issue 05/2021

Award
DuPont (Luxemburg)
Renewable POM-H (polyoxymethylene
homopolymer)
DuPont Delrin ® Renewable
Attributed is a renewable POM-H
(polyoxymethylene homopolymer). The
product is unique as it comprises three
renewable resources:
• Municipal waste converted to steam
as a heating source for the Delrin
production process
• Wind energy for electricity to run the
Delrin manufacturing facility
• Bio-feedstock from waste converted
to bio-methanol converted into Delrin
resin.
This results in a product with a worldclass
environmental impact profile. The
base polymer is produced from 100 %
certified bio-feedstock from waste in
accordance with mass balance principles
and accredited through the International
Sustainability and Carbon Certification
(ISCC Plus) mass balance certification
system.
Delrin Renewable Attributed is the stiffest
unreinforced material available and used for
applications that require a high degree of
durability, reliability, and long service life. It
exhibits all the same mechanical properties
and performance advantages as traditional
fossil-based Delrin.
Naturally resilient and self-lubricating,
Delrin Renewable Attributed is ideal for
gears, conveyor belts (material handling),
smart and wearable drug delivery devices,
safety retractor systems in automotive, and
consumer applications.
Delrin Renewable Attributed delivers
superior performance compared to
competitive low friction copolymers. With
higher tensile properties (+16 %) and
improved sliding performance (+45 %)
achieved on a significantly better flow,
the product enables the design of parts
with excellent wear/friction performance,
durability, and ultra-low COF (Coefficient of
Friction)
www.dupont.com
Refork (Czech Republic)
Refork
Refork is not just one solution. Refork
is a Czech technological start-up that
combines waste and natural resources
to create materials and products to
replace single-use plastic. Their first
iconic product is the fork, but the fork is
only the beginning.
The company has developed a new
material based on sawdust, waste from
wood processing banded with natural
polymers PHB(V). Thanks to a patented
blending technology Mechanical
Thermodynamic Mill (MTI), they can mix
up to 60 % sawdust with natural binders.
The material is made from resources
that are not just home compostable
but also biodegrades in nature without
leaving behind micro-plastics. Moreover,
a new process was developed that
allows the processing of the material
on conventional plastic technologies
such as injection or extrusion moulding.
In addition, these technologies are
highly efficient and allow for zero-waste
manufacturing. Everything from material
development to final production is done
locally in the Czech Republic.
In 2019 EU decided to ban singleuse
plastic including cutleries. The only
allowed cutleries are made from wood
or paper and are not very functional.
Thus, the first iconic product would be a
fork. Refork have been producing over a
million pieces of cutlery per month since
January. Since September, production is
being upscaled to 20 million pieces per
month.
The current plan of Refork is to
continue developing new materials that
are entirely made from natural industrial
waste. They are also working on the
extension of their product portfolio in
food contact but also other markets.
For example, Refork are are developing
a toothbrush for the dental market to
launch early next year. So, for them, the
fork is truly only the beginning. Welcome
to the material renaissance.
www.refork.com
Polymedia Publisher & Narocon
(both Germany)
bio!TOY conference
Over one hundred international
participants attended the 2 nd bio!TOY
conference, organised by bioplastics
MAGAZINE and narocon Innovation
Consultancy Harald Käb, in Nuremberg
(Germany) on the 7 th and 8 th of September.
One attendee left this anonymous
proposal (slightly edited to fit the format):
“For many of the around 60 on-site
attendees the 2 nd bio!TOY conference was
the first time to actually meet people faceto-face,
mingle, have chat, and network
with participants from all parts of the
industry. It was a chance to meet big players
like Lego, but also smaller companies
like Viking Toys or Miniland. Next to toy
producers, that are without a doubt the
heart of the toy industry, representatives
of the material producers showcased
a variety of solutions that could replace
fossil-based plastics. The start-up Lignin
Industries seems hellbent on disproving
the old saying about lignin many of us
might have heard (“you can make anything
with lignin, but money”), while other
companies showcased the possibilities
of PHA and PLA – all of them equipped
with samples to touch, feel, and even
smell the materials. The Q&A sessions
often inspired interesting discussions
during the coffee and lunch breaks. There
are still challenges aplenty, recycling
infrastructures need to be developed and
improved, renewable energy – our brothers
in arms in the fight for a more sustainable
future – will need another boost to be
able to shoulder the visions of chemical
recycling and CO 2
based materials, and
the general public needs to be better
informed about sustainable plastics.
Despite all these challenges, the mood at
the conference was great, the atmosphere
at times electric. So many visions for the
future, so many motivated people in one
room – learning, discussing, collaborating
– it was simply fantastic. Reaching all these
goals will surely be a challenge, but after
the bio!TOY, I think we might just make it.”
www.bio-toy.info
bioplastics MAGAZINE [05/21] Vol. 16 33