issue 02/2021

Automotive
10
Years ago
Published in
bioplastics MAGAZINE
Waste collection, sorting systems and ‘en
solutions:
Politics
Bioplastics
in Israel
By
Inbar Avner
JOLYBAR Montefiore
Natanya, Israel
Plastics and Industry
Israeli firms are committed to universally accepted quality standards
and excel at meeting niche market needs. Israel is unique in having free
trade agreements with the European Union, the United States and Canada,
EFTA countries, as well as Mexico and Turkey. Most other countries have
granted Israel MFN status (Most Favoured Nation).
Israel’s vigorous R&D programs, its expertise in advanced technologies,
and its strengths in computer-aided design and manufacture have been
adopted by the plastic products industry. The result is a vibrant exportoriented
enterprise offering innovative, high quality products.
Products
The Israeli plastics market manufactures agricultural products (23%
of industry sales), infrastructure and construction related products,
household and consumer items, engineering and high-tech components,
medical consumables and packaging products (16% of industry sales).
The latter is of particular interest to the biopolymer market. Reflecting
global trends that increasingly embrace plastics, but that also address
environmental concerns, Israel’s packaging industry works aggressively to
develop solutions that meet consumer interests and regulatory demands
while fulfilling customers’ requirements for quality, reliability and cost.
Legislation
A few major steps have recently taken place in Israeli legislation:
• Israeli Standard IS 6018 – A non-obligatory standard which follows EN
13432 and ISO 17088 is being implemented.
• Packaging Law - Submitted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection,
this law imposes direct responsibility on manufacturers and importers
in Israel to collect and recycle the packaging waste from their products.
The immediate outcome of the above has been extensive development and
proactive steps by major market chain retailers, food and pharmaceutical
producers and packaging converters.
This means not only R&D activity, but also includes some pilot tests,
adopting bio-based and biodegradable replacements for existing items.
Waste management in Israel – Figures:
• Waste in Israel has been growing at an average annual rate of 3%-5%.
• Some 5.4 million tons of municipal solid waste are generated in Israel
each year.
• Every resident in Israel generates an average of 1.6 kilos of waste daily.
• The weight of packaging waste in Israel is estimated at a million tons
per year.
• Recycling targets: By 2014 manufacturers and importers will be
required to recycle 60% of the total weight of the packaging of the
products they sell or import each year. Producers will have to comply
with annual recycling targets according to type of material: glass, water
and cardboard 70%, metal 65% and plastic 40%.
In Israel, today, there are only a handful of private
handle massive shipments of wet waste, as the new re
dictate. The government has created incentives and
and encourage new investments in such facilities, with
the appropriate infrastructure in place once new wa
regulations are implemented.
The above companies, and some newcomers that
opportunity, are currently examining new investments
receiving and processing the expected growth in wet
through energy recovery systems (incineration), ana
systems for producing gas, and coerced composting.
The Israel Recycling Organization‘s main bottle recyclin
able to add an NIR stream that can sort PLA and bio-based
recyclers would be more than willing to purchase the bott
the industry after processing, however, there will be no inv
local production switches to more significant quantities (m
of the total collected containers and bottles).
Major players in the Israeli biopolymer mark
In order to maximize market potential, special cooperation
Industries (1993) Ltd. and Jolybar Ltd. has been created. The
a worldwide leader in masterbatch manufacture and comp
broad experience in the development and marketing of uniq
together with Jolybar, a leader in the biopolymer market w
access to potential customers and a strong marketing p
jointly developed the first multipurpose bio-based compound
The Ecomp grades that comply with EN13432 and A
standards are mainly based on NatureWorks Ingeo TM and
Biolice ® as well as other biopolymers and additives. Eco
have already been tested and commercially used in blown fil
moulding and blow moulding applications, and furthermo
perfect technical performance, high efficiency and positive co
figures. Well-known Israeli manufacturers such as LOG - Plast
Company (1993) Ltd, A.M.G. Manufacturing & Marketing of Pla
L.T.D and Plastnir Ltd., have already applied Ingeo and Ecom
commercial production and others are in the final stages of
approvals. Possible applications are films for packaging
multi-layer and high barrier pouches), mineral water bottles,
and pharmaceutical containers, cosmetics and hygiene tubes,
moulded components and compostable and durable products.
The biopolymers activity in the Israeli market is growing rapidly,
a fertile market for activity by other companies, such as FKUR, N
Biotech and Telles.
www.kafrit.com
www.jolybar.com
www.ecojo.co.il
54 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/11] Vol. 6
tinyurl.com/2011Israel
54 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/21] Vol. 16