bioplasticsMAGAZINE_0902
bioplasticsMAGAZINE_0902
bioplasticsMAGAZINE_0902
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Application News<br />
Compostable<br />
Extruded Net<br />
Tubing<br />
End of last year BioPak from Sydney,<br />
Australia announced the launch of their<br />
BioNet compostable extruded net tubing.<br />
BioNet is manufactured in Australia from<br />
a starch based biopolymer. The material is<br />
certified compostable to European Standard<br />
EN13432 which means that it will break down<br />
into CO 2<br />
, water and biomass in a compost<br />
facility within 180 days.<br />
BioNet took two years to develop. Together<br />
with a local net extrusion company BioPak<br />
trialed a number of different biopolymer<br />
blends until a suitable material was found.<br />
The biopolymer was easily extruded using<br />
existing equipment and produced a net<br />
that met all the functional requirements of<br />
traditional extruded net packaging.<br />
It has excellent tensile strength and can<br />
be used as an effective replacement for<br />
conventional extruded net. Available in a<br />
variety of colours, tube diameters and strand<br />
gauges it meets most specific customer<br />
applications.<br />
The nets can be used for packaging<br />
produce such as oranges, onions or garlic,<br />
for packaging seafood, e.g. Crabs & mussles.<br />
In the horticultural area it can be used for<br />
tree guards or soil binding. Another field<br />
of applications is the protective netting of<br />
industrial gas cylinders.<br />
BioNet is just one product from the BioPak<br />
range of compostable packaging systems.<br />
New Landscape Fabric<br />
The new WeedBlock ® Natural is the world’s first weed control<br />
fabric made with annually renewable resources.<br />
This new non-woven landscape fabric recently introduced to<br />
the market by Easy Gardener Products, Inc.from Waco, Texas,<br />
USA differs from its completely petroleum-based predecessors.<br />
WeedBlock Natural is made from 50% Ingeo ® (PLA) fiber, which<br />
is derived from annually renewable starch-based agricultural<br />
resources like corn. The Ingeo brand represents an upstream<br />
manufacturing process which uses 68% less energy and generates<br />
up to 65% fewer greenhouse gases than petroleum-based<br />
manufacturing.<br />
Eco-friendly WeedBlock Natural allows gardeners to protect<br />
their landscapes from weeds and simultaneously reduce their<br />
environmental footprint at the same time. WeedBlock Natural<br />
keeps weeds out and lets moisture and air in for healthy plant<br />
growth. It is effective for up to seven years when covered with<br />
mulch, bark or stones.<br />
For every 10,000 rolls of WeedBlock Natural used, gardeners will<br />
help decrease oil consumption by 20 barrels.<br />
www.easygardener.com<br />
www.biopak.com.au<br />
26 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/09] Vol. 4
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