Issue 06/2020

daily upated news at
www.bioplasticsmagazine.com
News
Danimer Scientific and
PSI-Sidaplax cooperate
Danimer Scientific, a leading developer and
manufacturer of biodegradable resins, and Plastic
Suppliers, Inc. (PSI) parent company of Sidaplax
Belgium, a global manufacturer of biopolymer
EarthFirst ® PLA barrier and non-barrier sealant
films, today announced they will work together
to create biobased, home compostable films.
PSI will use material supplied by Danimer Scientific
to produce packaging films that will reliably degrade
without leaving behind harmful microplastics.
These films will contain Danimer Scientific’s
proprietary biopolymer, Nodax polyhydroxyalkanoate
(PHA). Tested by University of Georgia, USA (UGA)
researchers and the UGA New Materials Institute, PHA
is a proven biodegradable alternative to petrochemical
plastics made from sustainable materials such as
canola oil. Danimer Scientific will work with PSI-
Sidaplax to create customized resins that will offer
additional end-of-life options to PSI-Sidaplax’ already
existing line of industrial compostable films. New
PHA-containing films will include home compostable
as well as soil and marine degradable options.
“We have developed a strong working relationship
with PSI-Sidaplax over the last decade creating biobased
packaging materials, and we are excited to
expand our partnership by introducing one of the
industry’s most promising sustainable materials to
their products,” said Stephen Croskrey, CEO of Danimer
Scientific. “PHA has already proven to be a reliable ecofriendly
alternative for consumer packaged goods, and
this expansion into flexible packaging will help further
reduce the environmental impacts of plastic waste.”
The new films will be designed for a wide range of
applications across food, beverage, grocery retailer, quick
service restaurant, stadium foodservice, and many other
consumer packaged goods (CPG) and industrial segments.
“The evolution of our films’ ability to compost or
degrade in various natural environments underscores
our commitment to bio-based packaging films,”
said George Thomas, CEO of PSI-Sidaplax. “We
are dedicated to bioplastic film innovation and
passionate about advancing sustainability for a
healthier planet. We look forward to continuing our
work with Danimer Scientific and incorporating
PHA into new environmentally responsible films.”
Danimer Scientific’s Nodax PHA has earned
seven TÜV AUSTRIA certifications and statements of
industrial and home compostability, is biodegradable
in anaerobic conditions, soil, freshwater and
marine environments and is 100% bio-based. All
of Danimer Scientific’s biopolymers, including its
Nodax PHA, are FDA approved for food contact. MT
www.danimerscientific.com | www.sidaplax.com
Bio-waste bags
New DIN certificate guarantees
complete degradation in compost
in a maximum of six weeks
In the discussion on compostable bio-waste bags,
Verbund kompostierbare Produkte e.V. (Berlin, Germany)
would like to create clarity once and for all in the discussion
on compostable bio-waste bags. In the course of this, the
certification body DIN CERTCO has been commissioned
to develop the certification system "DINplus Bio-waste
Bags". This seal limits the maximum period of time to
6 weeks that compostable bio-waste bags are given to
completely biodegrade. This is just half of the European
standard EN 13432, which allows a maximum of 12 weeks.
"With this step, clarity is created and we are responding
to the request to check the degradation in case of shorter
rotting times that are customary in composting plants
today. Now nothing stands in the way of using the bags,"
says Michael von Ketteler, managing director of Verbund.
The new certification mark applies exclusively to biowaste
collection bags and supplements the already
established seedling, which guarantees compliance
with EN 13432. The European standard not only requires
the biodegradation of materials, comparable to natural
substances such as cellulose, but also includes strict
criteria regarding chemical ingredients and heavy metals,
as well as mandatory ecotoxicological tests. Only through
this package of requirements the complete harmlessness
of materials for the collection of bio-waste can be proven.
This ensures that no microplastics remain in the compost.
"We continue to stand by our demand: only material that
has been certified with at least the 'seedling' should be
allowed to be used for the collection of biowaste", von
Ketteler continues. "The DINplus mark guarantees - in
addition to the requirements of the seedling according
to DIN EN 13432 - that the biowaste bags meet the
requirements of the value chain in Germany for shorter
rotting times of maximum 6 instead of maximum 12
weeks," says Dr. Oliver Ehlert, expert of DIN Certco. "We
are now prepared for testing and certification of approved
materials," adds Dr. Ehlert.
Background: Since 2015, the German Closed Substance
Cycle and Waste Management Act and the Organic Waste
Ordinance of 2012 have obliged local authorities to provide
their citizens with a facility for the separate collection
of kitchen waste. This biowaste is used to produce
renewable energy and compost, thus strengthening the
circular economy. MT
www.derVerbund.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/20] Vol. 15 9