agrana.com 

Jincheng, Lin‘an, Hangzhou, 

Zhejiang 311300, P.R. China 

China contact: Grace Jin 

mobile: 0086 135 7578 9843 

Grace@xinfupharm.comEurope 

contact(Belgium): Susan Zhang 

mobile: 0032 478 991619 

zxh0612@hotmail.com 

www.xinfupharm.com 

1.1 bio based monomers 

Kingfa Sci. & Tech. Co., Ltd. 

No.33 Kefeng Rd, Sc. City, Guangzhou 

Hi-Tech Ind. Development Zone, 

Guangdong, P.R. China. 510663 

Tel: +86 (0)20 6622 1696 

info@ecopond.com.cn 

www.ecopond.com.cn 

FLEX-162 Biodeg. Blown Film Resin! 

Bio-873 4-Star Inj. Bio-Based Resin! 

Simply contact: 

Tel.: +49 2161 6884467 

suppguide@bioplasticsmagazine.com 

Stay permanently listed in the 

Suppliers Guide with your company 

logo and contact information. 

For only 6,– EUR per mm, per issue you 

can be present among top suppliers in 

the field of bioplastics. 

For Example: 

Showa Denko Europe GmbH 

Konrad-Zuse-Platz 4 

81829 Munich, Germany 

Tel.: +49 89 93996226 

www.showa-denko.com 

support@sde.de 

PTT MCC Biochem Co., Ltd. 

info@pttmcc.com / www.pttmcc.com 

Tel: +66(0) 2 140-3563 

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 

Corbion Purac 

Arkelsedijk 46, P.O. Box 21 

4200 AA Gorinchem - 

The Netherlands 

Tel.: +31 (0)183 695 695 

Fax: +31 (0)183 695 604 

www.corbion.com/bioplastics 

bioplastics@corbion.com 

62 136 Lestrem, France 

Tel.: + 33 (0) 3 21 63 36 00 

www.roquette-performance-plastics.com 

1.2 compounds 

FKuR Kunststoff GmbH 

Siemensring 79 

D - 47 877 Willich 

Tel. +49 2154 9251-0 

Tel.: +49 2154 9251-51 

sales@fkur.com 

www.fkur.com 

GRAFE-Group 

Waldecker Straße 21, 

99444 Blankenhain, Germany 

Tel. +49 36459 45 0 

www.grafe.com 

39 mm 



41066 Mönchengladbach 

Germany 

Tel. +49 2161 664864 

Fax +49 2161 631045 



DuPont de Nemours International S.A. 

2 chemin du Pavillon 

1218 - Le Grand Saconnex 

Switzerland 

Tel.: +41 22 171 51 11 

Fax: +41 22 580 22 45 

www.renewable.dupont.com 

www.plastics.dupont.com 

API S.p.A. 

Via Dante Alighieri, 27 

36065 Mussolente (VI), Italy 

Telephone +39 0424 579711 

www.apiplastic.com 

www.apinatbio.com 

Green Dot Bioplastics 

226 Broadway | PO Box #142 

Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845, USA 

Tel.: +1 620-273-8919 

info@greendotholdings.com 

www.greendotpure.com 

Sample Charge: 

39mm x 6,00 € 

= 234,00 € per entry/per issue 

Sample Charge for one year: 

6 issues x 234,00 EUR = 1,404.00 € 

The entry in our Suppliers Guide is 

bookable for one year (6 issues) and 

extends automatically if it’s not canceled 

three month before expiry. 

Tel: +86 351-8689356 

Fax: +86 351-8689718 

www.ecoworld.jinhuigroup.com 

ecoworldsales@jinhuigroup.com 

BIO-FED 

Branch of AKRO-PLASTIC GmbH 

BioCampus Cologne 

Nattermannallee 1 

50829 Cologne, Germany 

Tel.: +49 221 88 88 94-00 

info@bio-fed.com 

www.bio-fed.com 

NUREL Engineering Polymers 

Ctra. Barcelona, km 329 

50016 Zaragoza, Spain 

Tel: +34 976 465 579 

inzea@samca.com 

www.inzea-biopolymers.com 

www.facebook.com 

www.issuu.com 

www.twitter.com 

www.youtube.com 

Xinjiang Blue Ridge Tunhe 

Polyester Co., Ltd. 

No. 316, South Beijing Rd. Changji, 

Xinjiang, 831100, P.R.China 

Tel.: +86 994 2713175 

Mob: +86 13905253382 

lilong_tunhe@163.com 

www.lanshantunhe.com 

PBAT & PBS resin supplier 

Global Biopolymers Co.,Ltd. 

Bioplastics compounds 

(PLA+starch;PLA+rubber) 

194 Lardproa80 yak 14 

Wangthonglang, Bangkok 

Thailand 10310 

info@globalbiopolymers.com 

www.globalbiopolymers.com 

Tel +66 81 9150446 

PolyOne 

Avenue Melville Wilson, 2 

Zoning de la Fagne 

5330 Assesse 

Belgium 

Tel.: + 32 83 660 211 

www.polyone.com 



1.6 masterbatches 

Tecnaro GmbH 

Bustadt 40 

D-74360 Ilsfeld. Germany 

Tel: +49 (0)7062/97687-0 

www.tecnaro.de 

1.3 PLA 

GRAFE-Group 



Tel. +49 36459 45 0 

www.grafe.com 

GRANCH BIOPACK CO., LTD 

Huanggang, Hubei, China 

Tel: +86-(0)713-4253230 

Robin.li@salesgh.com 

http://xsguancheng.en.alibaba.com 

Molds, Change Parts and Turnkey 

Solutions for the PET/Bioplastic 

Container Industry 

284 Pinebush Road 

Cambridge Ontario 

Canada N1T 1Z6 

Tel. +1 519 624 9720 

Fax +1 519 624 9721 

info@hallink.com 

www.hallink.com 

JIANGSU SUPLA BIOPLASTICS CO., LTD. 

Tel: +86 527 88278888 

WeChat: supla-168 

supla@supla-bioplastics.cn 

www.supla-bioplastics.cn 

Zhejiang Hisun Biomaterials Co.,Ltd. 

No.97 Waisha Rd, Jiaojiang District, 

Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, China 

Tel: +86-576-88827723 

pla@hisunpharm.com 

www.hisunplas.com 

PolyOne 

Avenue Melville Wilson, 2 

Zoning de la Fagne 

5330 Assesse 

Belgium 

Tel.: + 32 83 660 211 

www.polyone.com 

2. Additives/Secondary raw materials 

Minima Technology Co., Ltd. 

Esmy Huang, COO 

No.33. Yichang E. Rd., Taipin City, 

Taichung County 

411, Taiwan (R.O.C.) 

Tel. +886(4)2277 6888 

Fax +883(4)2277 6989 

Mobil +886(0)982-829988 

esmy@minima-tech.com 

Skype esmy325 

www.minima.com 

6.2 Laboratory Equipment 

MODA: Biodegradability Analyzer 

SAIDA FDS INC. 

143-10 Isshiki, Yaizu, 

Shizuoka,Japan 

Tel:+81-54-624-6260 

Info2@moda.vg 

www.saidagroup.jp 

7. Plant engineering 

1.4 starch-based bioplastics 

BIOTEC 

Biologische Naturverpackungen 

Werner-Heisenberg-Strasse 32 

46446 Emmerich/Germany 

Tel.: +49 (0) 2822 – 92510 

info@biotec.de 

www.biotec.de 

Grabio Greentech Corporation 

Tel: +886-3-598-6496 

No. 91, Guangfu N. Rd., Hsinchu 

Industrial Park,Hukou Township, 

Hsinchu County 30351, Taiwan 

sales@grabio.com.tw 

www.grabio.com.tw 

GRAFE-Group 



Tel. +49 36459 45 0 

www.grafe.com 

3. Semi finished products 

3.1 films 

Infiana Germany GmbH & Co. KG 

Zweibrückenstraße 15-25 

91301 Forchheim 

Tel. +49-9191 81-0 

Fax +49-9191 81-212 

www.infiana.com 

4. Bioplastics products 

Natur-Tec ® - Northern Technologies 

4201 Woodland Road 

Circle Pines, MN 55014 USA 

Tel. +1 763.404.8700 

Fax +1 763.225.6645 

info@natur-tec.com 

www.natur-tec.com 

NOVAMONT S.p.A. 

Via Fauser , 8 

28100 Novara - ITALIA 

Fax +39.0321.699.601 

Tel. +39.0321.699.611 


EREMA Engineering Recycling 

Maschinen und Anlagen GmbH 

Unterfeldstrasse 3 

4052 Ansfelden, AUSTRIA 

Phone: +43 (0) 732 / 3190-0 

Fax: +43 (0) 732 / 3190-23 

erema@erema.at 

www.erema.at 

Uhde Inventa-Fischer GmbH 

Holzhauser Strasse 157–159 

D-13509 Berlin 

Tel. +49 30 43 567 5 

Fax +49 30 43 567 699 

sales.de@uhde-inventa-fischer.com 

Uhde Inventa-Fischer AG 

Via Innovativa 31, CH-7013 Domat/Ems 

Tel. +41 81 632 63 11 

Fax +41 81 632 74 03 

sales.ch@uhde-inventa-fischer.com 

www.uhde-inventa-fischer.com 

1.5 PHA 

TianAn Biopolymer 

No. 68 Dagang 6th Rd, 

Beilun, Ningbo, China, 315800 

Tel. +86-57 48 68 62 50 2 

Fax +86-57 48 68 77 98 0 

enquiry@tianan-enmat.com 

www.tianan-enmat.com 

Bio4Pack GmbH 

D-48419 Rheine, Germany 

Tel.: +49 (0) 5975 955 94 57 

info@bio4pack.com 

www.bio4pack.com 

President Packaging Ind., Corp. 

PLA Paper Hot Cup manufacture 

In Taiwan, www.ppi.com.tw 

Tel.: +886-6-570-4066 ext.5531 

Fax: +886-6-570-4077 

sales@ppi.com.tw 

6. Equipment 

6.1 Machinery & Molds 

9. Services 

Osterfelder Str. 3 

46047 Oberhausen 

Tel.: +49 (0)208 8598 1227 

Fax: +49 (0)208 8598 1424 

thomas.wodke@umsicht.fhg.de 

www.umsicht.fraunhofer.de 

Metabolix, Inc. 

Bio-based and biodegradable resins 

and performance additives 

21 Erie Street 

Cambridge, MA 02139, USA 

US +1-617-583-1700 

DE +49 (0) 221 / 88 88 94 00 

www.metabolix.com 

info@metabolix.com 

BeoPlast Besgen GmbH 

Bioplastics injection moulding 

Industriestraße 64 

D-40764 Langenfeld, Germany 

Tel. +49 2173 84840-0 

info@beoplast.de 

www.beoplast.de 

Buss AG 

Hohenrainstrasse 10 

4133 Pratteln / Switzerland 

Tel.: +41 61 825 66 00 

Fax: +41 61 825 68 58 

info@busscorp.com 

www.busscorp.com 

Institut für Kunststofftechnik 

Universität Stuttgart 

Böblinger Straße 70 

70199 Stuttgart 

Tel +49 711/685-62814 

Linda.Goebel@ikt.uni-stuttgart.de 

www.ikt.uni-stuttgart.de 



www.pu-magazine.com 

K2016, hall 15, 

booth B27 / C 2 4 / C 27 / D2 4 

Engineering Passion 

05/2016 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 

www.kraussmaffei.com/experts 

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www.pu-magazin.de 

04/2016 Oktober 

Machines, plants & technologies for highly efficient polyurethane processing 

>> METERING MACHINES 

>> SANDWICH PANEL LINES 

>> MOULDED FOAM LINES 

>> SLABSTOCK LINES 

>> COMPOSITES & ADVANCED APPLICATIONS 

>> TECHNICAL INSULATION LINES 

>> 360˚ SERVICE 

K 2016 / Düsseldorf 

19.10. - 26.10.2016, Hall 13, Stand B63 

www.hennecke.com 

69. Jahrgang, November 2016 

We focus on solving your individual problems 

and develop products which will significantly 

improve your processing. 

Innovative design, constant quality and maximum 

consistency – that is what we provide. 

Kettlitz-Chemie GmbH & Co. KG 

Industriestraße 6, 86643 Rennertshofen (Germany) 

Phone +49 8434 9402-0, Fax +49 8434 9402-38 

info@kettlitz.com, www.kettlitz.com 

Plasticizers, Processing Aids 

Activators, Silanes 

Desiccants, Antitack Agents 

Heat Transfer Fluids 

Volume 11, November 2016 

tpe-e modification 

hard-soft composites 

new styrene-ethylene copolymer 

low-density tpu foam 

polytriazines as fire/flame retardant synergists 

TPE-TPO 

TPE-TPO 

Volume 8, November 2016 

narocon 

Dr. Harald Kaeb 

Tel.: +49 30-28096930 

kaeb@narocon.de 

www.narocon.de 

9. Services (continued) 

BPI - The Biodegradable 

Products Institute 

331 West 57th Street, Suite 415 

New York, NY 10019, USA 

Tel. +1-888-274-5646 

info@bpiworld.org 

Michigan State University 

Dept. of Chem. Eng & Mat. Sc. 

Professor Ramani Narayan 

East Lansing MI 48824, USA 

Tel. +1 517 719 7163 

narayan@msu.edu 

Simply contact: 

Tel.: +49 2161 6884467 

suppguide@bioplasticsmagazine.com 

Stay permanently listed in the 

Suppliers Guide with your company 

logo and contact information. 

For only 6,– EUR per mm, per issue you 

can be present among top suppliers in 

the field of bioplastics. 

10.3 Other Institutions 

For Example: 

nova-Institut GmbH 

Chemiepark Knapsack 

Industriestrasse 300 

50354 Huerth, Germany 

Tel.: +49(0)2233-48-14 40 

E-Mail: contact@nova-institut.de 

www.biobased.eu 

European Bioplastics e.V. 

Marienstr. 19/20 

10117 Berlin, Germany 

Tel. +49 30 284 82 350 

Fax +49 30 284 84 359 

info@european-bioplastics.org 

www.european-bioplastics.org 

10.2 Universities 

Green Serendipity 

Caroli Buitenhuis 

IJburglaan 836 

1087 EM Amsterdam 

The Netherlands 

Tel.: +31 6-24216733 

www.greenseredipity.nl 



41066 Mönchengladbach 

Germany 

Tel. +49 2161 664864 

Fax +49 2161 631045 



39 mm 

Bioplastics Consulting 

Tel. +49 2161 664864 

info@polymediaconsult.com 

10. Institutions 

10.1 Associations 

IfBB – Institute for Bioplastics 

and Biocomposites 

University of Applied Sciences 

and Arts Hanover 

Faculty II – Mechanical and 

Bioprocess Engineering 

Heisterbergallee 12 

30453 Hannover, Germany 

Tel.: +49 5 11 / 92 96 - 22 69 

Fax: +49 5 11 / 92 96 - 99 - 22 69 

lisa.mundzeck@hs-hannover.de 

www.ifbb-hannover.de/ 

Sample Charge: 

39mm x 6,00 € 

= 234,00 € per entry/per issue 

Sample Charge for one year: 

6 issues x 234,00 EUR = 1,404.00 € 

The entry in our Suppliers Guide is 

bookable for one year (6 issues) and 

extends automatically if it’s not canceled 

three month before expiry. 

SEEING POLYMERS 

WITH DIFFERENT EYES... 

POLYURETHANES MAGAZINE INTERNATIONAL 

Interview: M. Volpato, Cannon, and M. Corti, Afros 

-preview 

Curative for PU cast elastomers 

PIT-S-RIM-process 

Branched short chain fluorosurfactants 

FORUM FÜR DIE POLYURETHANINDUSTRIE 

PU MAGAZIN 

WELCOME TO FASCINATION A ION PUR 

Interview: M. Volpato, Cannon, und M. Corti, Afros 

-Vorschau 

Europäischer Weichschaummarkt 2015 

Wärmeleitender PU-Schaum 

Biobasierte Polyolformulierungen 

Fachmagazin für die Polymerindustrie 

Ersatz von RFL-Systemen 

Lkw-Reifenrecycling 

Devulkanisation von S-vernetztem SBR 

Kühlmittelbeständigkeit von 

Elastomeren – Teil 1 

Spritzgießwerkzeugtechnik 

Mixing room cost optimization – part 2 

Sulfenamide accelerators 

Rubber-to-substrate bonding 

DOTG replacement for AEM, ACM, CR, NR 

Magazine for the Polymer Industry 

LSR injection molding simulation 

Intelligent Solutions. 

 

 

 

 

Leading experts for leading solutions 

Rethinking lightweight construction/composites 

11| 2016 



Contact us to learn more about 

subscriptions, advertising opportunities, editorial specials: 

info@gupta-verlag.de 

Our technical magazines and books create your expertise 

48 bioplastics MAGAZINE [01/17] Vol. 12 

P. O. Box 10 13 30 · 40833 Ratingen/Germany · www.gupta-verlag.com 

Tel. +49 2102 9345-0 · Fax +49 2102 9345-20

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05.04.2017 - Toronto, Canada 

www.astm.org/D20Wrkshp2017 

2017 Intl. Technology & Application Conference on 

Bio-based Materials 

20.04.2017 - 21.04.2017 - Ningbo, China 

www.bio-basedconf.com 

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25.04.2017 - 27.04.2017 - Lille, France 

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31.05.2017 - 01.06.2017 - Washinghton DC, USA 

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www. biopol-conf.org 

bioplastics MAGAZINE [01/17] Vol. 12 49 57

Companies in this issue 

Company Editorial Advert Company Editorial Advert Company Editorial Advert 

Advanced Biochemical Thailand 12 

Agrana 46 

Aimplas 11 

Akzo Nobel 34 

API Appl. Plastiche Industriali 46 

AVA-CO2 20 

Avalon 20 

Avantium 6 

BASF 8, 36 9 

Beoplast 47 

Billerudkorsnas/Fiberform 8 

Bio4Pack 8 41, 47 

BioAmber 5 

Bio-Fed Zweign. der Akro-Plastic 46 

Biopolymer Network 40 

Biosilutions 33 

Biotec 8 9, 47 

BPI 22 48 

Braskem 8 9 

Bunzl 8 

Buss 35, 47 

CJ CheilJedang 5 

Coffee Company 8 

ColorFABB 35 

Corbion 8 9, 46 

Cryostore 34 

Cumapol 8 

Danimer Scientific 5 

DIN Certco 22 

Dr. Heinz Gupta Verlag 48 

DuPont Performance Materials 8 46 

Eindhoven Univ. 26 

Elix Polymers 16 

EPEA 34 

Erema 47 

European Bioplastics 8, 9, 22, 40 48 

Fiat 11, 18 

Fiat Chrysler Automobile 18 

FKuR 2, 46 

FNR 9 

Fraunhofer UMSICHT 32 47 

Frost & Sullivan 16 

Futamura 8 

GRABIO Greentech Corporation 47 

Grafe 46, 47 

Granch Biopack 47 

Green Dot Bioplastics 20 46 

Green Serendpity 8, 9 48 

Green source 11 

Greeny 34 

Hallink 47 

Holland Bioplastics 8 

Infiana Germany 47 

Inst. F. Bioplastics & Biocomposites 7, 26 48 

Inst. F. Food & Env. Research 32 

Inst. Of Chemical Engieers 12 

IsoBouw 34 

JEC 12 

Jinhui Zhaolong 46 

Kingfa 46 

Kuraray EVAL Europe 8 

K-Zeitung 9 

Lindar 6 

Liquid Light 6 

Loick Biowertstoffe 32 

Mazda 10 

Meredian 5 

Metabolix 47 

MHG 5 

Michigan State University 48 

Minima Technology 47 

Mitsubishi Chemical 10, 15 

narocon 48 

NatureWorks 8 

Natur-Tec 47 

Nile Univ. 28 

NNRGY 8 

nova-Institute 8 10, 25, 31, 48 

Novamont 22 47, 52 

Novon Polymers 22 

Nurel 46 

O‘Right 8 

Organic Waste Systems 22 

OWS 8 

packaging europe 9 

Photanol 21 

plasticker 9 11 

Plastics in Packaging 9 

Plastimar 34 

polymediaconsult 48 

PolyOne 46, 47 

President Packaging 47 

Procter & Gamble 22 

PTT/MCC 8 46 

Purdue Univ. 27 

RadiciGroup 18 

Renault 14 

Rodenburg 8 

Roquette 46 

Saida 47 

Scion 8, 40 

Seepje 8 

Showa Denko 7 46 

Singapore Univ. 30 

Smithers-Rapra 29 

Snyprodo 34 

Solaris 11 

Solegear 6 

Solvay Epicerol 12 

Storopack Deutschland 32 

Styropack 34 

Supla 47 

Sustainability Consult 9 

Sustainable Packaging Coalition 9 

Swak Experience 26 

Synbra Group 34 

Taghleef Industrie 8 

Tecnaro 47 

Termo Komfort 34 

Tetra Pak 38 

thinkstep 34 

TianAn Biopolymer 47 

Uhde Inventa-Fischer 47 

Univ. Cantabria 11 

Univ. Nottingham 28 

Univ. Stuttgart (IKT) 47 

VDI 121 

Vegware 27 

Vinçotte 5, 22 

Wyss Institute (Harvard) 30 

Xinjiang Blue Ridge Tunhe Polyester 46 

Zandonella 34 

Zhejiang Hangzhou Xinfu Pharmaceutical 46 

Zhejiang Hisun Biomaterials 38, 47 

Issue 

Editorial Planner 

Month 

02/2017 Mar 

Apr 

03/2017 May 

Jun 

04/2017 Jul 

Aug 

05/2017 Sep 

Oct 

06/2017 Nov 

Dec 

Publ. 

Date 

edit/ad/ 

Deadline 


03 Apr 17 05 Mar 17 Thermoforming 

Rigid Packaging 

05 Jun 17 05 May 17 Injection 

moulding 

Edit. Focus 1 Edit. Focus 2 Edit. Focus 3 Basics 

Bioplastics in 

agriculture / 

horticulture 

07 Aug 17 07 Jul 17 Blow Moulding Biocomposites 

incl. Thermoset 

02 Oct 17 01 Sep 17 Fiber / Textile / 

Nonwoven 

04 Dec 17 03 Nov 17 Films/Flexibles/ 

Bags 

Germany/Austria 

Switzerland 

Special 

“Biodegradability/ 

compostability”- 

standards & certification 

Trade-Fair 

Specials 

interpack & 

Chinaplas 

preview 

Food packaging China Special FAQ (update) interpack & 

Chinaplas 

review 

Beauty & 

Healthcare 

Polyurethanes/ 

Elastomers/ 

Rubber 

Scandinavia 

Special 

North America 

Special 

Italy/France 

Special 

"biobased" - standards 

and certification 

(C14; mass balance) 

Land use for bioplastics 

(update) 

Blown film extrusion 

Composites 

Europe 

Preview 

Subject to changes

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