Issue 06/2022

Bioplastics - CO 2 -based Plastics - Advanced Recycling 

Nov/Dec 06 / 2022 

Highlights 

Films / Flexibles / Bags | 40 

Consumer Electronics | 48 

bioplastics MAGAZINE Vol. 17 

Cover Story 

Test to fail – or fail to test? 

Faulty test design and questionable 

composting conditions lead to a 

foreseeable failure of the DUH 

experiment | 44 

Basics 

Chemical recycling | 54 

... is read in 100 countries 

ISSN 1862-5258

Category 

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Et et laudiss imuscium isitem et 

Quictordit. Ahaed nos Catus, es et; hilnem incer ut viris 

conferi iam adetiam inat, quampere conessat, untium 

adessimum iam me inte inpri senatquemur acret are, 

me nostrae vilica ta Senice me orae possa vicaesimis, coerum 

cre factorus, nem Palerestis, sis hostuitum, nostabenir pratis 

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sitibusam quatecu sandae pre inciumquam et aut fugit istius. 

Laut qui berciae nos et, occum verum qui sumet lam 

rererch ilique nectiam nieneces dolesequi restota tiamus. 

Ceperatibus. Tur, natibus ra nimusdam ut quodipicid 

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modit ulparum nis aut adi doluptus eatiisime quat. 

Us alit qui cum que non poribusandit vitatur, imperi tem re 

paruntent ut por re bioplastics MAGAZINE et carnival. 

www.bioplasticsmagazine.com

dear 

Editorial 

readers 

Looking back at this issue of bioplastics MAGAZINE I can’t help but notice two 

themes that currently seem very central in many different areas of plastics, 

be it in the topic of composting or (advanced) recycling. These two themes are 

also very related, on the one hand, we have the question of quality and on the 

other the view on and value of waste. Let’s start with quality. While I wrote an 

extensive review of the Advanced Recycling Conference hosted by the 

nova-institute I will repeat, or perhaps spoil, one central point here, 

the considerations around the quality of a feedstock and the quality 

of the resulting material. While the point of some advanced recycling 

technologies is to turn low-quality or highly contaminated feedstocks 

back into virgin level raw materials many processes need fairly clean 

streams. On the other hand, recyclate was for a long time seen as more 

of a low-quality necessary evil – the materials had little value and it was 

just a way to deal with waste. Similarly composting is for many just a 

good way to deal with waste. Now, however, especially in the recycling 

sector, there seems to be a shift away from recycling simply as an endof-life 

option towards seeing waste as a new value-adding feedstock. 

In our cover story on page 44 we report about an experiment of the 

Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH – a German non-profit) that touches 

on a completely different topic of quality – the quality of test design 

and scientific rigour, which, sadly, we found lacking and not up to 

par. However, we also touch on the view and role of biodegradable 

plastics in this report and how, e.g. biodegradable bin bags and 

certain forms of packaging, such as coffee capsules, can bring valueadding 

feedstocks to the compost, potentially increasing the quality 

of the compost (like coffee is known to do). Here again, the question 

is, what should be at the core of these considerations, getting rid of 

a certain of waste or compost as a product? And are these perhaps 

combinable? In any case, systems that have existed for decades 

seem to be slowly changing, things are in flux and, hopefully, will 

pick up more and more speed in the near future. 

Next to the conference reviews of the Advanced Recycling Conference 

and the Bioplastics Business Breakfast we also have our K-Review looking 

back at a couple of companies we noticed during the week-long plastics 

extravaganza in Düsseldorf. Beyond that, we have two Basics articles, one 

giving a comprehensive overview of Advanced Recycling technologies and 

another looking at digital bookkeeping and mass balance. And of course, we 

also have articles for our editorial focus points of Films, Flexibles, Bags and 

Consumer Electronics. I for one am now looking forward to more relaxed times 

after the K-show is over and the year is slowly coming to an end. In Germany, 

the time of Glühwein and Feuerzangenbowle (google it – it’s great fun) has 

begun, and I am all for it. And if we don’t run into each other in Berlin during 

the European Bioplastics Conference I already wish you happy holidays and a 

happy new year right now. 

Sincerely yours 

@bioplasticsmag 

Follow us on twitter! 

@bioplasticsmagazine 

Like us on Facebook! 

bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/22] Vol. 17 

3

Imprint 

Content 

Nov / Dec 06|2022 

Project 

16 EU Open Innovation Test Bed (BIOMAC) 

Recycling 

18 Adhesives: A problem and solution in a 

circular economy 

20 Cobalt-based catalysts for chemical plastic 

recycling 

From Science & Research 

22 Enzymes to boost plastic sustainability 

23 Steel mill gases transformed into 

Bioplastic 

Feedstock 

24 Cyanobacteria 101 

26 World’s largest CO 2 

-to-methanol plant 

starts production 

Materials 

42 New glass fibre reinforced biopolymer 

compounds 

43 Amorphous PHA meets PLA 

3 Editorial 

5 News 

8 Events 

50 Application News 

53 Basics 

56 10 years ago 

58 Glossary 

62 Suppliers Guide 

66 Companies in this issue 

Applications 

27 R&D solution to tackle plastic waste 

for nurseries 

28 First stroller portfolio made with 

biobased materials 

29 Cove PHA bottles hit the market 

30 Work and relax in an Organic Shell 

32 Bacteria help make music more 

sustainable 

K-Review 

34 K-Review 

Films 

40 Biodegradable packaging from 

marine algae polymers 

Report / Opinion 

44 Test to fail or fail to test? 

Consumer Electronics 

48 Biobased PA 6.10 for robot vacuum 

cleaner 

Publisher / Editorial 

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Alex Thielen (AT) 

Samuel Brangenberg (SB) 

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phone: +49(0)2161-6884467 

fax: +49(0)2161 6884468 

sb@bioplasticsmagazine.com 

Michael Thielen (English Language) 

(see head office) 

Layout/Production 

Philipp Thielen 

Print 

Poligrāfijas grupa Mūkusala Ltd. 

1004 Riga, Latvia 

bioplastics MAGAZINE is printed on 

chlorine-free FSC certified paper. 

bioplastics MAGAZINE 

Volume 17 - 2022 

ISSN 1862-5258 

bM is published 6 times a year. 

This publication is sent to qualified 

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bioplastics MAGAZINE is read in 

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spelling may also be used. 

Envelopes 

A part of this print run is mailed to the 

readers wrapped bioplastic envelopes 

sponsored by Sidaplax/Plastic Suppliers 

Belgium/USA). 

Cover 

DUH Field test 

(Photo: Philipp Thielen) 

@BIOPLASTICSMAG 

@BIOPLASTICSMAGAZINE

NatureWorks new 

facility in Thailand 

NatureWorks (Plymouth, MN, USA) the world’s 

leading manufacturer of low-carbon polylactic acid 

(PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, 

has selected TTCL Public Company Limited 

(Bangkok, Thailand) as the general contractor for 

procurement, construction, commissioning, and 

startup support services for their new Ingeo PLA 

manufacturing complex in Thailand. The new facility 

is designed to be fully integrated and will include 

production of lactic acid, lactide, and polymer. 

Located on the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex (NBC) 

in Nakhon Sawan Province, the manufacturing 

site will have an annual capacity of 75,000 tonnes 

of Ingeo biopolymer and will produce the full 

portfolio of Ingeo grades. 

In June 2022, site preparation for the new 

manufacturing facility at the NBC was completed 

and NatureWorks signed an agreement with Sino 

Thai Engineering and Construction PCL (Bangkok, 

Thailand) to begin early-works construction 

for piling, underground piping, stormwater 

management, and tank foundations. Currently 

underway, the early-works construction progress 

keeps the completion of the facility on schedule for 

the second half of 2024. 

“We are pleased to see the continued progress on 

the construction of our second Ingeo manufacturing 

complex that will help us address the increasing 

global market demand for sustainable materials”, 

said Steve Bray, VP of Operations at NatureWorks. 

“With the selection of TTCL as our general 

contractor, we are looking forward to leveraging 

their expertise in executing large, highly technical 

capital projects in Thailand”. 

NatureWorks expects to hold a cornerstone 

laying ceremony to honour the progress of site 

construction in February 2023. MT 

www.natureworksllc.com 

Neste, Idemitsu Kosan, 

CHIMEI Corporation, and 

Mitsubishi Corporation 

join forces 

Neste (Espoo, Finland) Idemitsu Kosan (Tokyo, Japan), CHIMEI 

(Tainan City, Taiwan), and Mitsubishi Corporation (Tokyo, Japan) 

have agreed to build a renewable plastics supply chain utilizing 

biobased hydrocarbons (Neste RE ) for the production of styrene 

monomer (i.e. bio-SM), and its mass balanced renewable plastics 

derivatives including acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (i.e. bio- 

ABS*). The bio-SM production in Japan and the renewable plastics 

production in Taiwan will mark the first of such production in each 

country, and they are planned to take place in the first half of 2023. 

Neste, the world’s leading producer of renewable and circular 

feedstock for the polymers and chemicals industry uses, will 

provide Neste RE to Idemitsu Kosan, the biggest SM manufacturer 

in Japan. For this collaboration, Neste RE is produced from 100 % 

biobased raw materials such as waste and residues and its use can 

significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared 

with conventional fossil feedstock use. 

Idemitsu Kosan will then produce bio-SM based on the 

mass balance method and supply it to Chimei, the biggest 

ABS manufacturer in the world for its renewable plastics 

production. Mitsubishi Corporation will be coordinating the 

collaboration between the value chain partners to develop the 

renewable products’ market. 

Through developing an even stronger partnership and closer 

collaboration than conventionally seen in plastics value chains, 

the companies are introducing new renewable contents into the 

value chain to enable plastic production where fossil feedstock 

has been replaced with renewable feedstock. With this, the 

companies are contributing to the plastics industry GHG emission 

reduction targets and the transition towards a low-carbon 

emission society. MT 

*) ABS resin is a thermoplastic polymer made from acrylonitrile, butadiene, and 

styrene monomer, and given its properties of impact resistance, toughness, and 

rigidity, it is used across different sectors which include automobile, electronics, 

and toys. 

www.neste.com | www.chimeicorp.com 

www.idemitsu.com/en | www.mitsubishicorp.com 

News 

daily updated News at 

www.bioplasticsMAGAZINE.com 

Picks & clicks 

Most frequently clicked news 

Here’s a look at our most popular online content of the past two months. 

The story that got the most clicks from the visitors to 

bioplasticsmagazine.com was: 

tinyurl.com/news-20220927 

Interzero to supply Eastman planned molecular 

recycling facility in France with PET waste 

(27 September 2022) 

Interzero (Cologne, Germany) and Eastman (Kingsport, TN, 

USA) recently announced a long-term supply agreement for 

Eastman’s previously announced molecular recycling facility 

in Normandy, France. Interzero will provide up to 20,000 tonnes 

per year of hard-to-recycle PET household packaging waste that 

would otherwise be incinerated. 


5

News 



Agreement to produce 

100,000 tonnes of 

raw materials from 

plastic waste 

INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe (Cologne, Germany) 

and Plastic Energy (London, UK), recently announced 

a Memorandum Of Understanding to produce 100,000 

tonnes per annum of recycled raw materials from plastic 

waste. This will be the largest use of Plastic Energy 

technology on the market. These new raw materials will 

enable a circular approach to produce essential plastic 

items that meet the requirements of demanding food 

contact and medical applications. 

Production will be based in Cologne, Germany. Plastic 

Energy’s patented TAC recycling technology will turn 

difficult-to-recycle plastic waste otherwise destined 

for incineration or landfill, into a valuable raw material 

TACOIL , a Plastic Energy product that can be used to 

create virgin-quality polymers. 

INEOS will also invest in technology to process the 

TACOIL further before feeding it to their steam crackers, 

where it will replace traditional raw materials derived 

from oil. This use of advanced recycling enables plastic 

waste to be turned into new, virgin-quality materials 

that can be used in demanding applications where 

safety standards require the highest level of product 

purity and performance. 

As well as reducing the risk of plastic pollution and the 

use of fossil-based raw materials, the circular re-use of 

end-of-life plastic will also help to reduce total emissions, 

supporting the transition to net zero. 

INEOS and Plastic Energy first announced a 

collaboration to explore the construction of a commercialscale 

plant in 2020. Working together TACOIL has already 

been successfully converted into virgin-quality polymer 

through the INEOS cracker in Cologne, Germany, and 

used by selected customers and brands to demonstrate 

the viability and demand for materials from advanced 

recycling. As a result, INEOS and Plastic Energy are now 

delighted to announce this extension of their partnership. 

Production is targeted for the end of 2026. 

Using a mass balance approach, an independent, thirdparty 

organization such as ISCC or RSB will certify that 

fossil-based feedstocks have been substituted by the new, 

recycled materials and ensure that recycled benefits are 

being accounted for correctly. A mass balance approach 

enables co-processing of circular and fossil feedstocks, a 

key step in the transition to a circular economy”. MT 

www.ineos.com/sustainability | https://plasticenergy.com 

New bioplastics pilot 

plant in the Flanders 

The launch of a new bioplastics pilot plant in the Flanders 

region in Belgium will enable a new bioplastics production 

technology, ready for implementation at industrial scale. 

In December 2019, Stora Enso (Helsinki, Finland) 

announced an investment of EUR 9 million to build a pilot 

facility enabling the production of bioplastics. The objective 

is to test FuraCore ® , Stora Enso’s breakthrough technology 

to produce furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a major building 

block of bioplastic PEF (PolyEthylene Furanoate). 

Since the initial investment announcement, things have 

advanced at a rapid pace. Construction of the plant has 

been completed, and the commissioning is well underway. 

Initial production will start by year-end 2022, and, after 

that, things will quickly move towards regular production 

of FDCA, and PEF with partners. MT 

www.storaenso.com 

TotalEnergies Corbion 

and BGF collaborate 

Be Good Friends (BGF, Seoul, Republic of Korea) and 

TotalEnergies Corbion (Gorinchem, the Netherlands), 

have entered a long-term collaborative arrangement 

for application development and the supply of Luminy ® 

PLA. Both leading bioplastic companies are focused 

on the development and production of biodegradable 

materials and products. 

BGF recently launched for the Korean market a singleuse, 

noodle cup which is aesthetically very pleasing 

and 100 % biobased and compostable. The lightweight, 

foamed noodle cup minimizes the use of materials and 

is being produced using high-heat Luminy PLA as a base 

resin. The development of the cup has been the result 

of joint development efforts between the two companies, 

and more developments are set to follow in the future. 

Chul-Ki Hong Chief Executive Officer of BGF, said 

“Bringing more environmentally friendly products to 

the Korean market remains a key focus of our business, 

PLA is a part of some compounds that we formulate to 

meet specific customers’ functionality needs for different 

applications. The collaboration with TotalEnergies 

Corbion is supporting our long-term growth strategy”. 

Thomas Philipon, Chief Executive Officer of 

TotalEnergies Corbion, said, "We are delighted to have 

signed this long-term collaboration agreement with BGF. 

The biopolymers market is experiencing strong growth 

and customers are requesting innovative solutions tailormade 

to their market needs. Collaboration through the 

value chain is the only efficient way to bring circular 

solutions to the customers". MT 

www.bgf.co.kr 

| www.totalenergies-corbion.com 

6 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/22] Vol. 17

LanzaTech produces ethylene from 

CO 2 

in a continuous process... 

LanzaTech (Skokie, IL, USA), an innovative Carbon Capture 

and Transformation company that transforms waste 

carbon into materials such as sustainable fuels, fabrics, 

packaging, and other products that people use in their daily 

lives, recently announced it has successfully engineered 

specialized biocatalysts to directly produce ethylene from CO 2 

in a continuous process. This breakthrough in bacterium bioengineering 

from LanzaTech represents a potential source 

of advancement towards the company’s mission of replacing 

fossil-based feedstocks used in the manufacture of everyday 

consumer goods with waste carbon. In addition to the potential 

broad-reaching implications for global carbon reduction 

and sustainability, the development represents a significant 

opportunity for LanzaTech to further penetrate the global 

ethylene market, which is estimated at approximately USD 

125 billion in 2022. 

Around 160 million tonnes of ethylene are produced annually. 

It is the most widely used petrochemical in the world, primarily 

produced today from fossil inputs in an energy-intensive 

reaction that releases climate-damaging CO 2 

gas. This 

development can reverse this paradigm by turning CO 2 

into a 

resource from which ethylene can be produced in a continuous, 

low-temperature, energy-efficient process. 

Ethylene is a building block for thousands of chemicals 

and materials and is necessary to make many of the plastics, 

detergents, and coatings that keep hospitals sterile, people 

safe, and food fresh. Its production process is also one of the 

largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions in the chemical 

industry and remains one of its most challenging processes 

to defossilise. With increased pressure to find carbon-neutral 

alternatives to fossil-based feedstocks and fulfil net-zero 

pledges, chemical companies and manufacturers using 

ethylene as their primary feedstock are looking for a more 

robust and sustainable choice in a post-pollution future. 

LanzaTech has previously produced ethylene via the indirect 

ethanol pathway, taking ethanol produced from carbon 

emissions and then converting this ethanol to ethylene. 

This latest development bypasses this conversion step in 

sustainable ethylene production, making the process less 

energy intensive and more efficient. 

LanzaTech is already a leader in the scale-up and 

commercialization of gas-conversion biotechnology. The 

company is also at the forefront of leveraging synthetic biology to 

precisely engineer specialized gas-eating microbes to produce 

sustainable versions of key chemicals that are currently made 

from fossil resources. Through synthetic biology, LanzaTech 

has consistently translated lab-scale developments into 

commercial-scale operations driving the development of 

solutions for climate change mitigation by designing direct 

pathways from CO 2 

and CO, to produce cheaper, less energyintensive, 

and more sustainable chemicals. We believe that this 

track record will now extend to the production of ethylene", said 

LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren. MT 

www.lanzatech.com 

News 



New standard work on recycling of plastics 

INEOS Styrolution (Frankfurt, Germany), the global leader 

in styrenics, has recently announced the availability of a new 

publication on the recycling of plastics. Together with a team 

of renowned authors from across the industry, 

Norbert Niessner, Global Innovation Director 

at INEOS Styrolution, published the new 

‘Recycling of Plastics’ book that leaves no 

question on the topic unanswered. 

In times, when the value of plastics to 

society is taken for granted and at the same 

time is overshadowed by issues caused by 

the inappropriate handling of plastics after 

use, recycling of this material becomes 

more relevant than ever before. The new 

book on ‘Recycling of Plastics’[1], published 

by the Hanser Publishing House, addresses 

all aspects of the topic in almost twenty 

chapters – from understanding the value 

chain in a circular economy to recycling 

technologies for a broad range of polymers, 

the recycled materials and their properties and life cycle 

assessments to determine the impact on the ecological 

footprint. First copies of the book became available just 

recently at the K 2022 Fair in Düsseldorf, Germany. 

About fifty international industry leaders and renowned 

researchers contribute to the over 800-page long book 

exploring all aspects of recycling of polymers, including new 

advanced recycling technologies. The result is 

a comprehensive and state-of-the-art guide on 

the global recycling value chain with focus on 

the most important technologies. 

[1] ISBN: 978-1-56990-856-3 

www.ineos-styrolution.com 

Niessner says, “The book intends to 

show the current state in plastics recycling. 

I am happy that so many distinguished 

recycling experts joined me in contributing 

to this ambitious project. We all share one 

vision, which is as well the basis of INEOS 

Styrolution´s strategy: Used plastics need 

to be treated as precious resources for highquality 

applications in all industry segments. 

They must not be buried in landfills, burnt nor 

end up in the ocean. Therefore, recycling is the 

key step for a circular economy, providing a 

sustainable and healthy lifestyle for all of us”. AT 


7

Events 


presents 

For the third time, bioplastics MAGAZINE and narocon are inviting material suppliers and 

toy brands to come together for the must-attend conference of the year. The bio!TOY is a 

unique event that offers not only top-notch presentations from industry powerhouses of both 

industries but is also an excellent networking opportunity. The goal of the conference is to 

bring toymakers that are eager for sustainable solutions together with material suppliers that 

have sustainable solutions but don’t necessarily know all the specific material properties that the vast field of applications, simply 

called toys needs. A tabletop exhibition invites the exhibitors to show and talk about their products, allowing toymakers to touch, 

feel, and get a general sense of what is on offer. 

To make it possible to bring as many stakeholders to the table as possible, from large to tiny, the bio!TOY offers on-site as well 

as only online-only participation (as it is a hybrid event), but also special discount opportunities for independent designers, small 

businesses, and students. Please contact the conference team for more information. 

21-22 March 2023 – Nuremberg, Germany. Registration is possible via the conference website. 

www.bio-toy.info 

bio!TOY: materials for sustainable toys 

About half of the total environmental and climate footprint of a product is related to the material, the rest is energy utilisation. 

For toymakers, materials are key to markets and hearts of toy buyers and owners: We love toys because of haptic, design, 

function, and feelgood. However, today design and materials are rarely supporting the sustainability targets of companies, 

consumers, or policymakers. The next generation will not accept that. 

That’s our starting point: We are experts in sustainable materials and at our conference, we will inform you how it can be 

achieved. The solution is to leave fossil resources and products that are hard to reuse or recycle behind and reach out to better 

material alternatives: 

– Biobased polymers from renewable feedstocks which are functional, long-lasting, and fit for circularity 

– Circular plastics from recycled plastic waste which are safe and fit for application 

The conference is a showcase on what is available and how it’s done. Listen to the frontrunners in supply / marketing / services 

and explore ideas and concepts of a growing competent community driving toy sustainability. Become a part of it! 

Preliminary programme: 

Toy brands on stage 

LEGO 

Mattel 

Schleich 

GEOMAG 

fischertechnik 

biobuddi 

Nelleke van der Puil 

Jason Kroskrity 

Phillipp Hummel 

Filippo Gallizia 

Hartmut Knecht 

Steven van Bommel 

Plastic innovators and supply chain on stage 

Braskem 

FKUR 

INEOS 

Borealis 

Covation Biomaterials 

Martin Clemesha 

Patrick Zimmermann 

Ralf Leinemann 

Floris Buijzen 

Hao Ding 

Services for a sustainable toy world 

Circularise 

ISCC Plus 

Sustainable Toys Action Consulting STAC 

Univ. Bologna 

Hounslow Toy Design 

AIJU 

Phil Brown 

Jasmin Brinkmann 

Sharon Keilthy, Sonia Sanchez, Harald Kaeb 

Eleonora Foschi 

Elise Hounslow 

Ana Ibáñez-García 

Policy and framework drivers 

PlasticsEurope 

Toy Industry of Europe TIE 

German Toy Industry Association DVSI 

Alexander Kronimus 

Catherine van Reeth 

Ulrich Brobeil 

Plus 

Open Mic 

Time to stand up and voice your opinion 

Playfull and inspiring – We will inform and entertain you! 

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


한국포장협회로고.ps 2016.11.21 8:26 PM 페이지1 MAC-18 

21+ 22 March 2023 – Nuremberg, Germany 

Register now 

Early Bird Discount 

save EUR 100 

until 31 Jan 2023 

www.bio-toy.info 

organized by 

Gold Sponsor Silver Sponsor Bronze Sponsor 

Supported by 

® 

Media Partner 

Coorganized by 

KOREA PACKAGING ASSOCIATION INC. 

110 

Jahre – seit 1909 

Innovation Consulting Harald Kaeb

Cover Story 

5 th Bioplastics Business Breakfast 

during the K’2022 – Review 

Juliette Thomazo-Jegou 

Every three years representatives of the plastics industry 

pour into Düsseldorf from all over the planet for the 

biggest plastics and rubber trade fair in the world – 

the K show (see pp 34). And for the fifth time, for three days 

(October 20 to 22, 2022) of this humongous fair, bioplastics 

MAGAZINE organized the Bioplastics Business Breakfasts (B³). 

The fifth anniversary of the B³ was once again a huge success, 

with 125 participants from 27 countries, most of the hybrid 

event participated in person. 

From 8 am to 12:30 pm the delegates used the opportunity 

to listen to and discuss high-class presentations and 

benefited from a unique networking opportunity hosted in 

Congress Centre Ost on the fairgrounds of the K show. 

For those who missed the event, here is a very brief review 

with some highlights from each of the three conference days. 

Video recordings and proceedings are still available (more 

info at the end of this article). 

Bioplastics in Packaging 

Already in the first session, it became clear that the topic 

of Advanced Recycling did not pass by the bioplastics sector. 

François de Bie (TotalEnergies Corbion – Gorinchem, the 

Netherlands), a veteran in the field of bioplastics talked about 

not only mechanical but also chemical recycling of PLA. One 

issue often associated with chemical recycling, high energy 

consumption, is not so much an issue with PLA (see also bM 

issue 03/22 – Not all plastics are recycled equally). 

Next to François many other well-known bioplastics 

emissaries presented, among them Allegra Muscatello 

(Taghleef Industries – S. Giorgio di Nogaro, Italy ) who was on 

the cover of bioplastics MAGAZINE issue 03/22 in connection 

with another well-received event, the 7 th PLA World Congress. 

This time her presentation focused not only on Taghleef’s PLA 

solutions but also on their bio-PP which, for example, has a 

carbon footprint reduction of about 4 kg of CO 2 

per kg of resin. 

She further explained why compostability is advantageous 

for certain packaging applications (of course not biobased 

PP) where the packaged product could contaminate the 

packaging as is the case with food packaging. 

Staying with the topic of compostability, the session 

ended with a bang of a presentation by Bruno de Wilde 

(OWS – Gent, Belgium), going into the ins and outs of 

biodegradation. If you think you already know all there 

is to know about biodegradation, decomposition, and 

composting this presentation might still be worth your time. 

Bruno has the ability to bring depth and clarity to the often 

still misunderstood concepts. In his presentation, Bruno 

compared the composting strategies of Italy and Germany in 

the last decade, and took, among other things, a closer look 

at aerobic and anaerobic digestion. 

PHA, opportunities and challenges 

Day two was all about PHA, and a session on PHAs would 

not be complete without the godfather of this biobased family 

of polymers – Jan Ravenstijn. Jan talked about the Global 

Organization GO!PHA and the development of PHAs going 

into more detail on PHBH, showing the versatility of the 

material ranging from uses in adhesives over nonwovens 

to blow moulding applications, and many more (he noted 

that materials like PHBV or P3HB4HB would show a similar 

range of potential applications). The potential in the fields of 

thermoplastics and thermosets was also discussed. He also 

addressed the elephant in the room of every discussion about 

PHAs – price competitiveness and production volumes and 

admitted that these are still areas that need improvement 

for PHAs as a whole, but that a couple of companies already 

claim to be price competitive. However, with demand 

outpacing supply by a huge amount prices are likely to stay 

on the higher side as it is a sellers’ market. 

Gruppo Maip also went all out serving not one but two 

Martinis, Eligio and Emanuele. The father-son team presented 

the newest developments of the Italy-based company. They 

talked about the advantages of the materials, but also about 

how to overcome disadvantages – which, in most cases, is 

through compounding. The Martini duo had many PHA-based 

product samples with them so participants got a chance to 

get up close and personal with the biobased materials during 

networking and coffee breaks (see also pp 30). 

The session ended with Hiroyuki Ueda (Mitsubishi 

UFJ Research – Tokyo, Japan) who pulled our attention 

from Düsseldorf to the other side of the planet – Japan. 


By Alex Thielen 

B 3 BIOPLASTICS 

BUSINESS 

BREAKFAST 

(Photos: Messe Düsseldorf) 

Events 

In his presentation, Hiroyuki talked about the roadmap for 

the introduction of bioplastics into the Japanese market 

and about plans to phase out fossil-based plastics in favour 

of biobased plastics including the increase of recycled 

biobased plastics. He sees huge potential in Japan to use 

PHA to collect organic waste and move these waste streams 

from incineration (which is highly inefficient with food waste 

as you are mainly burning water) towards composting, 

anaerobic digestion and biogas production – which in times 

of uncertainty about energy supply might be interesting for 

reasons that only secondarily have to do with the general 

discussion of material feedstocks and sustainability. 

Bioplastics in Durable Applications 

One noteworthy presentation on the last day of the 

Bioplastics Business Breakfast was given by Christina 

Granacher (BeGaMo – Hohenfels, Germany). She started 

her presentation by reminding the audience that while many 

in the room are very aware of what bioplastics are and the 

differences between biobased and biodegradable plastics, 

etc. this is still very much not the case for everybody in the 

wider plastics industry (let alone on consumer level). She also 

pointed out that the view of bioplastics is often very European, 

or perhaps western, in the sense that most people are not 

aware of the huge role of Asia in both bioplastics production 

as well as development. The real reason, however, why 

this presentation was noteworthy is how Christina shone 

a light on many different bioplastic projects in the field of 

durable applications. One of these, from the Japan Advanced 

Institute of Science and Technology (Nomi, Japan), was truly 

remarkable. They created a lightweight biobased plastic with 

a heat resistance of more than 740°C – yes, you read that right, 

740 degrees Celsius. To put this into perspective, aluminium 

melts at 660°C. It is the highest heat resistance achieved in 

plastics ever, not just in bioplastics, but in plastics as a whole. 

And the technique used in the process can, apparently, be 

transferred to other polymers to increase their performance. 

One of the last to present during the event was Juliette 

Thomazo-Jegou from AIMPLAS (Paterna, Spain), the second 

presentation of the research institute of the conference after 

her colleague Lorena Rodríguez had already presented 

on day one. In her presentation, Juliette talked about 

thermosets and the opportunities across industries that 

biobased alternatives offer – ironically during the discussion 

of the last Q&A session (that we could not record due to a 

minor technical issue) it became apparent that the most 

prominent biobased thermosets, biobased epoxies, usually 

do not advertise the fact that they are biobased, because 

they are cheaper and simply sell without having to deal 

with the often misinformed assumptions that go along with 

a biobased feedstock. On page 18 you can also read about 

a completely different field that Aimplas is researching – 

advanced recycling in the context of adhesives. 

The last presentation of the event was held by no other 

than our very own Michael Thielen (bioplastics MAGAZINE, 

Germany), who showed how quick he can be on his feet 

when a presenter has to cancel on very short notice. Due 

to unforeseen circumstances, Harald Käb (narocon – Berlin, 

Germany) could not make it – so Michael decided to present 

in Harald’s stead. Luckily, it was a topic Michael is quite 

versed in himself – bioplastics in toys. He freestyled himself 

through Harald’s presentation, giving the audience a decent 

overview of the recent developments in the toy sector, albeit 

a little quicker than Harald would have as he skipped one or 

two slides, in a making-it-up-as-you-go kind of presentation. 

However, Michael was, in a way, uniquely prepared for this 

topic due to his deep involvement with the bio!TOY conference 

which will be held in Nuremberg, Germany on the 21 st and 

22 nd of March next year once again. Check out page 8 for a 

sneak preview of the line-up. 

Of course, there were many more noteworthy presentations, 

and many riveting discussions that started in coffee breaks 

and were carried into the K-show towards the booths of 

companies, sometimes even the joint booth of bioplastics 

MAGAZINE and European Bioplastics. 

If any, or perhaps all, of this sounds interesting to you 

fret not – the whole event was recorded and we still offer an 

“online-only” discount of 10 % for the video recordings of the 

presentations (including a PDF download of all PPTs). The 

video-recordings will be available for at least until the end of 

the year. Just write an email to mt@bioplasticsMAGAZINE.com. 

www.bioplasticsmagazine.com | www.bioplastics-breakfast.com 


11

Events 

Advanced Recycling Conference 

Review 

The first Advanced Recycling Conference organised by 

the nova-institute in Cologne was by all measures a 

full success. The two-day hybrid conference on the 14 th 

and 15 th of November had 224 participants from 21 countries, 

150 of them were in the room, 34 speakers spread over 8 

different sections, 9 exhibitors, and a wide range of topics 

in and around advanced recycling. It was an event of open 

exchange and active discussion of ideas and technological 

approaches probably best shown by the question-andanswer 

sessions which were very much alive with more 

questions than time to answer them in every single session – 

or as Michael Carus, who spearheads the Renewable Carbon 

Initiative within the nova-institute (Hürth, Germany), said it 

“you are the best audience we ever had at a conference” 

with almost 60 questions from participants for the very first 

session of the conference alone! This might already show 

that it will be impossible to fully encapsulate every aspect of 

the conference in this review so instead of even attempting 

that this review will focus on the key points of discussion that 

crystalized both on and off stage of the event. 

Complementary technologies and the question 

of feedstock scarcity 

There was nary a presentation that did not mention at 

least once that advanced recycling and mechanical recycling 

can and will coexist, and that they are complementary 

technologies that will both be necessary for the future. Yet, 

some voices in the audience seemed to remain doubtful. As 

both industry sectors, mechanical and advanced recycling, 

are likely to grow in the future securing enough feedstock 

may be an issue. On the one hand, the current systems in 

place have a fixed amount of waste that goes to recyclers, and 

mechanical recyclers are, perhaps unreasonably, nervous 

about the availability of that feedstock if new competition in 

form of advanced recycling will rapidly grow in the near future. 

On the other hand, the current infrastructure is not sufficient 

or even non-existing in some parts of Europe to provide the 

feedstock that will be needed to fulfil EU quotas of recycled 

content in the future – this could be seen as a challenge that 

might pit the two technologies against each other in a fight 

for waste or be an opportunity to build / expand this part 

of the industry. One of the numbers quoted in this context 

was that 50 % of waste is not even sorted at the moment 

and goes straight to incineration or worse – landfill. Another 

interesting suggestion came from the audience: landfills as 

future source of (waste) material – this would effectively turn 

an outdated End-of-Life solution into a new resource provider. 

However, it quickly became clear that such considerations are 

very much “future talk” as so far nobody has considered such 

a business model in any serious way or form. 

One clear message that echoed through the presentations 

was that “if you can recycle it mechanically, you should recycle 

it mechanically” and that advanced recycling technologies 

are aimed at the part of the waste stream that so far is not 

recycled because it cannot (easily) be recycled mechanically. 

The point being that mechanical recycling is both easier 

and more sustainable (GHG, energy efficiency, etc.). Other 

ideas focus on the combination of the two, not talking in 

“either ors”, but rather in “first mechanical, then advanced 

recycling” Mathieus Berthoud from Carbios (Saint-Beauzire, 

France), for example, pointed out that their enzymatic 

recycling process uses (low value) plastic flakes to then turn 

them into food grade virgin like material – their process is 

therefore by definition a step after mechanical recycling and 

thus dependent on it, rather than replacing it. Here, as well 

as in many other presentations, it was pointed out that the 

technology aims to reintroduce material back into the value 

chain at top quality. Which leads to the next topic. 

What goes in, what goes out? Quality matters! 

Staying with the example of food grade materials – they 

can probably be considered the golden standard for material 

purity and cleanness, and being able to transform low-quality 

material into food grade material might be one of the best 

examples of upcycling. And there were a couple of companies 

talking about food grade, Solenne Brouard Gaillot, Founder 

and CGO of Polystyvert (Montreal, Canada), presented their 

technology that “can treat any kind of feedstock” and turn 

it into food grade material with a yield of 95 % at industrial 

scale and all of that in a cost-efficient manner. “We all want 

to save the planet, but to do this (realistically) you need a 


By Alex Thielen 

Events 

profitable process”, Solenne pointed out. Another noteworthy 

technology in this regard was TruStyrenyx developed by Agilyx 

(Portsmouth, NH,USA) in cooperation with Technip Energies 

(Nanterre, France), Carsten Larsen from Agilyx mentioned, 

almost in passing, that this technology can turn highly 

contaminated polystyrene from e.g. the construction sector 

into food grade material. 

mentioned a planned joint venture for a liquefaction plant and 

Bart Suijkerbuijk from Shell (London, UK) admitted with a 

smile that “not even Shell can do it alone”. Yet, it is not all 

brotherhood and kumbaya – one comment from the audience 

welcomed the idea of cooperation but mentioned that they 

experienced “first-hand unwillingness (to cooperate) across 

the industry”, saying that “we block our own progress by 

But quality was a big topic overall, 

going far beyond just food grade 

materials. The question about 

quality goes much further than 

just what you get out of a process 

and is also very heavily focused on 

what you throw into a process. And 

here a fundamental challenge, and 

potentially a future paradigm shift 

crystalised: the value of waste. Tom 

Hesselink from KPMG (Amstelveen, 

the Netherlands) was one of the first 

to present the perhaps harsh reality 

of the current recycling system. For 

a truly circular economy, the goal 

of recycling should in general be to 

recycle product-to-product – the 

same product. Tom called this onpar 

recycling which is currently only 

done with 2–3 % in Europe, and for Tom the reason for this 

was quite clear, “the current system does not value quality”, 

he stated rather matter of factly. Yet, with recycling quotas in 

effect and more on the horizon, this is likely to change – the 

quality of the feedstock matters. While some technologies 

like Polystyvert “can treat any feedstock” this does not hold 

true for every material and there are a whole lot of different 

materials. While most technologies can handle some 

contamination of their feedstock it does have an impact on 

either the yield or the quality of the end product, and there 

are limits to this. The solution to this probably lies a step 

before the actual recycling – sorting. Virginie Bussières 

from Pyrowave (Montreal, Canada) made exactly this point, 

that better sorting will be necessary in the future. “Sorting 

upstream has more impact than sorting downstream – this 

way the whole value chain can have an impact”, so Virginie. 

What is clear is that there is still much to work on and improve 

– but how will this work in practice? 

Cooperation, cooperation, cooperation 

The topic of cooperation and working together was probably 

mentioned almost as often as complementary technologies. 

And as if to drive home the point, the first two presentations 

were collaborations between two companies each. Plastic 

Energy (London, UK) presented with DSD – Duales System 

(Cologne, Germany) and Eastman (Kingsport, TN, USA) 

presented with Interzero (Cologne, Germany), the former 

both involved in the recycling process and the latter in the 

sorting of waste. Maiju Helin from Neste (Espoo, Finland) also 

First Question & Answer session of the conference (Photos: nova Institut) 

hanging on to secrecy” and inflexibility in matters of price, 

asking “how can we break this vicious cycle?” 

Things do seem to change and move in the right direction, 

but only time will tell if this change – from a rather rigid every 

man for himself system towards a time of building bridges 

and working together – will happen quickly enough, for both 

recycling quotas and the climate. There is still much to do, 

but also much to gain. 

Challenges and opportunities 

Talking about quotas, one question raised was whether 

recycling quotas are the right strategy or if punishing the 

use of virgin material would be a better solution. Here Tom 

Hesselink shared his point of view saying that, “penalizing 

virgin (material) makes recycling dependant on virgin, 

creating quotas creates a separate market, independent 

from virgin”. He went on to point out that “mandatory content 

requirements are the driver of the industry”, and that “without 

(price) premiums it will be impossible to make recycling 

happen” because recycling is (currently) simply more 

expensive. As already mentioned earlier, the issue of costs 

was also echoed by Solenne as she talked about the need for 

cost-efficient technologies. Aspects that influence the other 

side of the coin of costs, production capabilities, were also 

highly discussed. Many of these technologies are still in a 

phase of scale-up – some said that advanced recycling was 

still in its infancy. Some, perhaps long overlooked, industry 

veterans like Eastman (their process has been around since 


13

Events 

the 1970s), Plastic Energy (who has been working on this 

technology for more than 25 years), and Agilyx (with 18 years 

of experience) might disagree with that assessment, but all of 

them need to scale up their production as these technologies 

are only now becoming more relevant, or rather popular. 

Franz-Xaver Keilbach from KraussMaffei Extrusion 

(Laatzen, Germany) indirectly spoke up against the infancy 

of the industry saying that it’s not just theory, “there is a lot 

of machinery already in the market”. He further elaborated 

on the limitations of such machines saying that it is mainly 

throughput which basically depends simply on the size of the 

extruders themselves – “customers are asking for 5 tonnes 

per hour minimum”. Throughput and time involved in a 

process are also of consideration for other processes, Carbios 

enzymatic recycling can “easily reach recycling yields of up 

to 98 %”, however, when considering the industrialisation of 

the process they aim to strike a balance between yield and 

speed wanting to limit their process at 16 hours aiming for a 

yield of 92 %. Finetuning a process takes time and expertise 

and “more isn’t always better” as Frieder Dreisbach from TA 

Instruments (New Castle, DE, USA) pointed out talking about 

the use of catalysts in advanced recycling processes. 

Commenting on the bigger picture in Europe in the 

context of plastic waste export bans, Luis Hoffmann from 

Sulzer Chemtech (Winterthur, Switzerland) says that the fact 

that “plastics have to be processed locally in the future is 

an opportunity for the industry”. This opportunity has to be 

financed somehow of course so it is maybe not that strange 

that ING (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) send Marc Borghans 

to talk about how to finance such projects. When asked about 

legislation he pointed out that legislative decisions are not 

unimportant (e.g. the classification of advanced recycled 

materials for recycling quotas) but even if these technologies 

won’t be accepted by regulation that would not mean that 

banks would not finance them. Perhaps connected to that, 

Michael Wiener from DSD – Duales System also pointed out 

that “mechanical recycling has still room to improve” and 

grow. Another big issue is how to get all the sorted waste 

streams to the installations that will recycle them – there is 

still a need for a whole (or many) new infrastructure(s). There 

is sadly no one-fix-all solution, no silver bullets, or as Joop 

Groen representing the Circular Biobased Delta (Bergen op 

Zoom, the Netherlands) pointed out, “the best solution is 

(always) feedstock specific”. Scale-up, efficiency, location, 

and how to pay for all of that are, however, not the only hurdles 

to master on the road ahead. 

Let’s talk about energy 

Especially in more recent times, energy and energy security 

has become a huge topic. And in the context of sustainability, 

one doesn’t get around to talking about the cousin of 

renewable materials – renewable energies. All these projects 

and installations are going to need a huge amount of energy 

and while Luis pointed out that “resource recovery tends to 

be less energy intensive than virgin production” the problem 

of even having enough energy remains. And if we want these 

processes to be truly sustainable that energy needs to be 

renewable, or we are just lying to ourselves saving greenhouse 

gas (GHG) emissions left while adding them right. 

While talking about energy BioBTX (Groningen, the 

Netherlands) deserves an honorary mention, in his 

presentation, Tijmen Vries talked about how their process 

creates high-quality graphite which is needed for the building 

of batteries, which is really cool – albeit a bit too far from the 

topic of plastics to focus on in more detail. 

The bottom lines & LCAs 

At the end of the day, we have two bottom lines 

sustainability and costs. Companies were eager to show 

how much less energy a process takes or how much GHG 

emissions can be reduced, even how much throughput 

their machines have or how great their technology is. 

Anne-Marie de Moei-Galera from Alfa Laval (Lund, Sweden), 

for example, proudly exclaimed that their centrifugal 

separation works with 9000 G (as in 9000 times the gravity 

of earth) saying that she “heard yesterday (on day 1) about 

separation in minutes, we do separation in seconds”. 

Which is certainly really impressive (and a quote picked 

because of that and not to rain on Alfa Laval’s parade) but 

price comparisons with virgin materials were noticeably 

missing (or I missed them). Perhaps it is because, as Tom 

says, recycled materials and virgin will be on two separate 

Networking opportunities at the ARC. (Photo: nova Institut) 


Events 

markets, yet it is still relevant information to estimate how 

much the big players will invest. Companies like Shell are 

not really known for their environmental ambition and one 

participant even provocatively asked how “Shell can ask us 

to take them seriously when they put Shareholder Value on 

the same footing as Respecting Nature while just having 

posted incredibly high windfall profits with a majority going to 

shareholder”. On the other hand, statements like “Chemical 

recycling should stay in the hands of those that know 

chemistry” (meaning, big oil companies) by Wolfgang Hofer 

from OMV Downstream (Vienna, Austria) do hold at least some 

water. Whether you like the oil industry or not Wolfgang does 

have a point – they know the playing field and they already 

have at least some infrastructure in place. If they deserve the 

benefit of the doubt to put sustainability and circular economy 

ideals before profit is a whole other story, however. 

Going back to the framework of sustainability it was also 

pointed out by Matthias Stratmann from the nova-institute, 

that LCAs focus a lot on GHG emissions but go broader and 

assess more potential trade-offs, like water use, energy, 

toxicity, etc. And technologies like pyrolysis are currently the 

go-to he did also cite a study that showed that there might be 

some unintentional bias towards pyrolysis it is a technology 

with a higher TRL (technology readiness level) and with 

more (and higher quality) data available. Furthermore, LCAs 

aren’t necessarily comparable either as they tend to focus 

on different aspects despite using similar methodologies 

– the bottom line here is, mechanical recycling is better 

than pyrolysis which in turn is better than the production 

of virgin feedstock. 

The role of recycling 

The Advanced Recycling Conference touched on plenty 

of topics with a broad array of experts and information and 

one thing is clear – times are changing. Matthias named 

this change quite accurately as he talked about the role of 

recycling, how these technologies as a whole are going to 

be considered, is recycling still (just) an End-of-Life solution 

or will it be considered as a new provider of feedstock, and 

thus, value. Only time will tell, but after two days and dozens 

of presentations and conversations I can say I learned a lot 

but as Joop said in his presentation, “I am still confused but 

on a much higher level”. 

https://nova-institute.eu/ 

https://advanced-recycling.eu/ 

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15

Project 

EU Open Innovation Test Bed 

BIOMAC launches open call for nano-enabled, 

biobased material solutions 

The “European Sustainable BIO-based nanomaterials 

Community”, in short BIOMAC, a Horizon 2020 funded 

project, is planning the launch of an open, competitive 

call for SMEs, large companies, research and development 

organisations working in the field of nano-enabled biobased 

material (NBM) technologies and solutions. The goal of 

this call is to offer a wide range of free services through the 

existing Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB). In total, five 

applicants will be able to benefit from the call 

and take their existing nanotechnologies 

and advanced materials from validation 

in a laboratory (technology readiness 

level TRL 4) to prototypes in 

industrial environments (TRL 7). 

These five Test Cases will 

be granted free access to 

physical facilities, capabilities 

and services required for the 

development, testing and 

upscaling of nanotechnology 

and advanced materials in 

industrial environments. 

What is so 

special about BIOMAC? 

The BIOMAC open innovation test 

bed approach to NBM production is 

comprehensive. A pilot plant supreme hub 

includes seventeen expert partners for 

production, from biomass processing to final 

biobased polymer product. Three transversal 

service hubs cover all complementary services of quality 

control, characterization, standardization, modelling, 

innovation management, health and safety, regulation, 

data management, sustainability assessment, supply 

management and circularity. 

Why is this call relevant for the 

bioplastics community? 

After the selection process, five applicants will access 

services and facilities provided by the BIOMAC ecosystem 

from September 2023 to December 2024. For members of 

the bioplastics’ community seeking to improve and scaleup 

their product properties with innovative, sustainable 

bionanomaterial solutions, this is an unprecedented 

opportunity. Lifetimes, UV resistance, barrier functions, 

and antimicrobial effects are just some of the properties 

which can be addressed and improved. With respect to 

bioplastic applications, no limitations apply. Specifically, 

the five applicants will have access to the “Pilot Lines” of 

The BIOMAC ecosystem. 

BIOMAC, which can perform biomass fractionation and 

pre-treatment, production of intermediate materials and 

nanocomposites, and produce the final products and 

formulations. Some examples of the materials that the Pilot 

Lines can produce are cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, 

their nanosized equivalents (nanocellulose, nanolignin), 

biochar, monomers such as glycols, succinic and lactic acid. 

Processes for final product formulation include 

but are not limited to reactive extrusion, 

additive manufacturing, coating, resin 

production, and nanopatterning. 

• Who can apply and how? 

The BIOMAC OITB will accept 

applications from SMEs, mid 

– and large-cap companies 

as well as from research 

organisations based in 

European Member States and 

EU-associated countries [1], 

whose bionanomaterial projects 

reach TRL4 to TRL5. The open call 

landing page will take applicants 

through the straight-forward 

process of submitting their proposals, 

which will be up to 6 pages long. 

• The Open-Call will open in December 

2022 and close in Mid-June 2023. 

• The proposals will be submitted online using the 

application form available on the BIOMAC Open Call 

platform on the project website 

A handbook containing information on the call and guiding 

users through the application process will be available for 

download on the Open Call platform. 

Where is BIOMAC heading to? 

The long-term goal of BIOMAC is to establish a truly 

collaborative ecosystem where technologies and solutions 

utilising NBMs will be upscaled and prepared for market 

applications. It will constitute a one-stop-shop, accessible 

at fair conditions and costs through a single entry point, 

represented by the ΙΒΒ Netzwerk in Munich, Germany. 

BIOMAC project has received funding from the European 

Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme 

under Grant Agreement No. 952941. AT 

https://www.biomac-oitb.eu/ 

[1] https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/other/ 

wp/2018-2020/annexes/h2020-wp1820-annex-a-countries-rules_en.pdf 


SAVE THE DATE 

bio PAC 

Business Breakfast @ Interpack 

Recycling 

Conference on Biobased Packaging 

08 – 10 May 2023 – Düsseldorf, Germany 

supported by 

Media Partner 

Organized by 

Co-organized by 

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 and compostable materials have a key role to play 

in this respect. 

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 reduces the depletion of finite fossil resources and CO 2 

emissions 

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

» offers incredible opportunities. 

That‘s why bioplastics MAGAZINE ,in cooperation with Green Serendipity is now 

organizing the fifth edition of bio!PAC. This time again as a Business Breakfast 

during interpack 2023 

Call for Papers now open: Please send your proposal to mt@bioplasticsmagazine.com 

www.bio-pac.info 


17

Recycling 

Adhesives: 

A problem and solution 

in a circular economy 

Adhesives are compounds that are used to bond 

materials and hold them together once their surfaces 

come into contact. Their properties allow them to 

easily join materials of different natures. This has led to 

the development of myriad adhesive products for different 

sectors and applications, which is why these materials are of 

such indisputable value. But their very benefits sometimes 

lead to rejection in a society where sustainability and the 

circular economy are increasingly permeating all areas of our 

lives. These materials can become an obstacle when trying 

to recover components and separate materials to create 

pure flows and achieve adequate recycling. In some sectors 

such as construction, materials can be joined using other 

methods (dry connections), but this is not easy to implement 

in all sectors and much less in the packaging sector. 

As in other applications, adhesives in the packaging sector 

are a fundamental part of most products. Most food is now 

packaged in materials made of plastic due to properties 

such as lightness, easy transformation, and barrier 

properties. However, a single plastic material cannot meet 

all the requirements to guarantee proper food preservation. 

Therefore, a great deal of plastic packaging is made by 

combining different polymers on demand, depending on 

the products to be packaged. This is known as multilayer 

packaging. Currently, the main problem with these kinds of 

packaging is that they are very difficult to recycle because the 

polymer layers tend to be immiscible. Multilayer packaging 

makes up the greatest proportion of nonrecyclable packaging, 

around 20 % of all flexible packaging. 

Therefore, in order to increase the recycling rate, new 

strategies are required. Tackling this problem based on 

packaging design is a commonly used option and involves 

replacing heterogeneous multilayer packaging with singlematerial 

packaging. However, as mentioned, it is often 

not possible to provide the necessary properties for the 

proper preservation of some foods and this has a direct 

effect on food waste. 

Another option would be to join multilayer packaging 

materials in such a way that they could be separated again 

at the end of their shelf life. The individual components could 

then be recycled separately. 

It is here where adhesives can provide a solution for 

recycling multilayer packaging. As mentioned, the main 

function of adhesives is to join, but what would happen if these 

same adhesives could also help with separation? 


Magnetic 

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Recycling 

But adhesives don’t only play an important role in 

recycling solutions for packaging. They are also of interest 

in compostable packaging solutions, given that not all 

packaging is designed to be recycled. Some applications 

and packaged foods require compostable solutions. Like 

conventional packaging, this packaging can be made of a 

mixture of biopolymers, it can be attached to other materials 

such as paper and the adhesive can even be on labels. In 

these cases, the adhesive used should not compromise the 

packaging’s compostability, which means that it should also 

be compostable. Companies such as BASF are working on 

the development of these adhesives and have launched some 

solutions on the market. 

In recent years, the study of this type of adhesives, called 

reversible adhesives, has generated great interest. These 

adhesives can be intrinsically reversible, that is, they are 

formulated so that, at the end of their shelf life, an external 

stimulus (UV radiation, IR, temperature, pH) produces a 

reversible reaction in the adhesive so it loses its binding 

function, and the materials are completely separated. Other 

types of adhesives can be formulated with additives sensitive 

to a specific stimulus (radiation, UV, IR, temperature, pH) 

so that, when they are subject to this stimulant, breakage 

points are created in the adhesive and the materials separate 

more easily. Reversible adhesives are therefore seen as 

the perfect solution for recycling multilayer packaging, 

but implementation of these solutions requires changes 

in current recycling systems and a firm commitment from 

recyclers. In recent years, in both Spain and Europe, there 

has been special interest in this type of solution due to the 

European Circular Economy strategy, which set the goal of 

recycling 100 % of European packaging by 2030. 

AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, is aligned with 

the European Circular Economy strategy and its mission 

with society is to promote environmental sustainability 

and innovative product models that have impact. People at 

Aimplas, therefore, work intensely on the development of 

effective and environmentally sustainable solutions. One 

example of this is the ADHBIO Project, which is funded by 

the Valencian Innovation Agency (AVI). Its main goal is to 

obtain a hot-melt adhesive with 95 % of renewable content 

that provides the same functionality as conventional 

nonbiodegradable adhesives of fossil origin. This adhesive 

must do two things. It must allow the layers to be separated 

because it is removable or peelable, which represents an 

advantage when managing multilayer packaging that will 

be recycled at its end of life. It must also be possible to 

manage the adhesive jointly when both the adhesive and the 

packaging are compostable. 

Aimplas has also worked on the development of reversible 

adhesives for sectors other than packaging, although the 

knowledge acquired can be applied to this sector. 

/www.aimplas.net 

By: 

Jezabel Santomé, 

Packaging Researcher 

AIMPLAS, Plastics Technology Centre 

Paterna, Valencia, Spain 


19


Cobalt-based catalysts for 

chemical plastic recycling 

The accumulation of plastic waste in the oceans, soil, and 

even in our bodies is one of the major pollution issues 

of modern times, with over five billion tonnes disposed 

of so far. Despite major efforts to recycle plastic products, 

actually making use of that motley mix of materials has 

remained a challenging issue. 

A key problem is that plastics come in so many different 

varieties, and chemical processes for breaking them down into 

a form that can be reused in some way tend to be very specific 

to each type of plastic. Sorting the hodgepodge of waste 

material, from soda bottles to detergent jugs to plastic toys, 

is impractical at large scale. Today, in many countries much 

of the plastic material gathered through recycling programs 

ends up in landfills anyway. Surely there’s a better way. 

Recycling plastics has been a thorny problem, Román- 

Leshkov explains, because the long-chain molecules in 

plastics are held together by carbon bonds, which are “very 

stable and difficult to break apart”. Existing techniques 

for breaking these bonds tend to produce a random mix 

of different molecules, which would then require complex 

refining methods to separate out into usable specific 

compounds. “The problem is”, he says, “there’s no way to 

control where in the carbon chain you break the molecule”. 

But to the surprise of the researchers, a catalyst made 

of a microporous material called a zeolite that contains 

cobalt nanoparticles can selectively break down various 

plastic polymer molecules and turn more than 80 % 

of them into propane. 

According to new research from MIT (Cambridge, MA, USA) 

and elsewhere, it appears there may indeed be a much better 

way. A chemical process using a catalyst based on cobalt has 

been found to be very effective at breaking down a variety of 

plastics, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), 

the two most widely produced forms of plastic, into a single 

product, propane. Propane can then be used for instance as 

a feedstock for the production of a wide variety of products 

– including new plastics, thus potentially providing at least a 

partial closed-loop recycling system. 

The finding was recently described in the open-access 

journal JACS Au, in a paper [1] by MIT professor of chemical 

engineering Yuriy Román-Leshkov, postdoc Guido Zichitella, 

and seven others at MIT, the SLAC National Accelerator 

Laboratory, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 

[1] https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacsau.2c00402 

Although zeolites are riddled with tiny pores less than a 

nanometer wide (corresponding to the width of the polymer 

chains), a logical assumption had been that there would be 

little interaction at all between the zeolite and the polymers. 

Surprisingly, however, the opposite turned out to be the 

case: Not only do the polymer chains enter the pores, but 

the synergistic work between cobalt and the acid sites in the 

zeolite can break the chain at the same point. That cleavage 

site turned out to correspond to chopping off exactly one 

propane molecule without generating unwanted methane, 

leaving the rest of the longer hydrocarbons ready to undergo 

the process, again and again. 

“Once you have this one compound, propane, you lessen the 

burden on downstream separations”, Román-Leshkov says. 

“That’s the essence of why we think this is quite important. 

We’re not only breaking the bonds, but we’re generating 

A new chemical process 

can break down a variety of 

plastics into usable propane 

– a possible solution to our 

inability to effectively recycle 

many types of plastic. 

Image: Courtesy of the 

researchers. 

Edited by MIT News. 


mainly a single product” that can be used for 

many different products and processes. 

The materials needed for the process, zeolites 

and cobalt, “are both quite cheap” and widely 

available, he says, although today most cobalt 

comes from troubled areas in the Democratic 

Republic of Congo. Some new production is being 

developed in Canada, Cuba, and other places. 

The other material needed for the process is 

hydrogen, which today is mostly produced from 

fossil fuels but can easily be made in other ways, 

including electrolysis of water using carbon-free 

electricity such as solar or wind power. 

COMPEO 

Leading compounding technology 

for heat- and shear-sensitive plastics 


The researchers tested their system on a real 

example of mixed recycled plastic, producing 

promising results. But more testing will be 

needed on a greater variety of mixed waste 

streams to determine how much fouling takes 

place from various contaminants in the material 

– such as inks, glues, and labels attached to the 

plastic containers, or other nonplastic materials 

that get mixed in with the waste – and how that 

affects the long-term stability of the process. 

Together with collaborators at NREL (Golden, 

CO, USA), the MIT team is also continuing to 

study the economics of the system, and analysing 

how it can fit into today’s systems for handling 

plastic and mixed waste streams. “We don’t have 

all the answers yet”, Román-Leshkov says, but 

preliminary analysis looks promising. MT 

The research team included Amani Ebrahim 

and Simone Bare at the SLAC National 

Accelerator Laboratory; Jie Zhu, Anna Brenner, 

Griffin Drake and Julie Rorrer at MIT; and Greg 

Beckham at the National Renewable Energy 

Laboratory. The work was supported by the 

U.S. Department of Energy (DoE), the Swiss 

National Science Foundation, and the DoE’s 

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable 

Energy, Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO), 

and Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), 

as part of the Bio-Optimized Technologies to 

keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the 

Environment (BOTTLE) Consortium. 

Uniquely efficient. Incredibly versatile. Amazingly flexible. 

With its new COMPEO Kneader series, BUSS continues 

to offer continuous compounding solutions that set the 

standard for heat- and shear-sensitive applications, in all 

industries, including for biopolymers. 

• Moderate, uniform shear rates 

• Extremely low temperature profile 

• Efficient injection of liquid components 

• Precise temperature control 

• High filler loadings 

www.busscorp.com 


21


Enzymes to boost plastic 

sustainability 

The power of evolved ancestral enzymes and biotechnology 

Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing 

environmental issues, as the rapidly increasing 

production of disposable plastic products overwhelms 

the world’s ability to deal with them. Global plastic waste 

generation more than doubled from 2000 to 2019 to 353 

million tonnes. Nearly two-thirds of plastic waste comes 

from plastics with lifetimes of under five years, with 40 % 

coming from packaging, 12 % from consumer goods and 

11 % from clothing and textiles. 

To repair the present, building and implementing a more 

circular economy is key to sustainable growth and addressing 

challenges like climate change, with targeted measures at all 

levels of society to address the challenges posed by plastic 

pollution. The circular economy also needs optimal waste 

management to promote plastic waste efficient recovery 

and recycling to avoid further plastic littering, eventually 

contaminating our soils and seas. 

Initiating the “RevoluZion” 

As a holistic solution to plastic pollution, the participants 

of the RevoluZion project are developing innovative biobased 

formulations, combining advanced enzyme engineering 

techniques together with biodegradable plastic resins as a 

matrix with programmed biodegradation to conciliate ondemand 

biodegradation in different managed (industrial 

and home composting) and unmanaged environments (soil, 

freshwater, marine water). 

The idea of the project is to reduce the typical times for 

composting to fasten the industrial treatment of compostable 

plastic articles and make it attractive and economically 

viable, or to allow compostability in domestic conditions 

and/or biodegradability in open environments (water, soil) 

of resins exclusively reserved for industrial composting. 

The formulations could serve different applications, 

for example, to produce coffee capsules or articles for 

agriculture. Therefore, the obtained blends of polyesters as 

matrix and enzymatic functional additives aspire to contribute 

as an integral solution to plastics waste management. 

In order to design highly active and robust enzymes for 

programmed biodegradation and compostability, RevoLuzion 

project is bringing together cutting-edge protein engineering 

methods based on directed evolution strategies and 

ancestral resurrection. 

The transformation processes of plastics through 

extrusion and compounding processes usually involve 

high temperatures and shear, which can negatively affect 

the activity of the enzymes developed. A delicate process 

of encapsulation and integration of such enzymes will 

be carried out to inhibit any associated degradation from 

the enzyme structures during its integration into the 

thermoplastic matrix. 

The aim of the project is to develop up to three prototypes 

of innovative biobased bioplastic materials using the 

disclosed advanced enzyme technology for different sectors 

of application of the plastic industry: 

• Food packaging: to enable home compostability for thick 

articles like meat trays and other containers. 

• Coffee capsules/pods: to reduce typical industrial/home 

composting time down to a third without impairing 

shelf-life capacity. 

• Agricultural films: to support excellent mechanical 

properties aboveground and biodegradation in soil 

without leaving residues. 

https://revoluzionproject.eu/ 

Grégory Coué 

Technical Manager 

Kompuestos 

Palau Solità i Plegamans, Spain 

The RevoluZion project is part of the Next Generation EU 

European Plan. Grant PLEC2021-008188 funded by MCIN/ 

AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by the “European Union 

NextGenerationEU/PRTR”. “The consortium is made up of 

Kompuestos as the project leader, together with different topquality 

research centres and universities: AITIIP Tecnological 

Centre, the University of Granada and 2 research groups 

from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC: CIB and 

ICP)”For more information about the project: 

AITIIP: https://aitiip.com/ 

CSIC-CIB: https://www.cib.csic.es/ 

CSIC-ICP: https://icp.csic.es/ 

Kompuestos: https://www.kompuestos.com/ 

University of Granada: https://www.ugr.es/ 


Steel mill gases transformed 

into bioplastic 

Recently, a Korea-Spain joint research team recreated 

bioplastic from wasted by-products from gas 

fermentation from steel mills. 

Through joint research with Spain’s Centre for Research 

in Agricultural Genomics 

(CRAG – Barcelona), a 

research team led by 

Gyoo Yeol Jung, Dae-yeol 

Ye, Jo Hyun Moon, and 

Myung Hyun Noh in the 

Department of Chemical 

Engineering at POSTECH 

(Pohang, South Korea) 

has developed a 

technology to generate 

artificial enzymes from 

E. coli. The joint research 

then succeeded in 

mass-producing itaconic 

acid, a source material 

for bioplastic, from 

acetic acid in E. coli. 

enzyme can be used in E. coli to produce itaconic acid. With 

this technology, it is now possible to build a microbial cell 

factory that can easily produce itaconic acid from cheap and 

various raw materials. 


Recognized for its 

significance, this study 

was recently published 

in the Editor’s 

Highlights section of the 

international academic 

journal Nature Communications [1]. 

Comparison of itaconic acid production in the natural metabolic pathway in E. coli and the construction of a 

new itaconic acid biosynthesis pathway through the introduction of a new artificial enzyme. The itaconic acid 

production increased as a result. (Picture: POSTECH) 

Itaconic acid produced by fungi with membrane-enclosed 

organelles is used as a raw material for various plastics, 

as well as cosmetics and antibacterial agents. Although its 

global market value is estimated high at around 130 billion 

KRW (USD 91 million) this year, its production and utilization 

have been limited due to the complex production process and 

high cost of production. 

For this reason, studies are being actively conducted to 

produce itaconic acid with industrial microorganisms such 

as E. coli. Although E. coli can be produced using inexpensive 

raw materials and is easy to culture, additional raw materials 

or processes were required to produce itaconic acid since it 

lacks membrane-enclosed organelles. 

This research result is evaluated as a key original 

technology for producing itaconic acid from byproducts of gas 

fermentation products from steel mills, seaweed, as well as 

agricultural and fishery byproducts such as lignocellulosic 

biomass. By replacing the raw material from petrochemicals 

with biosynthesized itaconic acid, the new technology is 

anticipated to contribute to a carbon-neutral society and 

significantly expand the itaconic acid market. 

This study was supported by the C1 Gas Refinery R&D 

Program, the Mid-career Researcher Program, and 

the Basic Science Program of the National Research 

Foundation of Korea. AT 

www.postech.ac.kr/eng 

www.cragenomica.es 

Using biosynthesis, the joint research team developed an 

artificial enzyme to pave the way for E. coli to directly produce 

itaconic acid without membrane-enclosed organelles. 

The research results showed that the newly developed 

[1] Dae-yeol Ye et al, Kinetic compartmentalization by unnatural 

reaction for itaconate production, Nature Communications (2022). 

https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-33033-1 


23

Feedstock 

Cyanobacteria 101 – How to get 

from wastewater to PHB 

PlastoCyan is a project developing an eco-innovative 

technology for the production of bioplastics in 

cyanobacteria that uses nutrients from municipal 

wastewater and wastewater from the dairy industry. 

Biodegradable plastics produced by microorganisms 

such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are among the best 

solutions to replace conventional petroleum-based plastics 

to protect the environment. 

Despite the non-comparable price and productivity with 

conventional plastics, scientists are looking for a way 

to make them more feasible, economically, ecologically 

friendly, and sustainable. 

In the production of PHB by bacteria, up to 50 % cost is 

precursor substrate material, especially the carbon source. 

Most cyanobacteria naturally produce 20 % PHB of their cell 

mass. Cyanobacteria cannot 

compete with chemotrophic 

bacteria in terms of PHB content 

or biomass growth rate [1]. 

However, since cyanobacteria 

are photosynthesizing 

organisms, they can metabolize 

CO 2 

. Unlike bacterial PHB 

producers, photoautotrophic 

cyanobacteria do not require 

the addition of substrate and 

are not dependent on crops, 

making them a more sustainable 

alternative production system. 

Production of PHB by 

cyanobacteria is a complex 

phenomenon that needs to 

be fully described. (Cyano) 

bacteria synthesize PHB under 

different stress conditions and 

form inclusion bodies in their 

cells, which are accumulated as 

intracellular energy and reserve 

carbon source. Mainly nitrogen 

starvation induces so-called 

chlorosis, a survival process in 

which cyanobacteria degrades 

photosynthetic machinery and 

accumulate biopolymers such 

as glycogen or PHB. Two stages 

of cyanobacterial growth are necessary to obtain PHB from 

bacteria for the biotechnology industry: 

1. growth of biomass in nutrient-rich conditions and 

2. accumulation of PHB during nutrient-stress conditions. 

Culture of Synechocystis growing in urban wastewater in a 

stage of chlorosis with specific orange colour. The thin-layer 

raceway pond was placed in a greenhouse with a cultivation 

area of 5 m 2 and a working volume of 100 – 600 l, mixing is 

provided by a paddle wheel. 

The project emphasizes establishing a cyanobacteria 

cultivation process where wastewater is used as a substrate 

for mixotrophic growth. Wastewater from a municipal 

treatment plant and wastewater from dairy products are 

tested as potential substrates. 

The Plastocyan project joins three institutes – The 

Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences – 

Algatech Centre in Třebon, in cooperation with the Technical 

University of Vienna and the University of Applied Sciences in 

Wels in Upper Austria. 

The Institute of Microbiology, a project lead partner, focuses 

on growing cyanobacteria on a pilot scale using wastewater 

as a source of nutrients. The aim is to develop sustainable 

remediation and valorisation of wastewater for a zerocarbon 

circular economy. 

Bacteria and protozoa are 

usually used in secondary 

treatment to remove 

biodegradable organic matter 

by producing biomass. However, 

this biomass has no further use 

and often ends up in landfills. 

Recently, a new idea came up 

using specific microorganisms 

which can produce valuable 

biomass. This would also 

address the demands of a 

circular economy, resulting in the 

bioconversion of waste streams 

from dairy industries. When 

processing milk, approximately 

three litres of cleaning water 

are necessary per litre of 

milk. Those wastewaters are 

excellent substrates containing 

a large amount of nitrogen 

and phosphorus, the primary 

nutrients required for the 

growth of cyanobacteria. 

Tomáš Grivalský, the lead 

project coordinator, says: 

“Microalgae, including 

cyanobacteria, produce a 

fantastic diversity of metabolites. 

The main issue is scale-up. They grow very well in a laboratory 

under defined conditions, but if you start to grow them in tens 

of litres, you will encounter completely new problems, such 

as grazers or predators, which can completely devastate 

the culture in a matter of hours. When we started a pilotscale 

cultivation, we had a similar problem. The culture was 


By: 

Tomáš Grivalský 

Institute of Microbiology, CAS, Centre Algatech, 

Třebon, Czech Republic 

Julian Kopp 

Technical University of Vienna, 

Vienna, Austria 

attacked overnight by predators. We searched the literature 

to find a solution. The only recommendation was to adjust 

the pH. During the subsequent cultivation, as soon as the 

predators appeared, we changed the pH to highly alkaline, 

and the cyanobacteria continued to grow without predators”. 

In the project, we use a strain generated by UV mutagenesis 

at the Technical University of Vienna with higher PHB 

production [2]. The advantage of random mutagenesis is 

that it is not subject to the standards for genetically modified 

organisms. The strain achieved 37 % PHB cell dry weight 

(CDW) under laboratory conditions on a small scale in the 

optimal growth substrate, which is more than 20 % higher in 

PHB content per cell compared to the wild-type. 


In the PlastoCyan project, the strain was tested in an 

outdoor cultivation unit called a thin layer hybrid raceway 

pond in a volume of 100 litres using urban wastewater and 

high alkaline pH, reaching biomass content of 2 – 2.5 g/L and 

23 % PHB per CDW which makes it a promising result. 

The eco-friendly approach is still ongoing after wastewater 

remediation and cyanobacterial biomass production. The 

group led by Oliver Spadiut at Technical University in Vienna 

is developing an extraction procedure based on ionic liquids 

(ILs). Conventionally PHB extraction is performed with 

chloroform; a well-established method referred to in the 

literature. However, the project also deals with developing 

an ecological and economically friendly alternative of PHB 

extraction from biomass using ionic liquids, belonging 

to the category of green solvents. The ILs, chosen for this 

study were highly corroding, can dissolve biomass, are very 

polar (so PHB should not be soluble), and are partially able 

to cleave ester bonds. As PHB should not dissolve due to 

its high polarity, the IL-biomass mixture can be separated 

from the resulting PHB via centrifugation/filtration. However, 

the biomass-IL mixture has currently such a high viscosity 

that a complete separation from the precipitating PHB is 

impossible. Therefore, cosolvents obtaining similar Kamlett 

Taft parameters are currently tested to decrease the viscosity. 

Once the viscosity issue to separate the dissolved biomass IL 

mixture from the PHB pellet is addressed, nothing should 

stand in the way of a suitable standard operation procedure 

for a green dissolution of PHB in ionic liquids (IL). 

The project is also dedicated to generating a cyanobacterial 

strain that would be able to process the lactose present in 

dairy wastewater. Having such a strain would be fascinating 

not only for biotechnologies but also for the scientific 

community. However, cyanobacteria can metabolize glucose; 

they do not have a system to break down more complex 

sugars such as lactose. This is the part where scientists 

from the University of Applied Sciences in Wels, Austria, are 

modifying the genome to improve the strain. Additionally, 

they attempt to enhance the metabolic pathway for PHB 

A 30 l annular photobioreactor with with adjustable internal LED 

lighting. The culture is mixed with air through tubes located at the 

bottom of the photobioreactor. This culture of Synechocystis is 

growing in dairy waste. 

production. This can lead to more than 60 % PHB per cell 

biomass production under nutrient-limited conditions, as 

referred by Koch et al [3]. 

The project PlastoCyan (ATCZ260) is funded by the Interreg 

V-A Austria-Czech Republic programme. In 2022, it was 

awarded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, 

Science and Research with the “Sustainability award” for 

second place in the “Research” category. 

www.alga.cz/en/a-106-centre-algatech.html 

www.tuwien.at/en/ 

www.fh-ooe.at/en/ 

References 

[1] B. Drosg, I. Fritz, F. Gattermayr, L. Silvestrini, Photo-autotrophic 

production of poly(hydroxyalkanoates) in cyanobacteria, Chem. Biochem. 

Eng. Q. 29 (2015) 145–156. https://doi.org/10.15255/CABEQ.2014.2254. 

[2] D. Kamravamanesh, T. Kovacs, S. Pflügl, I. Druzhinina, P. Kroll, 

M. Lackner, C. Herwig, Increased poly-Β-hydroxybutyrate production 

from carbon dioxide in randomly mutated cells of cyanobacterial strain 

Synechocystis sp. PCC 6714: Mutant generation and characterization, 

Bioresour. Technol. 266 (2018) 34–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. 

biortech.2018.06.057. 

[3] M. Koch, J. Bruckmoser, J. Scholl, W. Hauf, B. Rieger, K. 5 

Forchhammer, Maximizing PHB content in Synechocystis sp. PCC 2 6803: 

development of a new photosynthetic 3 overproduction strain. 4, BioRxiv. 

(2020) 2020.10.22.350660. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.22.350660. 


25

Feedstock 

World’s largest 

CO 2 

-to-methanol plant 

starts production 

The world’s first commercial-scale CO 2 

-to-methanol 

plant has started production in Anyang, 

Henan Province, China. 

The cutting-edge facility is the first of its type in the 

world to produce methanol – a valuable fuel and chemical 

feedstock – at this scale from captured waste carbon 

dioxide and hydrogen gases. 

The plant’s production process is based on the Emissionsto-Liquids 

(ETL) technology developed by Carbon Recycling 

International (CRI) and first demonstrated in Iceland. The 

new facility can capture 160,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide 

emissions a year, which is equivalent to taking more than 

60,000 cars off the road. The captured carbon dioxide is then 

reacted with the recovered hydrogen in CRI’s proprietary ETL 

reactor system with the capacity to produce 110,000 tonnes 

of methanol per year. 

The successful start-up marks the end of a two-year project 

and months-long commissioning phase. Following sign-off by 

the CRI’s technical service team, the plant operations are now 

in the hands of Shunli, the project company (majority-owned 

by the Henan Shuncheng Group – Anyang, Henan, China). 

This flagship plant represents the achievement of an 

important milestone in the ongoing development of carbon 

capture and utilization (CCU) technology as well as the 

progression in the industry towards a circular carbon economy. 

At the heart of the process is CRI’s bespoke reactor that 

uses specialised catalysts to convert the carbon and hydrogen 

feed gases into low carbon-intensity methanol. The entire 

unit weighs around 84 tonnes or the weight of a fully-loaded 

Boeing 737. The reactor is mounted in a dedicated steel 

frame and connected to a specialised gas compressor and a 

distillation column that is just under 70 metres tall. 

The ETL process uses emissions that would have 

otherwise been released into the atmosphere, producing 

liquid methanol – from carbon dioxide that is recovered 

from existing lime production emissions and hydrogen that 

is recovered from coke-oven gas. Methanol production and 

use have grown rapidly in China in recent years and this new 

production method offers an alternative to the traditional 

coal-based methanol currently manufactured in China, 

reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. 

Björk Kristjánsdóttir, CEO of CRI, emphasizes the 

importance of the plant’s start-up, “We are proud to have 

successfully realized this important project and to bring 

our environmentally friendly, ETL technology into the global 

market. We take great pleasure in being able to offer our proven 

technical solution to produce a valuable product directly 

from waste streams. This can support large-scale reduction 

of CO 2 

emissions and help facilitate the energy transition. 

With increased demand for such solutions, we look forward 

to continuing to make a meaningful impact by deploying the 

technology with our current and future partners”. 

CRI’s second project in China was announced last year and 

is already well on its way. It is expected to come online in the 

second half of 2023. AT 

www.carbonrecycling.is 


R&D solution to tackle plastic 

waste for nurseries 

Application 

Scion (Rotorua, New Zealand) scientists have been 

instrumental in developing and testing biodegradable 

nursery pots that will help nurseries and Kiwi gardeners 

to reduce plastic waste and its impact on the environment. 

The biodegradable pots, made from biopolymers and a 

biofiller, will offer an alternative to the estimated 350 million 

plants in pots produced by New Zealand nurseries each year. 

Manufacturing of the pots will scale up after production 

processes are finetuned using funding received from the 

Government’s Plastics Innovation Fund announced recently 

by Environment Minister David Parker. The pots are expected 

to be commercially available by September 2023. 

The successful prototype, PolBionix, has been four years 

in development at Scion as part of a project with commercial 

client Wilson and Ross Limited. Director Peter Wilson 

engaged the services of Scion’s expert biomaterials and 

biodegradable testing team to develop and test a formulation 

for a product that meets the requirements of a nursery, last at 

least 12 months above ground then, after it’s planted in soil, 

continues to biodegrade. The pot then provides fertiliser for 

the plant as it breaks down, supporting plant growth. 

Polymer technologist Maxime Barbier developed various 

formulations in the project’s discovery phase, with product 

testing carried out in small batches. Early results were 

mixed, however, the team eventually developed a prototype 

that showed promising biodegradation properties in 2020. 

Scientist and technical lead of Scion’s Biodegradation 

Testing Facility, Gerty Gielen, joined the project after the 

strong candidate was found. More in-depth analysis was then 

done using Scion’s accredited biodegradation testing facility, 

the only one of its kind in Australasia. 

“Biodegradation is defined as the breakdown of material 

into carbon dioxide, water and microbial biomass. That’s 

what we were testing for in our facility that mimics typical 

conditions for home composting. We found one product 

responded very favourably after 12 months”. 

Gielen says the results are extraordinary. “People have 

explored the idea of creating biodegradable plant pots for 

at least 10 years and many companies have given up along 

the way. There are so many 

formula combinations and 

permutations, so to discover a 

formula that works feels like 

winning the lottery”. 

Barbier says the research 

is a perfect example of Scion’s 

scientific focus on helping 

New Zealand transition to 

a circular bioeconomy and 

be less reliant on products 

made from fossil fuel. 

“The new product uses biopolymers made from sustainably 

grown sugarcane, cassava or corn. We combine that with a 

biofiller of waste organic matter. Diverting that waste into a 

product like this adds value in the manufacturing process, 

which is the circular bioeconomy in action. Importantly, the 

end result is products that can reduce plastic pollution in 

New Zealand and carbon emissions”. 

Scion’s scientific discovery during the testing phase has 

resulted in the filing of two international patents. 

Wilson handles the commercialisation of the PolBionixtrademarked 

product, which can be produced using existing 

plastic injection moulding processes. The product can also be 

manufactured with thermoforming and film-blown processes. 

The biodegradable pots are currently being tested in 

three commercial nurseries. Auckland City Council has 

also trialled the planting of 100 PolBionix pots in Waitawa 

Regional Park. A further 100 pots were planted in August 

at Anchorage Park School as part of Auckland’s Eastern 

Busway Infrastructure project. 

In addition to significant private investment, funding 

support over the past four years of research has come 

from Callaghan Innovation (Lower Hutt, New Zealand), 

Auckland Council’s Waste Minimisation Fund and the 

Ministry for Primary Industries through its Sustainable Food 

and Fibre Futures fund. 

Wilson is excited about the opportunities ahead for 

the product and its widespread adoption by nurseries, 

both for home gardeners and planners of large-scale 

infrastructure and environmental restoration projects, 

especially near waterways. 

“Raw material costs for PolBionix are higher than for 

traditional fossil-based plastic pots, so PolBionix pots will 

be more expensive. However, there are costs saved by not 

having to add fertiliser, or face charges for disposing of 

the traditional pots in landfill. Any recycled pots currently 

need cleaning which adds a cost to nurseries. Planting 

should also be quicker, so there’s reduced labour costs for 

large-scale projects too”. 

Long-term, Wilson is keen to explore other applications 

for the product across 

agriculture and horticulture. 

“The problem of plastic 

pollution we face in New 

Zealand and, indeed, the 

world is significant. This 

project demonstrates Scion’s 

capability in helping solve 

these challenges. Their input 

has been invaluable to the 

success of this project”. AT 

www.wilsonandross.com 

www.scionresearch.com 


27

Applications 

First stroller portfolio made 

with biobased materials 

Bugaboo (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), DSM 

Engineering Materials (Emmen, the Netherlands), 

Fibrant (Urmond, the Netherlands) and Neste 

(headquartered in Espoo, Finland) recently announced that 

their cross-value chain partnership has successfully enabled 

the launch of an entire Bugaboo stroller portfolio made with 

biobased materials. Specifically, the majority of the strollers’ 

plastic parts are made using DSM Engineering Materials’ 

Akulon ® 100 % biobased B-MB polyamide 6 (PA6), which in 

turn is made using biobased feedstock from both Fibrant and 

Neste. DSM Engineering Materials uses a mass-balancing 

approach with renewable waste and residue raw material to 

enable a ~75 % PA6 carbon footprint reduction compared to 

conventional PA6 and up to 24 % of the entire stroller. 

Earlier in 2022, Bugaboo announced ambitious targets to 

achieve net-zero carbon dioxide (CO 2 

) emissions by 2035. 

As most of Bugaboo’s impact derives from its Scope 3 

emissions, a transition toward lower fossil carbon materials 

is a key element of the company’s environmental, social, 

and governance (ESG) strategy. This aligns closely with the 

ambitions of the other partners: DSM Engineering Materials’ 

ongoing ambition of a full alternative portfolio of biobased 

and circular solutions, helping to defossilise the economy as 

part of its SimplyCircular initiative, Fibrant’s commitment 

to make the entire value chain more sustainable and Neste’s 

offering of Neste RE feedstock for polymers and chemicals. 

While conventional Akulon PA6 is already an excellentin-class 

for carbon footprint, switching to Akulon 100 % 

biobased B-MB PA6 offers a significant carbon footprint 

reduction compared to conventional PA6 and helps to further 

de-fossilize the value chain. Used in the entire stroller 

line, the new material was developed by DSM Engineering 

Materials in collaboration with its partners Fibrant and 

Neste. Specifically, Neste provided renewable Neste RE, a 

feedstock for polymers made 100 % from biobased materials 

such as waste and residues, which was used to replace fossil 

feedstock in the value chain. DSM Engineering Materials, 

Fibrant, and Neste are all ISCC-PLUS certified. 

With identical mechanical performance and characteristics 

to conventional Akulon grades, this mass-balanced biobased 

Akulon PA6 offers the quality and durability necessary to 

comply with Bugaboo’s strict safety standards, making it a 

drop-in substitution while enabling a CO 2 

reduction of up to 

24 % per stroller in line with the company’s ambitious ESG 

targets. This first line of strollers will be gradually available 

online and in stores worldwide in the coming period. In 

addition, over the course of 2023, Bugaboo will transition its 

entire stroller portfolio to production with biobased materials. 

Bugaboo Donkey stroller in action. Photo: Bugaboo. 

Adriaan Thiery, CEO at Bugaboo, comments: “Tackling the 

imminent climate crisis and all its consequences requires 

companies to take responsibility now – but no company 

can achieve a circular economy alone. By partnering 

along the value chain, we can benefit from innovative lowcarbon 

emission solutions like biobased PA6, which enable 

companies like Bugaboo to achieve our ESG goals, stick to 

our Paris Agreement targets, and move toward a circular, 

low-carbon economy”. 

Roeland Polet, President DSM Engineering Materials, 

says: “As Bugaboo becomes one of the earliest pioneers of 

biobased PA6, we’re very proud that our collaboration with 

Fibrant and Neste has produced such an innovative material. 

Collaboration remains key as we work toward the sustainable 

economy that consumers know we need, and sustainable 

circular solutions like our biobased PA6 are practical ways 

for our partners to get ahead by realising their environmental 

ambitions while making positive impacts at scale. We’re 

looking forward to supporting many more of our partners 

as they follow Bugaboo’s example and lead the way toward a 

more sustainable society”. 

Martijn Amory, CEO Fibrant, says: “Acting now is at the 

core of Fibrants’ commitment to climate neutrality. We are 

proud that by applying our EcoLactam ® Bio in this crossvalue-chain 

collaboration, we are enabling a significant and 

excellent-in-class carbon footprint reduction. This confirms 

our view that innovation and partnership lead the way to a 

sustainable future”. 

Mercedes Alonso, Executive Vice President at Neste 

Renewable Polymers and Chemicals: “The cooperation with 

Bugaboo, DSM and Fibrant shows what joint efforts can 

achieve in our industry: a high quality, yet more sustainable 

product leading to significant reductions in our industry’s 

dependence on fossil resources. It shows once more that 

where there is a will to cooperate, there is change and it also 

is another example that change is possible in all kinds of 

industries and applications: Industry-wise, there are no limits 

when it comes to making polymers more sustainable”. MT 

www.bugaboo.com 

www.dsm.com 

| www.neste.com 

| www.fibrant52.com 


Cove PHA bottles hit the market 

Cove, the California-based material innovation company, 

recently announced its partnership with Erewhon, the 

Los Angeles premium organic grocer, making it the first 

retailer of Cove’s fully biodegradable water bottles. Cove’s 

water bottles will be available at Erewhon stores throughout 

Los Angeles, as well as online at cove.co. Cove will announce 

new retail partners in the coming months as they scale up 

manufacturing at their production facility in Los Angeles. 

“Cove entering retail is a significant milestone for the 

company and it was important for us to find a mission-aligned 

retail partner to debut Cove. We’ve found that in Erewhon and 

are excited to take a big step forward in our mission to create 

a sustainable material world”, said Alex Totterman, Founder 

and CEO of Cove. “Erewhon will also offer a valuable end-oflife 

option for our customers by allowing them to deposit their 

used Cove bottles into their bins for compostables, which will 

then be routed to a local compost operation for biological 

recycling”, said Totterman. 

“Erewhon has celebrated the amazing benefits of naturally 

grown foods and the importance of preserving the earth for 

more than 50 years and continues to lead the way in conscious 

consumption today”, said Vito Antoci, Executive Vice President 

of Erewhon Markets. “When we were introduced to Cove, 

we were incredibly excited to be part of this innovative and 

potentially world-changing moment for CPG – the world’s 

first fully biodegradable water bottle is something we are very 

proud to be launching at Erewhon”. 

In spring 2021 Cove had announced an exclusive 

partnership deal with RWDC Industries (bM reported in 

issue 02/2021). RWDC, based in Athens, Georgia, USA and 

Singapore, now supplies its proprietary PHA to produce 

Cove’s water bottles. RWDC Industries uses plant-based oils, 

including post-consumer or used cooking oils, to produce 

PHA, which it has branded Solon . The biotech company 

combines deep expertise in PHA properties and applications 

with the engineering know-how to reach a cost-effective 

industrial scale. RWDC – the only PHA supplier of Cove’s 

that the startup would name – adds secret ingredients to 

its concoction, but Blake Lindsey, the company’s chief 

commercial officer, said that there’s nothing synthetic 

involved, according to Bloomberg. 

“We are thrilled to be working with the Cove team to make 

PHA-based water bottles a reality. In a world where over 

one million plastic bottles are purchased per minute, our 

collaboration is an important step toward providing materials 

that enable healthier options for people and the environment”, 

said Daniel Carraway, co-founder and CEO of RWDC. 

The PHA in Cove’s bottles and caps is certified biodegradable 

by TÜV Austria in marine, soil, and freshwater environments, 

as well as in industrial and home compost. Cove bottles and 

caps will compost in industrial settings within 90 days. MT 

Info 

See a video-clip at: 

https://www.youtube.com/ 

watch?v=Fx-2iusi0j4 

Applications 

www.drinkcove.com | www.rwdc-industries.com 


29

Applications 

Work and relax in 

an Organic Shell 

N 

uez Lounge Bio ® is a beautiful and comfortable 

armchair that respects the environment. It was 

designed by Patricia Urquiola (Milan, Italy) for 

the international brand Andreu World (Valencia, Spain). The 

unique furniture is made using IamNature ® , a new generation 

of biobased PHA material. 

In its robust casing one sits as if wrapped in the soft felt 

of a cape and protected as is the kernel of a walnut. With 

an unmistakable material texture, the natural feeling of 

Nuez Lounge Bio arises from the harmonious simplicity of 

lines and volumes, and the choice of ethical materials that 

are no less aesthetic. 

Responsible design and manufacturing are key principles 

in Patricia Urquiola’s design, that at its heart is an armchair 

designed to reduce the associated environmental impact to 

a minimum along with giving the maximum to the user in 

terms of comfort and beauty. Paper, walnut, PET, PHA: the 

formal idea at the centre of Nuez Lounge Bio is the gesture of 

folding paper, the leitmotif of the Nuez armchair designed by 

Urquiola, of which this lounge model is the natural, literally 

and figuratively, continuation. 

“The backrest folds to create a large ripple to form the 

seat in soft and continuous curves, simple and beautiful”, 

says Patricia. “Nuez means walnut in Spanish: the rough 

ribbed surface of the shell is shot in the undulating texture 

of the body. In this project, we have adopted an extremely 

contemporary approach, inspired by the flexibility and 

mutability of spaces dedicated to smart working. We did this”, 

she continues, “by designing an office chair as comfortable 

as a lounge chair, suitable for a ‘soft office’ created in a home 

environment, or for a workstation”. 

For Patricia it is also important to use natural and circular 

materials. “Today”, Patricia goes on, “a designer must pay 

attention to the durability of the product design, we must 

interpret and use the materials in a better way than in the 

past, always keeping in mind the principles of circularity and 

including the end of life of the object in the design process: 

for example, making sure it is easy to disassemble and study 

the possibilities of the reuse of all components. My work with 

Andreu World and with many other customers is based on 

these issues. In the case of Nuez Lounge Bio, the choice of a 

biopolymer was a prerequisite. Our intention since the initial 

briefing was to make an armchair sustainable in all respects: 

we have never taken into consideration the idea of using a 

traditional plastic material. 

Born to be green 

The upholstery of Nuez Lounge Bio by Andreu World is made 

with the developed Circular One ® fabric by Andreu World 

which is made entirely from recycled PET bottles and textile 

waste. The covers come from 100 % recycled padding and are 

recyclable as the absence of glues makes it easier to replace 

when the need or the desire suggests it. All components are 

designed to be disassembled and / or repaired to ensure a 

long life for the chair of use. The central base in ash wood is 

FSC ® 100 % certified. 

The decisive trump in terms of sustainability, however, 

even the most innovative aspect of this soft office armchair 

is represented by the shell; probably the first application of a 

bioplastic material in a structural and aesthetic component of 

large dimensions in the furniture industry. For Andreu World 

its realization was a stimulating challenge that appeared 

right from the start. 

The shell of the armchair is made entirely with Iam Nature, 

a special grade of PHA. “Maip has in recent years mainly 

dedicated itself to the study of compounds based on PHA, 

which we describe as the sleeping giant, the only biopolymer 

in the world absolutely of natural origin capable of degrading 

in any environment, controlled and uncontrolled”, as Eligio 

Martini, CEO of MAIP told bioplastics MAGAZINE. 

The compound used is based on a special PHBH and 

contains natural fillers as well as additives of vegetable 

and/or organic nature. In this case, the PHA is obtained 

from the bacterial fermentation of sugar processing waste. 

The compound meets the needs of Andreu World for a 

material with very high dimensional stability, as well as 

mechanical strength, thermal resistance, colour stability, 

and hardness, while also offering the possibility of highly 

precise surface texture reproduction, so as to make it 

possible to avoid painting. 

Circularity in the team 

The bioplastic material was developed by Andreu World 

in collaboration with the Maip Group (Settimo Torinese, 

Italy). The PHBH-based compound had already been used 

before, but not yet on a wide scale and its use in an industrial 

product of significant dimensions (the armchair measures 

80.5 x 86 x 102 cm in height, including the 43.5 cm high fourstar 

swivel base) required considerable effort in terms of 

research and development. 

This article is based on an Italian article previously published in Plastix (Italy). 


Applications 

“All components are conceived for 

easy disassembly “, emphasizes 

the designer Patricia Urquiola. “The 

coated part it’s completely removable 

from the body, which it is attached 

to with a mechanical solution, which 

eliminates the use of glue“. 

The Nuez armchair BIO lounge, 

ergonomic and luxuriously welcoming, 

marries the needs for smart working, 

in whose times and spaces of work 

and relaxation are fluid, with an 

interconnected mutability that is 

required for furnishings. 

The shell is printed with 

biothermopolymer or IamNature bio 

thermopolymer by Maip, obtained 

from the fermentation of waste of 

sugar processing, enriched from 

reinforcing fillers and original 

vegetable and / or organic additives. 

“The moulded component has a weight of 12.5 kg and is 

moulded on a 25,000 kN machine. Cycle time is just over 

a minute, despite the thickness of the component in some 

places being more than 10 mm”, Eligio continued 

“Experimenting with thermoplastics implies many 

technological challenges and not just a few critical issues. 

Andreu World worked closely together with Maip and with the 

manufacturer of the mould for about two years, formulating 

various compounds that have been tested by the Turin 

company through a further selection process in which the 

materials were subjected to printing tests, to solve every 

possible problem in the manufacturing process. The material 

had to satisfy multiple requirements: excellent dimensional 

stability, mechanical strength and thermal, lasting colour 

(it is produced in four colours), stiffness, and a high aesthetic 

quality surface finish that allows us to eliminate the varnish. 

The final formulation, based on PHA reinforced and modified 

on impact, has outlined all the specifications required for the 

approval of the sessions. In addition, all of their products are 

guaranteed for a lifetime of use of at least ten years; they 

must therefore undergo very rigorous quality tests. Obtaining 

this result with a new material,” concludes Andreu World, 

“makes us very proud”. MT 

www.maipsrl.com 

www.andreuworld.com 

www.patriciaurquiola.com 

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31

Applications 

Bacteria help make music 

more sustainable 

W 

aving ‘Bye Bye’ to vinyl: Bye Bye Plastic & 

Evolution Music team up to change the fate of 

the music industry and launch the world’s first 

bacteria-made vinyl record 

The plastic problem becomes a bigger issue every single 

day. And with that come more solutions; like the very first 

vinyl record made entirely free of fossil-based plastic, which 

could forever change the music industry. 

Vinyl is experiencing a resurgence in popularity, but 

many people are unaware of the environmental impact of 

traditional vinyl production. Bye Bye Plastic (Amsterdam, 

the Netherlands) & Evolution Music (Brighton, UK) via 

BLOND:ISH’s Abracadabra Records is innovating the music 

industry by producing entirely PVC free vinyl records. 

Pioneering Evolution Music’s new technology, the upcoming 

record will be the first-ever PHA record made by bacteria. 

This petroleum-free innovation scores double, morphing ecoconscious 

lyrics that make both audiophiles and fish happy! 

An eclectic mix of galvanising 

artistry, the PHA record is 

mainly underpinned by one 

striking force: the desire to 

eliminate single-use plastic 

from the music industry. 

Why the switch to PHA? 

As seductive as the 

temptation may be to slide 

a classic PVC disc from its 

glossy sleeve and get lost 

in its heady frequencies, 

archaic production 

techniques ensure 

that traditional 

vinyl pressings are 

responsible for 12 

times the greenhouse 

gas emissions of other 

physical music media. 

Evolution Music has spent the last four years working 

on R&D to identify non-toxic natural solutions for the 

music industry. Their first project focused on a plant-based 

biopolymer to create the world’s first Evo-Vinyl made from 

PLA. Following the launch of EM’s original plant-based disc 

via Music Declares Emergency in July 2022, Bye Bye Plastic 

have now joined with Evolution Music to take the research 

forward with the next iteration of polymer development. 

Evolution Music’s R&D into bioplastics has ensured 

scalability, as these utilise the same manufacturing 

infrastructure used for traditional vinyl pressings. This 

means that any pressing plant can adopt this new material in 

the future. Not only is it a low-touch adoption for them, but the 

new materials also prove energy-efficient! Evolution Music 

has seen their product create energy savings estimated at 

about 10 – 15 % if a plant is to make a complete switch to 

a fossil fuel-free PLA or PHA compound. The rewards are 

stacking up in favour of these exciting non-PVC alternatives. 

#PlasticFreeParty’s finest 

Uniting a powerful collective of artists sick of seeing 

plastic on their dance floors, Parisian duo Chambord 

curated #PlasticFreeParty to life, mixing a visionary blend 

of artistic passion for the planet with a drive to deliver 

astounding results. Featuring tracks from 14 environmental 

tastemakers, the album is a glimmer of a greener future in the 

electronic dance scene. Uniting eco-minded thrill-seekers 

sonically and lyrically, #PlasticFreeParty packs a punch. 

Co-founder of Bye Bye Plastic, Camille Guitteau, shares 

this is just the start of a green revolution. “This is a HUGE 

milestone, not just for us as a collective, but for the entire 

vinyl industry. We’re helping our industry and the planet 

evolve in the right direction”. 

“I Give Freedom is a track that I 

started with my friend and 

collaborator, Millad. The 

song speaks to the ability 

we all have to inspire 

change in ourselves 

and the world around 

us. The freedom 

to choose what we 

leave behind, and 

what impact we 

have on the earth”, 

says artist Shiba San. 

Environmental 

significance aside, 

industry innovators 

have been left with 

an artistic dilemma: 

what do you call a vinyl that isn’t 

made of vinyl at all? From Earth-disc to ’non-vinyl’, the name 

debate for this entirely eco-based material is one thing: but 

needless to say, the rebrand to plastic-free records might not 

be so far in the future! 

You can now hold a piece of history in your hand, & preorder 

the very limited edition version (see link below to 

Abracadabrarecords/Bandcamp). All proceeds from the 

release will support Bye Bye Plastic Foundation as they move 

one step closer to eliminating single-use, fossil-fuel plastics 

from the music industry. MT 

https://evolution-music.co.uk 

www.byebyeplastic.life 

https://abracadabrarecords.bandcamp.com/album/plasticfreeparty 


BOOK STORE 

New 

Edition 

2020 

NEW NEW 

NEW 

This book, created and published by Polymedia 

Publisher – maker of bioplastics MAGAZINE, is available in 

English and German (now in the third, revised edition), 

and brand new also in Chinese, French, and Spanish. 

Intended to offer a rapid and uncomplicated introduction 

to the subject of bioplastics, this book is aimed at all 

interested readers, in particular those who have not yet 

had the opportunity to dig deeply into the subject, such 

as students or those just joining this industry, as well 

as lay readers. It gives an introduction to plastics and 

bioplastics, explains which renewable resources can be 

used to produce bioplastics, what types of bioplastics 

exist, and which ones are already on the market. Further 

aspects, such as market development, the agricultural 

land required, and waste disposal, are also examined. 

The book is complemented by a comprehensive 

literature list and a guide to sources of additional 

information on the Internet. 

The author Michael Thielen is the publisher of 

bioplastics MAGAZINE. 

He is a qualified mechanical design engineer 

with a PhD degree in plastics technology from 

the RWTH University in Aachen, Germany. He 

has written several books on the subject of 

bioplastics and blow-moulding technology 

and disseminated his knowledge of plastics 

in numerous presentations, seminars, guest 

lectures, and teaching assignments. 

New 

Edition 

2020 

ORDER 

NOW 

www.bioplasticsmagazine.com/en/books 

email: books@bioplasticsmagazine.com 

phone: +49 2161 6884463 33 

bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/22] Vol. 17

K’2022 Review 

K 2022, the innovation driver for the global plastics and rubber 

industry showed a multitude of concrete solutions, machines, 

and products for the transformation towards a circular economy 

The joy of the plastics and rubber industry at finally being 

able to exchange ideas in person on a global level again after 

three years characterised K 2022 Düsseldorf and ensured 

an excellent mood among the 3,037 exhibitors who again 

unanimously underscored the necessity of having operational 

circular economies along the complete material chain and to this 

end already presented numerous concrete solutions. 176,000 

trade visitors from all continents travelled to their most relevant 

sectoral event in Düsseldorf. 

“Especially now in turbulent times and where the plastics 

industry is undergoing a transformation towards the circular 

economy K 2022 was the ideal place to jointly and actively chart 

the course for the future”, said Ulrich Reifenhäuser, Chairman 

of the Exhibitor Advisory Board at K 2022. 

And certainly, bioplastics and plastics made from CO 2 

or advanced recycling played an ever increasing role at the 

mega-event. By far more than 200 companies were listed in 

the official catalogue with the keyword bioplastic. Our joint 

booth with European Bioplastics was constantly crowded 

with visitors interested in sustainable solutions to get away 

from fossil resources. 

Show 

Review 

The 5 th Bioplastics Business Breakfast organized by 

bioplastics MAGAZINE again attracted more than 125 attendees 

from 27 countries around the globe. And for those attendees 

that could not travel to Düsseldorf, the hybrid format offered 

a solution to participate remotely. Video recordings are still 

available. Just contact the editor. 

This year’s K has again exceeded the organizers’ expectations 

and was able to generate key impetus for sustainable governance 

and new business models.AT/MT 

(Foto: Messe Düsseldorf / Constanze Tillmann) 

Westlake Vinnolit 

Westlake Vinnolit (Ismaning, Germany) continues to 

expand its lower-carbon GreenVin ® product line: Effective 

immediately, the company also offers GreenVin bio-attributed 

PVC based on renewable ethylene from e.g. used cooking oil. 

Westlake Vinnolit’s lower-carbon GreenVin product line 

continues to expand: in addition to GreenVin PVC, with 

approximately 25 % CO 2 

savings through the use of renewable 

electricity (Guarantees of Origin with quality label) in the 

Westlake Vinnolit production chain, GreenVin bio-attributed 

PVC is now also available. GreenVin bio-attributed PVC 

is produced with renewable electricity and ISCC PLUScertified 

renewable ethylene from biomass. The CO 2 

savings 

of GreenVin bio-attributed PVC is about 90 %, compared to 

conventionally produced Vinnolit PVC. 

“With GreenVin bio-attributed PVC, we rely on non-food 

biomass (second generation), such as plant residues and 

waste materials, which does not compete with the food 

chain”, said Karl-Martin Schellerer, Managing Director. 

“Westlake Vinnolit sources the renewable ethylene from 

OMV and other partners, replacing fossil ethylene in PVC 

production. GreenVin bio-attributed PVC is both ISCC PLUS 

and REDcert2 certified, using the mass balance approach”. 

www.westlake.com 


Avient 

Avient (Avon Lake, OH, USA, formerly PolyOne) exhibited its latest innovations and initiatives for the plastics industry as part 

of its drive toward creating sustainable and specialized material solutions. This includes offering lower-carbon alternatives to 

thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) without sacrificing performance, expanding their portfolios to include the use of bio-renewable 

feedstock and post-industrial or post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, and introducing new materials and services focused on 

meeting specific customer needs while helping to advance a circular economy. 

New launches by Avient include New Maxxam REC, Maxxam BIO, and Nymax BIO grades, an expanded portfolio of recycled 

and biobased polyolefin and polyamide formulations now manufactured in Europe. These grades can offer a more sustainable 

alternative to traditional grades while achieving equivalent performance in many applications and industries, including 

transportation, industrial, consumer, electrical and electronic, and building and construction. 

TheSound Ultra-Low Carbon Footprint TPEs offer an industry-first 

cradle-to-gate negative, neutral, or near-zero product carbon footprint 

(PCF) while delivering comparable performance to traditional TPEs. 

Among other things Avient also announced customer success 

collaboration with L’Oréal and a joint study with Borealis using 

Avient’s Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Colour Prediction Service: 

A digital service using sophisticated technology to illustrate the colour 

possibilities or limitations of certain types of PCR. This can improve the 

customer experience of working with PCR content for materials used in 

packaging by offering options that can create global colour consistency, 

improved quality, and greater circularity. 

www.avient.com 


DSM 

DSM Engineering Materials (Geleen, the Netherlands) 

showcased its recent innovations in circularity, sustainable 

mobility, and digitalization that are driving transformation 

and empowering customers across automotive, electric, 

electronics, and consumer goods. 

Akulon ® RePurposed is a high-performance polymer (PA6, 

PA66) made from recycled fishing nets collected from the 

Indian Ocean and is used by Samsung in key components 

across its Galaxy S22 and Galaxy Tab S8 series in an industryfirst 

smartphone application. It is also at the centre of DSM’s 

successful partnership with Schneider Electric for its Merten 

range of sustainable home socket and switch solutions, 

and with Ford Motor Company in the Ford Bronco Sport – 

recognized by Ford as the first of many potential applications 

in a major vehicle platform. 

Several biobased mass-balanced polymers unlock a huge 

range of more sustainable applications across demanding 

consumer products, automotive and sports. Ranging from 75 % 

to 100 % biobased mass-balanced content, solutions include 

Akulon PA6 B-MB line, specific grades in the Arnitel ® TPC 

B-MB family, and an industry-first biobased mass-balanced 

high-temperature polyamide PA46 as an exciting addition to 

the flagship Stanyl ® brand. 

Stanyl B-MB (Biobased Mass Balanced), with up to 100 % 

bio-attributed content enables DSM Engineering Materials to 

halve the carbon footprint of this product line and, in turn, of 

the Stanyl B-MB-based products of its customers. Launched 

in June, this 100 % bio-attributed high-temperature polyamide 

underlines the business’s ongoing commitment to helping 

customers fulfil their sustainability ambitions by making 

planet-positive choices and supporting the transition to a 

circular and biobased economy. 

www.dsm.com 

TotalEnergies 

During K 2022 TotalEnergies announced the launch 

of its new product range RE:clic for its low-carbon 

polymers that contribute to addressing the challenges 

of the circular economy. 

The RE:use polymers range contains recycled plastic 

obtained through a mechanical recycling process. 

They are derived from post-consumer and postindustrial 

plastic wastes. 

The RE:build polymers are produced through an 

advanced recycling process that converts hard-torecycle 

plastic waste into circular feedstock. The recycled 

content of the resulting polymers is tracked throughout 

the production process thanks to the ISCC PLUS 

certification. These polymers exhibit identical properties 

to virgin polymers and are therefore suitable for highend, 

demanding applications, including food contact. 

The RE:newable polymers are derived from biobased 

products. Produced from renewable feedstocks certified 

under ISCC PLUS, these polymers substantially reduce 

the carbon footprint of finished products and retain 

virgin-like properties. 

“This announcement marks yet another step forward 

in TotalEnergies’ development of a circular economy 

for plastics and is fully aligned with the Company’s 

ambition”, said Nathalie Brunelle, Vice President 

Polymers at TotalEnergies. “The products associated 

with these new ranges are concrete solutions to 

help us reach our ambition of commercializing 30 % 

circular polymers by 2030”. 

www totalenergies.com 


35


Mynusco 

Mynusco Spectrus Sustainable Solutions (Bengaluru, India) 

is a world leader in biocomposite materials and a platform for 

circular economy adoption. 

The company uses crop residue and fast-renewable raw 

materials to make biocomposite materials that replace certain 

conventional plastics and other carbon-intensive materials. The 

company’s portfolio of more than 1,000 biomaterials includes 

BioDur for durable products and BioPur for biodegradable and 

compostable products. 

Biomaterials are only part of the circular economy solution. 

It is important to bring together all stakeholders to ensure that 

our entire economic system is sustainable. For this, Mynusco 

pioneered a biomaterials platform on which companies can 

collaborate to develop circular solutions. 

The Biocomposites centre of excellence and R&D capabilities 

enables Mynusco to develop new biomaterials that meet your 

specifications and needs. They can calibrate their biomaterials 

portfolio to alter material properties, appearance, and usability. 

Mynusco is the first biomaterials producer in the world to offer IT 

systems to track resources and carbon footprint across the value 

chain – from the origin of resources to the products’ end-of-life. 

“We are a grassroots sustainability company”, as the website 

says, “we are happy to support champions of sustainability, 

innovation and circular economy with the material selection, 

processing, product engineering, mould development, part 

manufacturing and provide clarifications about our materials”. 

www.mynusco.com 

DuPont 

DuPont (Wilmington, Delaware, USA) announced that its 

global Delrin ® (acetal homopolymer – Polyoxymethylene POM) 

production facilities have achieved an estimated 10 % reduction 

in total scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2019 

to 2021. Scope 1 covers direct emissions from owned or controlled 

emissions sources while scope 2 covers indirect emissions from 

purchased energy resources. 

The reduction is principally due to Delrin plant 

modernization efforts which are part of the business’s overall 

commitment to sustainability. 

Part of the contributions to the reduction in scope 1 and 2 

manufacturing emissions is the production of Delrin Renewable 

Attributed resin at the Dordrecht Works facility in the Netherlands. 

The Delrin Renewable Attributed product portfolio is produced 

entirely with electricity backed by renewable energy credits from 

wind. Furthermore, steam is sourced from municipal waste energy 

recovery. The Delrin Renewable Attributed product line, whose 

base polymer is produced with 100 % ISCC-certified bio-feedstock 

from waste, provides up to 75 % reduction in global warming 

potential (GWP) impacts compared to fossil-based Delrin. Delrin 

Renewable Attributed was the first commercial biobased acetal 

homopolymer and has been recognized for its world-class 

environmental profile, winning an R&D 100 Award in 2021 as well 

as a 2022 Gold Edison Award. 

www.dupont.com 

Sabic 

Sabic (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) showcased its 

broad expertise in Trucircle solutions for more 

sustainable packaging. 

One example is Orkla, who launched its first 

chips packaging using certified renewable 

polypropylene (PP) polymer from Sabic’s Trucircle 

portfolio that is a drop-in solution for replacing 

fossil-based plastics in the packaging industry with 

no compromise on food safety, and is converted 

into a BOPP or Natural BOPP (NOPP) food 

packaging film by Irplast. In Orkla’s chips bags, 

the material solution from biobased feedstock 

reduces the carbon footprint of the three partners’ 

value chain by about 50 % compared to the use 

of traditional non-renewable plastics. “With our 

certified circular and renewable polymers, we are 

aiming to create a sustainable value chain where 

we collaborate with downstream customers 

like Irplast and Orkla in the use of biobased 

feedstock”, a spokesperson said. 

Bottles using certified renewable HDPE 

polymer from Sabic’s Trucircle portfolio as inner 

layer is a drop-in solution for replacing fossilbased 

plastics with no compromise on food safety. 

Sabic’s certified renewable products are based 

on a mass balance system and fully certified via 

ISCC PLUS. Core and outer layers are made of 

Sabic HDPE mechanical recycled compounds, 

contributing to circularity by saving virgin material 

in bottles without facing processing issues or 

machine efficiency reduction while keeping the 

quality standards for the bottles. 

www.sabic.com 

Imerys 

Imerys (Paris, France) is the world’s leading 

supplier of specialty minerals, with best-in-class 

operations, delivering excellence and marketdriven 

innovation to customers around the world. 

Whether it be promoting lightweighting, 

fostering recyclability, extending the lifespan 

or lowering the ecoprofile of the end product, 

sustainability is at the core of Imerys’ innovations 

for plastics and rubber markets. 

Among other flame retardant, calcium 

carbonate, graphite, clay, carbon black, talc and 

other products, the company presented Jetfine ® 

3 C talc for lighter, stronger biopolymers. Jetfine 

3 C is an ultrafine engineered mineral solution 

for biodegradable plastics which renders 

biopolymers fit for use as an alternative for 

conventional thermoplastics. 

www.imerys.com 


Chimei 

A Taiwan-based performance materials company that designs and 

manufactures advanced polymer materials, synthetic rubbers, and 

specialty chemicals, CHIMEI Corporation is adding a range of International 

Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS approved (mass 

balance) bioplastics to its newly released Ecologue sustainable materials 

portfolio. The brand Ecologue was officially launched during K 2022. 

Approval from ISCC 

PLUS reinforces the 

renewable plastics value 

chain, which Chimei has 

been building together with 

Neste, Idemitsu Kosan, and 

Mitsubishi Corporation, 

allowing them to introduce 

new, renewable biomass 

materials that can effectively 

replace fossil feedstock 

in plastic production. 

The ISCC PLUS approvals apply to ABS, SAN, MS (SMMA), HBR, and SSBR 

products, which are produced at Chimei’s factory in Tainan, Taiwan. Chimei 

will officially launch ISCC PLUS bio-ABS products, under the Ecologue 

trademark, in the first half of 2023. 

Bioplastics are one of three innovation areas in Chimei’s Ecologue 

sustainable materials portfolio. Chimei’s ongoing bioplastic innovations 

include biodegradable materials, which have the potential to replace singleuse 

plastics in the near future. Chimei aims to expand its bioplastic offerings 

over the coming years. 

Production is an ongoing innovation area in Chimei’s Ecologue sustainable 

materials portfolio. This includes carbon capture and utilization at Chimei 

facilities. Of the three innovation areas at CHIMEI, recycling has proffered 

the most development; featuring optical-grade, chemically recycled MMA, 

and mechanically recycled PCR materials. 

www.chimeicorp.com 

Lanxess 

Lanxess (Cologne, Germany) 

presented (among other products) 

Adiprene Green – biobased prepolymers 

with excellent properties. 

Under the brand name Adiprene Green 

LF Lanxess provides a range of biobased, 

low free monomer prepolymers for 

polyurethane CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, 

Sealants, Elastomers) applications. 

Biobased LF prepolymers focus on 

renewable chemical building blocks that 

are designed to the specific needs of 

many different applications by exploring 

additional chemistries and optimization of 

molecular weight and structure. 

Progress has been made developing 

biobased LF MDI prepolymers over a 

wide range of NCO content (free reactive 

isocyanate groups) which yield systems 

with lower viscosity at application 

temperature, improved high crystallinity, 

better wetting ability, and fast green 

strength in reactive hot melt and twocomponent 

adhesives formulations. The 

new LF MDI prepolymers enable hot-melt 

formulations with a biocontent of up to 

75 %. Other Adiprene Green systems allow 

the manufacturing of PU elastomers with 

a biocontent of up to 90 %. 

www.lanxess.com 


Benvic 

Benvic (Chevigny-Saint-Sauveur, France), Europe’s leader in PVC 

compounds, technical compounds and ecological biopolymers presented 

its recently reborn ProVinyl range of PVC compounds and a reworked 

and rebranded the second strand of materials – largely polyolefinbased 

polymer technology. 

The third leg of the Benvic portfolio involved both polymer recyclates 

and biopolymeric materials in order to service the growing eco-conscious 

and circular economy. Benvic’s French subsidiary Ereplast is helping 

drive a growing number of solutions in recycled PVC grades. Meanwhile, 

Benvic’s Plantura product lines showed K visitors a range of biobased and/ 

or compostable polymers for the development of successful eco-designed 

products and solutions. 

These four new groupings reflect the fact that Benvic is no longer simply 

a supplier of polymer compounds but is a solutions business; offering 

forward integration through its plastics processing companies or providing 

environmental ‘cradle to cradle’ service with respect to materials. 

Benvic is also a supplier of niche materials for specialist product sectors, 

including medical, biopolymers, conductive and self-sanitizing polymers, 

as well as creating materials for stringent uses in the construction and 

electrical industries. 

www.benvic.com 

Eckart 

With its trade show motto "Discover 

Nexxt", Eckart (Hartenstein, Germany) 

presented pigment solutions for the 

plastics industry that demonstrably 

improve the carbon footprint. At K 2022 

Eckart showed their forward-looking 

pigment solutions, such as Mastersafe 

BCR. With this product, the manufacturer 

of effect pigments is the first company 

worldwide to present biobased 

preparations for aluminium pigments. 

By replacing fossil raw materials 

with renewable biobased materials, 

Mastersafe BCR enables greenhouse gas 

emissions to be saved in the value chain 

leading to a reduction of the product’s 

carbon footprint by 50 %. 

www.eckart.net 


37


Di Mucci 

Di Mucci (Izola, Slovenia) is an innovative film-producing 

company committed to the development of innovative 

solutions, to replace conventional plastic films with 

compostable solutions for automatic packaging machines. 

Di Mucci is the first world producer of transparent 

low-thickness shrinkable film awarded as the best 

packaging innovation in 2021. 

Vincentius-POF is a transparent film with reticular 

molecular structure. It can weld and shrink at low 

temperatures and works as a cross-linked (irradiated) film 

that is not recyclable and can replace also the standard POF 

shrink film. It works with conventional packaging machines 

such as side sealers, L sealers, box motions and chamber 

machinery with shrink tunnels. It is certified for food contact 

and industrial composting. 

Vincentius-SuperPower is a film that replaces the 

classic PE film (also shrinkable) with compostable 

materials capable of degrading and composting without 

specific environmental conditions. So, even if accidentally 

dispersed in nature, it naturally decomposes without leaving 

microplastics or substances harmful to the environment 

and human health. The film has a natural porosity, able to 

keep good barrier to oxygen prolonged the shelf life of fresh 

food, can be laminated and can be used as lidding film. It is 

certified home compostable. 

Vincentius-BOVI is a bi-oriented compostable film able 

to replace the classical BOPP and or CPP films. It has good 

rigidity and transparency and works in high-speed flowpack, 

flow-wraps, VFFS vertical packaging machines and in 

all applications where the BOPP is applied. It can be coated, 

laminated, and metallized and it can keep food fresh longer, 

increasing shelf life compared to the standard BOPP film 

due to its natural porosity. It is certified for food contact and 

is industrial compostable. 

“Vincentius is not our arrival point, but our first step. We 

are not just imagining a greener future, but making it real”, 

said Luca Di Mucci, founder and CEO. 

www.dimucci.si 

Kompuestos 

To celebrate their first encounter with a general audience 

after the pandemic, Kompuestos (Palau Solità i Plegamans, 

Spain) officially launched Neory, their new brand for 

biodegradable and compostable resins. 

In addition to exhibiting at the K’2022, Kompuestos 

(Palau Solità i Plegamans, Spain) has also been presenting 

its latest R&D developments during the Bioplastics 

Business Breakfast event on the sidelines of the fair. 

These developments include compostable solutions for 

food packaging and catering services to tackle plastic 

pollution. Compostable plastics could have a role to play 

here, especially where products are contaminated with food 

residues. Compostable packaging and any leftovers can be 

disposed of together in a food waste bin for collection and 

treatment (where permitted). 

Neory is a range of duly certified compostable resins, 

based on completely or partially biobased raw materials 

such as starches and other renewable sourced polymers. 

Neory resins have been designed to cover the current 

demands of the plastics industry, with solutions for blown 

film extrusion, injection moulding, sheet extrusion, profile 

extrusion and cast extrusion. 

The fit-for-purpose materials have been designed to 

be processed on existing industrial equipment, offering 

the opportunity to replace traditional fossil plastics 

without added technological investment. Neory grades 

have been certified as OK Compost INDUSTRIAL and/ 

or OK Compost HOME following TÜV AUSTRIA Belgium 

certification schemes or are undergoing certification. These 

certifications ensure that the products fully biodegrade in 

the specified conditions, not leaving microplastics, heavy 

metals or toxic components behind. 

Kompuestos also believes in the potential of 

biodegradability in the soil for a more sustainable 

agriculture and in this sense has developed a special grade 

for biodegradable mulch films. In addition to suppressing 

weeds and promoting crop growth, biodegradability in the 

soil offers added benefits for agricultural and horticultural 

products, as when left in the soil to break down in situ after 

being used, the mulch films provide nutrients to the soil and 

enhance soil structure. 

www.kompuestos.com 


Novamont 

Mix-Me, the multivitamin and multimineral nutritional supplement produced by DSM Nutritional Products, designed to combat 

malnutrition in developing countries and already distributed for years in numerous countries reaching millions of consumers, 

now comes to the market in a compostable pack with high renewable raw material content and low environmental impact. 

At K 2022 the first stick pack for a powdered multivitamin and multimineral supplement made of a paper laminate and Novamont 

Mater-Bi bioplastic film was officially launched. 

It is compostable and recyclable together with 

household food waste. 

It is a highly innovative application, which 

products to offer a highly sustainable product 

stability of the product. 

This packaging solution is the result of 

SAES Coated Films and Gualapack, an 

been engaged in intensive joint research and 

based on the companies’ respective expertise in 

and the transformation of these materials for 

on regenerating resources and decarbonising 

arises from the will of DSM Nutritional 

without compromising the quality and 

Novamont’s collaboration with Ticinoplast, 

entirely Italian industrial chain that has 

development for years. This association is 

biodegradable materials, functional materials 

the packaging sector, focusing in particular 

production processes. 

Unlike conventional packaging 

– employing PET, aluminium and 

PE – the new packaging is made 

of paper and film in Mater-Bi – the 

Novamont bioplastic produced 

from raw materials of agricultural 

origin. This means it is compostable 

in accordance with standard EN 

13432, with a biobased raw material content of over 65 %. 

The water-based biodegradable coating technology Coathink ® from SAES Coated Films provides a high water vapour and oxygen 

barrier, necessary for optimum preservation of the powdered product and its micronutrient content throughout its shelf life. The 

pack is compatible with traditional automatic packaging lines thanks to its excellent sealability properties. The innovative pack 

not only guarantees shelf life and productivity similar to traditional laminates but also solves the difficulties of recycling small 

packaging made from non-separable laminated materials. 

www.novamont.com 


23–25 May • Siegburg/Cologne 

23–25 May • Siegburg/Cologne (Germany) 

renewable-materials.eu 

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Second day 

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39

Films 

Production of biodegradable packaging 

from seaweed 

The company Brabender, together with the TU Dresden 

(Dresden, Germany) and the University of the Philippines 

(Quezon City, Philippines), is researching the processing 

of seaweed into a cost-effective and sustainable plastic 

alternative. The films and packaging made from seaweed 

could be used in the future as films for detergent pods or 

dishwasher tabs, for example. 

Seaweed as a sustainable solution 

Plastic pollution in combination with the longevity of mostly 

fossil-based materials is a well-known issue of modern 

times. Part of the solution to counteract this issue might 

lie in naturally occurring seaweed. While many biobased 

and biodegradable plastics struggle to be sustainable and 

economically viable alternatives due to high prices, poor 

processability, or limited availability, seaweed have great 

advantages. They are available in large quantities at low cost 

and the seaweed can easily be processed into a polymer 

material, providing an alternative to conventional plastics. 

This new material can be used, for example, for 

environmentally friendly packaging. These sea plants have 

various advantages: they grow quickly and need neither 

freshwater nor fertilisers. In addition, there is a huge area 

of cultivable land in the oceans: “Around 70 % of the earth’s 

surface is covered with ocean water, so we have a large 

theoretical area of cultivable land that is currently barely 

used. In comparison, 20 % of the Earth’s surface is covered 

with fertile land and is intensively used for, e.g. agriculture, 

forestry, infrastructure, or nature reserves. There is therefore 

a lot of potential in seaweed as a renewable raw material 

to partially replace plastics, which is currently not yet being 

used”, explains Ludwig Schmidtchen, Application Engineer at 

Brabender. In addition, the cultivation of seaweed counteracts 

the eutrophication of the oceans caused by over-fertilisation 

in agriculture and the acidification of the oceans, and would 

thus be helping with the protection of the marine ecosystem. 

Schmidtchen is conducting research on the topic of 

producing a sustainable alternative to petrochemical plastics 

from seaweed at Brabender, as part of his PhD thesis at the 

TU Dresden. The doctorate, at the Institute for Processing 

Machines/Processing Technology at TU Dresden, is taking 

place in cooperation with the Marine Science Institute of the 

University of the Philippines in Quezon City. 

Processing seaweed on laboratory scale 

So far, results of the investigations in the fields of 

characterisation, quality assessment, and processing of the 

seaweed raw material using various Brabender analytical 

instruments to develop a suitable quality analysis and process 

are quite impressive: With the help of the Brabender 

TwinLab-C 20/40 twin-screw extruder and Univex flat film 

take-off, Schmidtchen has processed the seaweed into a 

brownish film. “In its current state, the extruded seaweed 

film can be used, for example, as a water-soluble casing for 

detergent pods and dishwasher tabs”, says Schmidtchen. In 

conventional dishwasher tabs, the cover is made of the 

water-soluble synthetic polymer polyvinyl alcohol, which is 

proven and scaled in its processing but is still more costintensive 

than seaweed. “In the long run, processing seaweed 

into films is much cheaper than polyvinyl alcohol, because 

the processing of seaweed requires less energy than polyvinyl 

alcohol production and is much easier”, Schmidtchen notes. 

In addition, closed material cycles in the sense of a circular 

bioeconomy can be achieved with the seaweed material for 

water-soluble applications, which is hardly possible 

with any other polymer. 

Life cycle of seaweed-based material 

The seaweed material is a natural polymer material that 

can become economically competitive with conventional 

thermoplastics. It has similar mechanical properties to 

currently used packaging materials and can be heat-sealed, 

as is the case with chips bags or other packaging, for example. 

The idea is not new 

The cultivation potential for seaweed is huge and does not 

compete with food crops. The idea of using seaweed polymers 

for film production is not new – as early as 1934, there were 

initial ideas for seaweed film production in Japan. However, 

this idea did not catch on at the time due to a lack of political 

and social interest. In addition, there were only insufficient 

technical solutions for industrial production. Today, things 

are different. This is made possible by the novel approach 

of semi-dry extrusion to produce a 100 % seaweed-based 

packaging material. The semi-dry extrusion of seaweed 

biomass into various packaging products saves not only 

water but also energy resources with minimal negative 

environmental impact. 


By: 

By Ludwig Schmidtchen 

Application Engineer for Biopolymers 

Films 

Brabender, 

Duisburg, Germany 

Before the seaweed can be processed, it grows in 

aquacultures, is harvested and dried in the sun. Then the raw 

material is crushed with the help of a grinder. A quality analysis 

with the Brabender ViscoQuick is used to characterise the raw 

material for further processing. “We have developed extra 

methods for this application. Based on our measurements, 

we can make statements about the quality and how to use 

the material”, Schmidtchen summarises. 

Life cycle of conventional plastic 

Scaling up of the project is still pending 

After characterisation, the ground seaweed can be 

processed in an extruder into pellets for further processing 

or the film product. The seaweed material can additionally 

be used in combination with natural plasticisers or natural 

pigments to adapt the colour and material properties for 

specific applications. In the processing stage, Brabender 

contributes its expertise in raw material characterisation and 

extrusion processing. The entire value chain, from quality 

control of the seaweed to the finished film or injectionmoulded 

part, can be covered with Brabender equipment 

and the respective experts accompany the tests in the 

application laboratories. 

The seaweed project proves that the prerequisites for 

the development of a sustainable, environmentally friendly, 

feasible, and economical plastic alternative have been 

created. Now the project could also be implemented on a 

larger scale, but suitable partners and co-investors are still 

lacking. “After the implementation works on laboratory scale, 

the process can now be scaled up to a pilot plant. For this, 

we are currently looking for investors or partners who are 

interested in large-scale implementation”, says Schmidtchen. 

www.msi.upd.edu.ph | www.brabender.com/en 

https://tu-dresden.de 


41

C 

M 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K 

Materials 

New glass fibre reinforced 

biopolymer compounds 

Something not deemed possible has become a reality: fully biobased and biodegradable glass-fibre-reinforced compounds. 

Arctic Biomaterials (ABM) from Tampere, Finland, are delighted to announce the recently established collaboration with 

Helian Polymers (Belfeld, the Netherlands). 

By combining ABM’s unique ArcBiox degradable and reinforcing glass fibres with Helian Polymers’ signature PHAradox PHA 

compounds, new functional material possibilities emerge due to improved mechanical and thermal properties. No less than six 

grades have been developed so far. 

The established synergy between both companies enables the industry and interested parties to test and validate new sustainable 

materials for a range of applications where glass fibre reinforcements are a requirement. 

These new PHA compounds with ArcBiox glass fibres, which are in a developmental stage, will degrade in the environment 

without the formation of persistent microplastics or remaining glass fibres. 

With these exciting and still experimental materials, both companies are open to discussing application development with their 

customers and exploring further opportunities. 

From government regulation to social pressure, the call for sustainable materials is getting louder every day. By combining 

their strengths, both Arctic Biomaterials and Helian Polymers help potential customers to lower the threshold to develop new 

applications with their latest sustainable materials – which are fully biobased and 100 % biodegradable – with the sole intention 

to minimise the end product’s negative impact on the environment. AT 

https://abmcomposite.com/ 

| https://helianpolymers.com | https://pharadox.com 

TPE 

ISSN 1868 - 8055 PVST ZK17761 

Volume 14 / 2022 

Magazine 

RFP 

ISSN 1863 - 7116 PVST 73484 

Rubber | Fibres | Plastics 


PU 

ISSN 1864 - 5534 PVST 66226 


Magazine 

International 

RADO-Titelseite-GAK-07-8-2022.PRINT 05.08.22 

ISSN 0176-1625 PVSt 4637 75. Jahrgang August 2022 

Gummi | Fasern | Kunststoffe 

Contact us! 

• Interview with 

A. Arrighini, Marfran 

• Trend report 

North America 

• Editorial 

• Interview 

Eruption of techniques Compensate 

and strategies to 

for interference 

break up and recycle rubber with nature 

• TPV for fuel cells • Wood as 

flame-retardant 

03 

• Trend report Localisation 

and regionalisation: 

Changing landscape of 

global supply chain 

2022 

• Trend report 

North America 

RP_P03_ADV Antifiamma_210x297mm.indd 1 

• Emerging trends in 

plastics recycling 

• Follow-up report 189 

exhibitors spread over 

three halls at Hannover 

fair ground 

02 


• DKT/IRC 2021 

Wichtiger Branchentreffpunkt 

in turbulenten 

Zeiten 

• Material flows of 

U.S. polyurethane 

• Amino functional 

04 

sulfonates 

• Mechanische 

Prüfung 

Mehraxiale 

Eigenschaften von 

Elastomeren 

• Integrative 

Simulation 

Modellierung des 

Relaxationsverhaltens 


• Rheologie 

Korrektur von Wandgleiteffekten 

07 

08 


Practical content from the areas of 

Development, processing and application* 

*Trend-setting and expertly packaged. 

42 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/22] Vol. 17 

Dr. Gupta Verlag

Amorphous PHA meets PLA 

CJ Biomaterials and NatureWorks will develop innovative sustainable 

materials solutions 

Materials 

CJ Biomaterials (Woburn, MA, USA), a division 

of South Korea-based CJ CheilJedang and 

NatureWorks (Plymouth, MN, USA) have signed a 

Master Collaboration Agreement (MCA) that calls for the 

two organizations to collaborate on the development of 

sustainable materials solutions based on CJ Biomaterials’ 

PHACT Biodegradable Polymers and NatureWorks’ 

Ingeo biopolymers. The two companies will develop 

high-performance biopolymer solutions that will replace 

petrochemical-based plastics in applications ranging 

from compostable food packaging and food serviceware to 

personal care, films, and other end products. 

The initial focus of this joint agreement will be to develop 

biobased solutions that create new performance attributes 

for compostable rigid and flexible food packaging and food 

serviceware. The new solutions developed will also aim to 

speed up biodegradation to introduce more after-use options 

consistent with a circular economy model. The focus on 

compostable food packaging and serviceware will create 

more solutions for keeping methanegenerating 

food scraps out of landfills, 

which are the third largest source of 

methane emissions globally, according to 

the World Bank. Using compostable food 

packaging and serviceware, more food 

scraps can be diverted to composting 

where they become part of a nutrientrich, 

soil amendment that improves soil 

health through increased biodiversity 

and sequestered carbon content. 

CJ Biomaterials and NatureWorks 

plan to expand their relationship beyond 

cooperative product development for 

packaging to create new applications 

in the films and nonwoven markets. 

For these additional applications, 

the two companies will enter into 

strategic supply agreements to support 

development efforts. 

Rich Altice and Seung-Jin Lee 

“We are excited to build on our strong relationship with 

NatureWorks to tackle the challenge of plastic waste”, says 

Seung-Jin Lee, Head of Biomaterials business from CJ 

CheilJedang. “Plastic pollution is a major global concern, 

and to successfully address this problem, it is critical to 

introduce new solutions that will have a real impact by 

improving the biodegradability and compostability of plastic. 

Using its Ingeo PLA technology, NatureWorks has served as 

a leader in developing sustainable solutions for more than 

30 years. By combining our PHACT amorphous PHA [aPHA] 

biopolymers with their Ingeo PLA biopolymers, we can deliver 

advanced solutions that improve the biodegradability and 

compostability of plastic in almost limitless applications”. 

“We feel strongly that the next generation of sustainable 

materials needs to begin with renewable, biobased 

feedstocks, have a wide range of tailorable performance 

attributes, and be designed for after-use scenarios from 

compostability to chemical recycling. These principles are 

inherent in both CJ’s PHACT PHA and our Ingeo PLA, and we 

have witnessed very positive early results when incorporating 

these two industry-leading biomaterials. This collaboration 

between our two organizations is going to lead to the 

development of exciting, industry-advancing technologies”, 

said NatureWorks CEO, Rich Altice. 

NatureWorks is a pioneer in the development of biobased 

materials that have a small carbon footprint and enable new 

after-use options with its Ingeo technology. As a company, it 

has developed many of the leading high-volume applications 

for PLA. In recent years, Ingeo has experienced significant 

growth as a biobased material in a broad range of finished 

products. Due to its unique functionality, it has been used to 

replace petrochemical-based plastics with 100 % renewable, 

biobased content and to enable more 

after-use options which include 

compostability, chemical recycling, and 

mechanical recycling. 

CJ Biomaterials is a business unit of 

CJ BIO part of CJ CheilJedang. Earlier 

this year, the company announced 

commercial-scale production of 

PHA following the inauguration of 

its production facility in Pasuruan, 

Indonesia. Today, CJ Biomaterials is the 

only company in the world producing 

aPHA, including the first product 

under its new PHACT brand, named 

PHACT A1000P. Amorphous PHA is a 

softer, more rubbery version of PHA 

that offers fundamentally different 

performance characteristics than 

crystalline or semi-crystalline forms of 

PHA. It is certified biodegradable under 

industrial compost, soil (ambient), and 

marine environments. Modifying PLA with amorphous PHA 

leads to improvements in mechanical properties, such as 

toughness, and ductility, while maintaining clarity. It also 

allows adjustment in the biodegradability of PLA and could 

potentially lead to a home compostable product. MT 

www.cjbio.net 

www.natureworksllc.com 


43

Report 

Test to fail – or fail to test? 

Faulty test design and questionable composting conditions lead 

to a foreseeable failure of the DUH experiment 

The Deutsche Umwelthilfe (Environmental Action 

Germany – DUH) invited the press in Mid-October, 

including bioplastics MAGAZINE, for what they called 

“a field test” (Praxistest). Under the title “Is ’compostable‘ 

bioplastic really degradable?” a field test was scheduled to 

start on October 12 th , 2022 in an industrial composting plant 

in Swisttal, Germany. 

bioplastics MAGAZINE participated in this first event and 

witnessed the preparation of some experimental bags to be 

buried in one of the huge compost heaps of the composting 

plant. Some bags used for the trial had been prepared before 

meeting the media representatives on site. Fresh yard 

clippings were mixed with virgin, unused biowaste collection 

bags, coffee capsules, plates, cutlery, candy bar wrappers, 

and a sneaker marketed as biodegradable. 

The first doubts that we had about the bioplastics samples 

were that unused products were chosen for the experiment. 

When asked about the use of empty, mint condition, 

waste bags and unused coffee/tea capsules that had not 

been exposed to heat, pressure, or water the response 

was: “Because, if a product is marketed as biodegradable/ 

compostable on the packaging it should be compostable as 

it comes out of the retail box”. 

Oliver Ehlert of DIN CERTCO (Berlin, Germany), a 

recognized certifying institute, comments: “Using products 

such as certified compostable biowaste bags and coffee 

capsules in unused condition neither corresponds to reality 

nor to the test criteria (as described in e.g. DIN EN 13432). 

Only biowaste bags filled with organic household waste or 

coffee capsules filled with brewed coffee residues are in line 

with real consumer behaviour”. 

The samples and yard clippings were packed in orangecoloured 

potato sacks, a method that would also be used by 

BASF, for example, as a spokesperson of the DUH pointed 

out. These sacks, closed with cable ties, were buried in one 

of the huge compost heaps and marked with coloured flags 

in order to easily find them again at the end of the test period. 

The end of the field test was scheduled for the 2 nd of 

November, just three weeks later. bioplastics MAGAZINE was 

invited and participated in this second date too. To put this 

timeframe into perspective to the certification that this 

experiment was supposedly testing, “the usual certifications 

for industrial compostability in Germany require composting 

after 12 and 6 weeks respectively. This test provided for a 

rotting time of only 3 weeks. As a rule, it is hardly possible 

to achieve sufficient decomposition results in such a short 

time interval”, Ehlert explained. The test conditions were, 

therefore, in the best-case scenario half as long as the 

certification requires and in worst-case one fourth of the time. 


By: 

By Alex and Michael Thielen 

Opinion 

Predictions of DUH oracles and 

hard realities of compost 

As pointed out by Ehlert, the test had little hope to be 

successful – depending on how you define success that is. 

The DUH seemed to have jumped the gun regarding the 

predictable failure (or success?) as they proclaimed the test 

a failure on the 31 st of October (two days before digging out 

and examining the test samples) stating (in German): “Our 

bioplastics experiment has shown: Statements about the 

degradation of bioplastics are not to be trusted. Even in 

industrial composting plants, many plastic products marketed 

as biodegradable do not degrade without leaving residues and 

pollute the compost”. ([1] shows the version after the test). 

It has been a while since we were involved in the academic 

processes of scientific testing but, usually, you don’t make 

conclusions before you have even seen the results. Another 

aspect that makes this test rather dubious is the lack of one 

or more control groups. This is no attempt to compare apples 

with oranges of course, but what about comparing PLA with 

oranges or other normal biowaste products that are difficult 

to compost? However, there is no arguing with the past – we 

have to deal with the results that we actually have, so let’s 

look at these failed test objects. 

A closer look at the photographs we took on the 2 nd of 

November very clearly reveals a couple of things: 

1. The timeframe for such an experiment is 

indeed much too short, and 

2. compostable plastic products do begin to biodegrade. 

Thus, to really nobody’s surprise, after three weeks the 

bioplastics products did not turn into compost. But let’s not 

jump to any hasty conclusions just yet, we wouldn’t want to 

appear biased when analysing the results of an experiment. 

As it turns out we do have a control group after all, kind of 

at least. While this seems not originally intended for this 

purpose, we should look at all available data – let’s look 

at regularly accepted biowaste used in this experiment, 

i.e. yard clippings. 

Looking at the before and after photos from the yard 

clippings, you can see that the leaves and twigs are, well, 

still leaves and twigs, albeit a bit more on the brown side. 

This suggests that they are en route to decompose but are 

nowhere near what constitutes proper compost. If leaves and 

twigs don’t properly break down in three weeks, then what 

are we even talking about here? 

Biowaste-bag before … 

... and after 3 weeks 

Yardclippings before… 

... and after 3 weeks 


45

Report 

If you don’t break down – you fail. 

If you do break down – you also fail. 

When examining the degraded bioplastic samples, Thomas 

Fischer, Head of Circular Economy at the DUH showed small 

flakes of disintegrated PLA cups into the press cameras and 

called these a severe problem. These small particles, he 

called microplastics, cannot be sieved out of the compost 

and are seen as contaminants. As a result, the whole batch 

of compost needed to be incinerated and could not be sold 

as compost, according to Mr. Fischer. Had the composting 

phase been a bit longer, these flakes would probably have 

been completely degraded. 

DUH shows flakes of disintegrated PLA cups. 

bioplastics MAGAZINE took a sample of this compost-fraction 

and after another three weeks of (home) composting, the picture 

is indeed significantly different. The left photo shows the PLA 

particles we could separate from approx 0.2 litres of compost. 

Missed opportunity or trials made in bad faith? 

The German Association for Compostable Products 

(Verbund kompostierbare Produkte e.V., Berlin, Germany) is 

severely disappointed in view of this experiment. In particular, 

the selection of the tested products as well as the composting 

conditions are considered misleading. 

“In general, we welcome any trial that examines how well 

our members’ products compost”, says Michael von Ketteler, 

Managing Director of the association. “However, in this trial we 

see fundamental flaws, the results of which were foreseeable 

before the trial began. An opportunity was missed here”. 

Yet, looking at the results and the (premature) reaction of 

the DUH leaves a bad taste in our mouths. The statement 

of the DUH calls (certified) claims of compostability “fraud” 

aimed to mislead consumers with the goal of making a 

quick buck on the back of the environmentally conscious. 

These brazen claims not only attack a whole industry trying 

to bring progress but also patronises consumers – and the 

environmentally conscious consumer tends to know what is 

and isn’t allowed in the bio bin. 

Trial violates waste legislation 

Peter Brunk, chairman of Verbund, warns: “Non-certified 

products, such as a shoe, have no place in the organic waste 

bin, please”. Except for certified compostable biowaste 

bags, no other products may be disposed of in the biowaste 

bin or in composting facilities, according to the current 

(German) biowaste ordinance. Thus, in the DUH composting 

experiment, there is a clear violation of the current organic 

waste law for almost all tested products. “I have major 

scientific and waste law concerns about this experiment. 

It gives the general public a completely false impression”, 

criticises Peter Brunk. 

Composting made in Germany – is the DUH 

barking up the wrong tree? 

“We advocate for sustainable lifestyles and economies”, 

the (German version of) the website of the DUH proudly 

proclaims while standing shoulder to shoulder with the 

German composting industry which, at large, has been 

against biodegradable plastics for as long as they are in the 

market. Let’s examine how the business of composting works 

in Germany and what the purpose of composting is, to begin 

with. The German business model of composting works via a 

gate fee, a composter gets a certain fee per tonne of biowaste 

that goes through the plant. This explains why the cycle times 

of German composting facilities are so short that even yard 

trimmings seem to have trouble properly decomposing in the 

given time frame as proven by the recent DUH experiment. 

The German system is a problem focussed system – there 

is biowaste that we don’t want in landfills that we need to 

deal with, preferably quickly. Now, the DUH says that they 

are active not only on the national, but also on the European 

stage, so let’s look at another European composting system 

– for example Italy. 


In a recent presentation during the Bioplastics Business 

Breakfast, Bruno de Wilde, Laboratory Manager of Organic 

Waste Systems (OWS – Ghent, Belgium) cited a study [2] 

comparing the two systems. One core focus of the study 

was how much kg of organic waste per person per year ends 

up in composting facilities – and therefore not in landfill. In 

Germany, it was 20-25 kg in 2010 and 25 kg in 2020 – hardly 

any progress. In Italy on the other hand, it was 10-15 kg in 

2010 and 60 kg in 2020, more than double the amount than in 

Germany. The Italians seem to have done a much better job 

than the Germans in increasing the amount of organic waste 

that ends up in composting – why is that? 

The difference seems to be philosophical in nature, it’s 

fundamentally in how bio-waste is seen – in Germany it is 

seen as a problem, in Italy as an opportunity (as it is also 

the case in e.g. Austria, Spain and other European countries 

around Germany). Italy has a problem with desertification 

and soil erosion, high-quality compost is a remedy for these 

issues and helps to promote “sustainable lifestyles and 

economies”. Compost has a more intrinsic value in Italy, 

while in Germany the focus is more on throughput. The Italian 

system is solution driven and open to change. Let’s take the 

example of one of our failed test subjects – coffee capsules. 

Used coffee grounds are great for compost quality and a 

huge quantity of coffee is in coffee capsules usually made 

from aluminium or plastics. If the plastic is compostable, it 

is a great way to deliver the coffee to the composters. This is 

also not a problem in Italy because, as opposed to Germany, 

compost quality is of higher importance than throughput – 

compost cycle times are longer to increase quality and create 

a mature compost (according to de Wilde, German compost 

tends to be immature compost). Longer cycle times also allow 

for compostable plastics to properly break down – they even 

bring an added value in form of the coffee (in the example 

of coffee capsules). 

Compost quality and rigid systems 

Why does this comparison between Italy and Germany 

matter? A harsh view of the German system could be, that 

it is rather rigid and only values total volumes of waste dealt 

with in the shortest amount of time – anything that doesn’t 

break down in that time, is a problem. The Italian system 

seems more solution-focused, and more open to change, 

which in the last decade has led to more biowaste diverted 

from landfill – one of the main reasons we do composting. The 

argument here is not that German compost is by definition 

of inferior quality but rather that the system seems to value 

throughput over quality – it is designed that way. And the DUH 

is not wrong to say that bioplastic materials, even certified 

ones, should not end up in a system that is not designed for 

them – and looking at the timeframes of certification and the 

reality of composting cycles in Germany that argument holds 

some water. And in the design phase of any application where 

biodegradability and compostability are being considered, we 

should always ask, “why should we do this – what is the added 

value?” – and if there is none, don’t make it biodegradable/ 

compostable! To question and criticize the cases that don’t add 

value is right and important. Yet, in case added value can be 

German language version available at 

www.bioplasticsmagazine.de/202206 

provided by compostable items, this should be acknowledged, 

take for example biowaste collection bags or compostable 

fruit and vegetable bags – and use such products, also in 

Germany, rather than generally disapproving the concept 

of biodegradability, not differentiating thoroughly enough. 

And advocating for sustainable lifestyles and economies is 

noble and worthwhile and it is good that the DUH has these 

goals, but maybe the problem lies not with biodegradable and 

compostable plastics, but with a gate fee system that rewards 

shorter cycle times. 

Wouldn’t it be more sustainable and lead to better 

compost when, e.g. coffee from coffee capsules ends up in 

our compost? Sure, one could argue that there are perhaps 

recycling schemes that are suitable for those, but do they 

work properly (it’s not like recycling these applications 

is always easy, economical, or ecological)? We see these 

materials can work in a composting system, supported 

by rules and guided by certifications. The DUH could, for 

example, invest some of its resources in investigating the 

opportunities and the potential a system change might have 

for sustainable lifestyles and economies – and by extension 

the German consumer. 

Conclusions 

The DUH is a German organization and by all means should 

focus on what is best for Germany, German consumers, 

and the German environment. In Germany, only biowaste 

bags are allowed in the biowaste collection system and for 

good reason. And if handled properly, these will completely 

break down in industrial composting environments. Yet, it 

is always easy to defend the status quo, and to indulge in 

plastic bashing – however, to critically evaluate or even try 

to change a system is difficult. There is a strong argument 

against using compostability claims for marketing, especially 

if these claims are not based on third-party certification. 

Biodegradability and compostability, as attributes, only 

make sense if they actually add value to a product – and 

a biodegradable shoe sole brings added value (reducing 

microplastics created by wear and tear while using the shoe), 

but perhaps it’s something that should simply be done, but 

not be advertised with, to avoid customer confusion. To call all 

such claims “advertising lies” and “fraud”, as the DUH does 

in its press release is, however, arguable as well (we are not 

saying that there is no greenwashing – but these things are 

rarely all or nothing in nature). 

At the end of the day, we see the whole experiment as a 

biased and poorly performed action with only one goal 

– bashing bioplastics. We would wish that the DUH would 

be a bit more ambitious in its attempts, to operate with 

scientific rigour and arguments based on hard facts when 

promoting “sustainable lifestyles and economies”. And at 

the very least – wait until a test is actually finished before 

proclaiming it a failure. 

[1] https://www.duh.de/bioplastik-werbeluege/ 

[2] Vink, E. et al; The Compostables Project, Presentation at bio!PAC 2022, 

online conference on bioplastics and packaging, 15-16 March, organized by 


https://www.derverbund.com 

Opinion 


47

Consumer Electronics 

Biobased PA 6.10 for 

robot vacuum cleaner 

Renewably sourced polyamide brings style, durability, and 

performance to households 

Today’s families focus on quality of life, purchasing 

appliances such as robot vacuums that are efficient, 

durable, and operate quietly. According to Celanese 

Engineered Materials (Dallas, TX, USA), these small home 

appliances went from expensive novelty (costing up to USD 

1,800 in 2001) to mainstream appliances in just a few years. 

Today, analysts estimate that 20 % of all vacuum cleaners 

sold worldwide are robotic. 

Recently, a global leader in the design and manufacturing of 

robot vacuum cleaners approached the Celanese Engineered 

Materials team seeking more sustainable, higher-performing 

materials for its newest robot vacuum. Celanese engineers 

collaborated with the OEM to identify manufacturing and 

aesthetic challenges; then the team customized a solution 

that combined performance with style and sustainability. 

Before creating the custom material, the engineers 

considered that materials for robot vacuums must be: 

• Durable and protective: Robot vacuums must have a 

durable housing that’s able to bounce off chair legs and 

other hard objects while protecting precision sensors 

inside the appliance. 

• Stylish and quiet: Consumers want a stylish look because 

robot vacuums spend most of their useful lives perched 

in a docking station waiting for their next mission – 

and visible to all. Additionally, noise must be kept to a 

minimum to help preserve a peaceful home environment. 

• Lightweight: Reducing the weight of robot vacuums 

increases their range and makes it easier for 

consumers to carry them from room to room or 

between floors of a home. 

• Sustainable: Materials selected for the robot 

vacuum need to help the manufacturer achieve its 

sustainable development goals. 

To fulfil the manufacturer’s sustainability goals, the 

Celanese team selected Zytel ® RS polyamide customized 

to meet the manufacturer’s high standards for the robot 

vacuum’s LIDAR-based laser distance sensor cover. Zytel RS 

resins typically contain between 20 % and 100 % renewably 

sourced biomass (by weight) derived from castor beans. In 

this case, the PA 6.10 grade contained up to 65 % renewably 

sourced biomass content. 

The customized material provided an optimized balance of 

high stiffness and suitable strength, while the dimensional 

stability of the polymer contributed to the laser sensor’s 

precision and sensitivity. And the vivid white colour of the 

Zytel RS compound provided the sophisticated aesthetic 

finish product designers sought. 

Celanese also provided Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) 

support that helped reduce the time from the initial concept 

to commercial introduction of this new appliance. 

Note: Celanese acquired DuPont Mobility & Materials 

division, which includes Zytel RS, on November 1, 2022. For 

additional information, please visit the website. MT 

https://mobility-materials.com 


Mechanical 

Recycling 

Extrusion 

Physical-Chemical 

Recycling 

available at www.renewable-carbon.eu/graphics 

Dissolution 

Physical 

Recycling 

Enzymolysis 

Biochemical 

Recycling 

Plastic Product 

End of Life 

Plastic Waste 

Collection 

Separation 

Different Waste 

Qualities 

Solvolysis 

Chemical 

Recycling 

Monomers 

Depolymerisation 

Thermochemical 

Recycling 

Pyrolysis 


Recycling 

Incineration 

CO2 Utilisation 

(CCU) 

Gasification 


Recycling 

CO2 

© -Institute.eu | 2022 

PVC 

EPDM 

PP 

PMMA 

PE 

Vinyl chloride 

Propylene 

Unsaturated polyester resins 

Methyl methacrylate 

PEF 

Polyurethanes 

MEG 

Building blocks 

Natural rubber 

Aniline Ethylene 

for UPR 

Cellulose-based 

2,5-FDCA 

polymers 

Building blocks 

for polyurethanes 

Levulinic 

acid 

Lignin-based polymers 

Naphtha 

Ethanol 

PET 

PFA 

5-HMF/5-CMF FDME 

Furfuryl alcohol 

Waste oils 

Casein polymers 

Furfural 

Natural rubber 

Saccharose 

PTF 

Starch-containing 

Hemicellulose 

Lignocellulose 

1,3 Propanediol 

polymer compounds 

Casein 

Fructose 

PTT 

Terephthalic 

Non-edible milk 

acid 

MPG NOPs 

Starch 

ECH 

Glycerol 

p-Xylene 

SBR 

Plant oils 

Fatty acids 

Castor oil 

11-AA 

Glucose Isobutanol 

THF 

Sebacic 

Lysine 

PBT 

acid 

1,4-Butanediol 

Succinic 

acid 

DDDA 

PBAT 

Caprolactame 

Adipic 

acid 

HMDA DN5 

Sorbitol 

3-HP 

Lactic 

acid 

Itaconic 

Acrylic 

PBS(x) 

acid 

acid 

Isosorbide 

PA 

Lactide 

Superabsorbent polymers 

Epoxy resins 

ABS 

PHA 

APC 

PLA 


O 

OH 

HO 

OH 

HO 

OH 

O 

OH 

HO 

OH 

O 

OH 

O 

OH 

© -Institute.eu | 2021 

All figures available at www.bio-based.eu/markets 

Adipic acid (AA) 

11-Aminoundecanoic acid (11-AA) 

1,4-Butanediol (1,4-BDO) 

Dodecanedioic acid (DDDA) 

Epichlorohydrin (ECH) 

Ethylene 

Furan derivatives 

D-lactic acid (D-LA) 

L-lactic acid (L-LA) 

Lactide 

Monoethylene glycol (MEG) 

Monopropylene glycol (MPG) 

Naphtha 

1,5-Pentametylenediamine (DN5) 

1,3-Propanediol (1,3-PDO) 

Sebacic acid 

Succinic acid (SA) 


fossil 


Refining 

Polymerisation 

Formulation 

Processing 

Use 

renewable 

Depolymerisation 

Solvolysis 

Thermal depolymerisation 

Enzymolysis 

Purification 

Dissolution 

Recycling 

Conversion 

Pyrolysis 

Gasification 

allocated 

Recovery 

Recovery 

Recovery 

conventional 



nova Market and Trend Reports 

on Renewable Carbon 

The Best Available on Bio- and CO2-based Polymers 

& Building Blocks and Chemical Recycling 

Category 

Mapping of advanced recycling 

technologies for plastics waste 

Providers, technologies, and partnerships 

Mimicking Nature – 

The PHA Industry Landscape 

Latest trends and 28 producer profiles 

Bio-based Naphtha 

and Mass Balance Approach 

Status & Outlook, Standards & 

Certification Schemes 

Diversity of 

Advanced Recycling 

Principle of Mass Balance Approach 

Feedstock 

Process 

Products 

Plastics 

Composites 

Plastics/ 

Syngas 

Polymers 

Monomers 

Monomers 

Naphtha 

Use of renewable feedstock 

in very first steps of 

chemical production 

(e.g. steam cracker) 

Utilisation of existing 

integrated production for 

all production steps 

Allocation of the 

renewable share to 

selected products 

Authors: Lars Krause, Michael Carus, Achim Raschka 

and Nico Plum (all nova-Institute) 

June 2022 

This and other reports on renewable carbon are available at 

www.renewable-carbon.eu/publications 

Author: Jan Ravenstijn 

March 2022 



Authors: Michael Carus, Doris de Guzman and Harald Käb 

March 2021 



Bio-based Building Blocks and 

Polymers – Global Capacities, 

Production and Trends 2020 – 2025 

Polymers 

Carbon Dioxide (CO 2) as Chemical 

Feedstock for Polymers 

Technologies, Polymers, Developers and Producers 

Chemical recycling – Status, Trends 

and Challenges 

Technologies, Sustainability, Policy and Key Players 

Building Blocks 

Plastic recycling and recovery routes 

Intermediates 

Feedstocks 

Primary recycling 

(mechanical) 

Virgin Feedstock 

Monomer 

Polymer 

Plastic 

Product 

Product (end-of-use) 

Landfill 

Renewable Feedstock 

Secondary recycling 

(mechanical) 

Tertiary recycling 

(chemical) 

Quaternary recycling 

(energy recovery) 

Secondary 

valuable 

materials 

CO 2 capture 

Energy 

Chemicals 

Fuels 

Others 

Authors: Pia Skoczinski, Michael Carus, Doris de Guzman, 

Harald Käb, Raj Chinthapalli, Jan Ravenstijn, Wolfgang Baltus 

and Achim Raschka 

January 2021 



Authors: Pauline Ruiz, Achim Raschka, Pia Skoczinski, 

Jan Ravenstijn and Michael Carus, nova-Institut GmbH, Germany 

January 2021 



Author: Lars Krause, Florian Dietrich, Pia Skoczinski, 

Michael Carus, Pauline Ruiz, Lara Dammer, Achim Raschka, 

nova-Institut GmbH, Germany 

November 2020 

This and other reports on the bio- and CO 2-based economy are 

available at www.renewable-carbon.eu/publications 

Genetic engineering 

Production of Cannabinoids via 

Extraction, Chemical Synthesis 

and Especially Biotechnology 

Current Technologies, Potential & Drawbacks and 

Future Development 

Plant extraction 

Plant extraction 

Cannabinoids 

Chemical synthesis 

Biotechnological production 

Production capacities (million tonnes) 

Commercialisation updates on 

bio-based building blocks 

Bio-based building blocks 

Evolution of worldwide production capacities from 2011 to 2024 

4 

3 

2 

1 

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2024 

Levulinic acid – A versatile platform 

chemical for a variety of market applications 

Global market dynamics, demand/supply, trends and 

market potential 

HO 

OH 

diphenolic acid 

H 2N 

O 

OH 

O 

O 

OH 

5-aminolevulinic acid 

O 

O 

levulinic acid 

O 

O 

ɣ-valerolactone 

OH 

HO 

O 

O 

succinic acid 

OH 

O 

O OH 

O O 

levulinate ketal 

O 

H 

N 

O 

5-methyl-2-pyrrolidone 

OR 

O 

levulinic ester 

Authors: Pia Skoczinski, Franjo Grotenhermen, Bernhard Beitzke, 

Michael Carus and Achim Raschka 

January 2021 



Author: 

Doris de Guzman, Tecnon OrbiChem, United Kingdom 

Updated Executive Summary and Market Review May 2020 – 

Originally published February 2020 

This and other reports on the bio- and CO 2-based economy are 

available at www.bio-based.eu/reports 

Authors: Achim Raschka, Pia Skoczinski, Raj Chinthapalli, 

Ángel Puente and Michael Carus, nova-Institut GmbH, Germany 

October 2019 

This and other reports on the bio-based economy are available at 

www.bio-based.eu/reports 

renewable-carbon.eu/publications 


49

Application News 

Headrest covers made 

with plant-based 

polyester 

Toray Industries (Tokyo, Japan) recently announced 

it has developed a new variety of Ultrasuede nu which 

partially consists of 100 % plant-based polyester. All 

Nippon Airways (ANA – Tokyo, Japan) adopted this 

developed material to the headrest covers in ANA Green 

Jet, the special aircraft since November this year. These 

aircrafts will selectively use products and services using 

sustainable materials to embody the ANA Future Promise, 

a slogan for that carrier’s commitment to realizing a 

sustainable society and enhancing corporate value. 

Ultrasuede nu is a non-woven material for a genuine 

leather appearance with a base material of Ultrasuede 

and a special resin treatment applied to its surface. 

The latest Ultrasuede nu developed by Toray is the first 

Ultrasuede product which partially consists of 100 % 

plant-based polyester for the ultra-fine fibres on the 

surface of the base material. In addition, about 30 % 

plant-based polyurethane is used inside of the nonwoven 

structure, and about 30 % plant-based polyester 

is used in the reinforcement fabric called scrim, making 

this developed product the world’s highest level of plantbased 

raw material content for the non-woven material 

for a genuine leather appearance. ANA decided to adopt 

Ultrasuede nu because it is an environmentally conscious 

material that combines luxurious texture, design, and 

high functionality. MT 

www.toray.com 

New solution for 

thermoformed applications 

BIOTEC (Emmerich, Germany) proudly announces a new 

solution, called BIOPLAST 800, for meeting market demands 

in thermoforming applications, like trays and cups. This 

new formulation has unique characteristics compared with 

existing products in the market, as it can provide resistance 

against boiling water without the necessity of using a 

hot mould in thermoforming. This new feature enables 

converters to now produce heat-stable compostable products 

without changing their hardware, as was the case with 

previously existing options. 

Erik Pras (Global Marketing & Sales Director) says, “we 

have been working on Bioplast 800 for almost two years now 

and are proud to share that we can make this compound to 

the market. We have built up experience with more than 1,000 

tonnes of finished products in the market, even in challenging 

applications like drinking cups for coffee, plates, and trays”. 

Bioplast 800 is suitable for food contact applications and is 

certified for industrial compostability (EN1432). The current 

formulation has a biobased carbon content of more than 

60 %, in order to comply with legislation in countries like Italy. 

Upon demand, it will however be possible for Biotec to offer 

even a 100 % biobased alternative (at a premium). 

In the upcoming months, various industrial trials with 

different converters are scheduled, and both brand owners 

and converters are kindly invited to contact Biotec to explore 

new possibilities with Bioplast 800. AT 

www.biotec.de 

(a) Ultra-fine fibres 

100 % plant-based polyester made of ethylene glycol from 

sugarcane molasses byproducts and dimethyl terephthalate from 

corn starch. 

(b) Elastomer, is composed of about 30 % plant-based 

polyurethane made with polyol from castor oil plant. 

(c) Scrim, composed of about 30 % plant-based polyester made 

from ethylene glycol from sugarcane molasses byproducts. 


Bags for crafted chocolate beads 

Incorporating sustainability and provenance into branding has 

been key to changes being made at luxury drinking chocolate 

manufacturer Cocoa Canopy (Weybridge, UK), with the help of 

compostable packaging provider Futamura (Wigton, UK). 

Consistent growth has seen the company 

move from hand-packing its products into 

film bags and selling at food and gift fairs, to 

a new film and automated bagging line that 

continuously packs the product, ready to stock 

supermarket shelves. 

As early adopters of NatureFlex, a cellulose 

film made by the manufacturer Futamura , 

Cocoa Canopy’s forward-thinking is getting 

them noticed within their competitive market 

– when the company discussed future listings 

with Waitrose, the leading supermarket 

was greatly encouraged by Cocoa Canopy’s 

exploratory approach to alternatives to 

conventional plastic packaging routes. 

NatureFlex film handles differently to 

conventional plastics, so in order to be certain 

its bagging machinery was compatible with 

the new substrate, the chocolate specialist worked closely with 

its suppliers. Ably assisted by engineers from both Futamura and 

the bagging machinery company, BW Flexibles (Nottingham, UK) 

a solution was found that enabled Cocoa Canopy to manufacture 

at speed and meet demand from its growing customer base. 

Cocoa Canopy is the only UK drinking-chocolate company to 

offer crafted chocolate beads designed to be melted into milk or 

water for an in-home experience of luxurious hot chocolate that 

can be enjoyed anywhere, hot or iced. 

The company recently re-staged to 

encompass its values across all platforms: 

product, packaging, and marketing, all 

designed to reflect the ethos of the company 

and provenance of the product. The 

partnership with Futamura will help Cocoa 

Canopy achieve its expansion goals – it 

needed to explore new, automated packaging 

options as although the UK remains its key 

market, contacts made in the US show 

buyers there are increasingly focused on 

renewables and sustainable packaging. 

For a start-up or small company, 

NatureFlex film is an ideal solution, 

offering reliability, flexibility and on-shelf 

stability. Futamura has the knowledge 

and passion to help companies grow, 

supporting packaging choices that are 

sustainable and responsible. MT 

www.natureflex.com/uk | www.cocoacanopy.co.uk 


World’s first climate-neutral synthetic hockey turf 

With the 100 % climate-neutral Poligras Paris GT zero, Polytan (Burgheim, Germany) has developed a new and improved 

successor to its Poligras Tokyo GT, which is used in all leading field hockey nations around the world. Poligras Paris GT zero is the 

world’s first carbon-neutral synthetic turf and will help the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris meet its self-declared environmental 

goals while setting new standards in playing quality and environmental friendliness. 

During the manufacture of the turf fibres, fossil-fuel-based polyethylene is replaced with biobased I’m Green polyethylene by 

Braskem (São Paulo, Brazil). The material for the carbon-neutral hockey turf is manufactured using a by-product of sugar cane 

processing in Brazil. In the production process for I’m Green polyethylene, the first two pressings of the sugar cane are used for 

sugar production. The third – which is no longer useful for this purpose – is used as a raw material for organic polyethylene, which 

makes up approximately 80 % of Poligras Paris GT zero. This saves around 73 tonnes of CO 2 

compared to a conventional synthetic 

turf. 

Less water consumption, thanks to Turf Glide 

A major component in maximising the sustainability of Poligras Paris GT zero is the permanently improved product design, 

which consumes less water than before. For example, the synthetic turf used at 

the Olympic Games in Tokyo consumed 39 % less water than the turf used in Rio 

only four years earlier. Polytan Paris GT zero takes this development even further 

with the introduction of Turf Glide, a new, patent-protected technology that reduces 

surface friction so that even less water is needed to reduce friction resistance and 

minimise the risk of injury. 

A leap forward in field hockey development 

Paul Kamphuis, Global Head of the Sport Group’s hockey business summarises: 

“Having developed turfs for eight Olympic Games, we have seen how the Olympic turf 

sets the standard for innovation. Poligras Tokyo GT turf, with over 50 installations, 

was extremely popular and demonstrated that the hockey community is choosing a 

more sustainable future for their sport. Poligras Paris GT zero takes this commitment 

to another level. It will make carbon-zero hockey a reality, not just for Paris, but for 

clubs, colleges and communities all over the world”. MT 

www.polytan.com | www.braskem.com 


51


Green Dot Bioplastics achieves a compostable 

living hinge 

Green Dot Bioplastics (Emporia, KS, USA), a leading developer and supplier of bioplastic materials for innovative, sustainable 

end-uses, recently announced a compostable living hinge. 

Creating fully-compostable packaging has stymied developers because of one component: the living hinge. Living hinges are a 

type of hinge made from an extension of the parent material, acting as a connection between two larger plastic sections, such as 

on a shampoo bottle. Typically the larger plastic pieces and the living hinge are made of one continuous piece of plastic. Because 

a living hinge must be very thin, flexible, and withstand repeated usage without breaking, typically manufacturers have used 

polypropylene to create the entire unit. Until now. 

Green Dot is proud to announce that the new, expanded Terratek ® BD line includes materials with the same malleability and 

durability as materials traditionally used to manufacture living hinges. Two new injection moulding grades deliver higher heat 

performance and enhanced processability (lower cycle times) for caps/closures, food service ware, and takeout containers with 

a higher rate of biodegradability and the functional performance that the market demands. 

Biodegradable Terratek BD materials are a line of rigid, compostable materials that 

are created from a proprietary blend of starch-based ingredients and other polymers. 

“During the application development process, we worked with a customer 

to commercially develop a living hinge for an injection moulded package”, said 

Mike Parker, Director of Research & Development, at Green Dot Bioplastics. “It 

was highly successful, resulting in a package made entirely from Terratek BD 

compostable resins. Developing a solution to the living hinge challenge opens 

a lot of doors for sustainable packaging”. The injection moulding grades are 

currently undergoing certification by TUV Austria. MT 

https://greendotbioplastics.com 

World’s first plant-based medical grade face 

mask authorized under EUA by US FDA 

PADM Medical Group of Companies (PADM Medical Canada and PADM Medical USA), a global leader in the design and 

development of sustainable medical consumables and eco-friendly sustainable medical products, recently announced that it has 

received its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market Precision Eco, the 

world’s first plant-based, procedural mask with ear loops for use in healthcare and medical settings in the United States of America. 

Billions of petroleum-based, synthetic disposable surgical masks are discarded globally on an annual basis. Increasingly, 

governments and consumers are recognizing the environmental threats posed worldwide by plastic pollution. Most disposable 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) consists of petroleum-based, non-biodegradable polymers that can take up to 450 years 

to decompose in our landfills, rivers, lakes, and other natural environments. 

PADM Medical’s Precision Eco plant-based procedural masks, made using ECOFUSE plant-based materials manufactured by 

Roswell Textiles (Calgary, AB, Canada) from renewable crop resources, will help reduce the adverse impact on the environment 

of petroleum-based, single-use disposable face masks. The Ecofuse materials are industrially compostable and by being plantbased, 

help reduce the CO 2 

emissions of Precision Eco by approximately 55 % compared to conventional petroleum-based masks. 

Precision Eco procedural masks generate carbon credits as a result of the net carbon reduction. 

Additionally, the Precision Eco compostable/plant-based procedural mask with earloops is a USDA Certified 

Biobased product under the USDA BioPreferred Program with a biobased content of 82 %. 

Derek Atkinson, VP of Business Development at TotalEnergies Corbion 

(Gorinchem, the Netherlands) said: “We should not accept the limitations 

of the current way of doing things as being the only way. As we try to 

minimize the impact of our products on the environment, it is these 

developments that help us realize these ambitions”. He continued, “as the 

supplier to PADM Medical Group of the high purity polylactic acid Luminy ® 

PLA needed in the production of these groundbreaking biobased surgical 

masks, we are delighted to learn that PADM has succeeded in obtaining 

Emergency Use Authorization from the US FDA”. AT 

www.padmmedicalusa.com | www.totalenergies-corbion.com 


Mass balancing towards a 

Circular Economy 

Basics 

Growing awareness around environmental and 

ethical issues continues to drive demand and need 

for more sustainable practices and products. In 

order for companies to be able to prove sustainability 

claims, a robust chain of custody process is necessary for 

credibility and compliance with new regulations, such as 

the (European) Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) and 

the EU Packaging Levy. 

The mass balance approach provides the most promising 

approach for the chemicals and plastics industry to 

incrementally transition to using sustainable feedstocks, 

without the need to set up separate production lines for 

sustainable products. 

Allowing for sustainable, biobased materials to be mixed 

with fossil-based materials, companies are able to state 

sustainability claims such as “made with recycled plastic” 

on products. For credibility, this approach requires the strict 

tracking of the exact mass of sustainable content flowing 

through the supply chain system and ensuring an appropriate 

allocation of this content to the finished product. 

Certification schemes for mass balance approaches vary, 

with differences in their method of accounting for the balance 

of material, energy, and carbon use relating to specific 

targeted industry segments or governance requirements for 

sustainability criteria reporting. 

• Better Biomass (previously NEN) 

• Ecoloop 

• EU Standards: Material Balance Standard 

for Bio-Based Products 

• EUCertPlast 

• ISCC PLUS 

• REDcert2 

• RSB Advanced Products 

• RSPO 

• UL 2809 

However, mass balance bookkeeping and reporting is a 

complex and expensive process to do manually, limiting the 

scalability of mass balancing for businesses. Certification 

systems currently rely on pdfs and paper for maintaining an 

audit trail. This creates a significant administrative burden 

with a high risk of human error which can lead to double 

counting or premature allocation of sustainability credits. 

This can, in turn, lead to the loss of your certification, and 

even worse, losing the trust of your customers. 

While some large organisations have built their own mass 

balancing systems to solve their bookkeeping needs, not every 

company can undertake this difficult and costly endeavour. 

You can still have accurate and scalable bookkeeping to 

prove sustainability claims with MassBalancer, an automated 

solution for mass balance bookkeeping that is able to 

accommodate complex, multi-tiered supply chains. It can 

manage multiple sites and units in one place, and can be 

used by anyone along the supply value chain in the plastics 

and petrochemicals industry. 

“Blockchain technology is revolutionising how data is stored 

and shared. Now companies don’t need to individually keep 

a balance of goods and transactions in excel. Instead, they 

can use blockchain and smart contracts to store balances, 

record transactions, and apply mass balance rules. Every 

transaction is fully traceable. Auditors can therefore rely on 

the blockchain for parts of the audit”, said Mesbah 

Sabur, Circularise’s Founder. 

Traceability in the chain of custody plays a critical 

role in the transition towards a circular economy. 

Setting up the bookkeeping system and auditing 

process can make or break this initiative within 

companies. When done effectively, it can generate 

more value for the business and act as a means 

of sustainable transformation. Automating mass 

balance bookkeeping is a simple, scalable solution 

that helps you save time, money, and resources. 

Where to start with implementing a 

mass balance approach? 

1. Firstly you need to be sure mass balance is the chain 

of custody model that is best for your market and your 

business operations. 

2. Next select a certification scheme that best suits your 

business, considering the benefits, market demand, 

scalability, and standards that will need to be met. 

3. Outline a plan or MVP for a system which will allow 

your company to maintain reliable bookkeeping for the 

certification you have selected. 

4. Find a certification body that will conduct the auditing for 

the certification of your site(s) and product(s). 

5. Outline a practical timeline for implementation, 

considering the operational change and 

auditing steps required. 

www.circularise.com 

By: 

Tian Daphne and 

Igor Konstantinov 

Circularise 

The Hague, Netherlands 


53

Basics 

Advanced Recycling – overview of 

the most common technologies 

Industry experts at the nova-institute have worked tirelessly to provide a structured, in-depth overview and insight into all 

advanced recycling technologies. While a full report on these technologies is available it can be quite daunting for beginners to 

the topic – hence here a quick overview and short explanation of the most common advanced recycling technologies. 

Depending on the technology various products can be obtained which can be reintroduced into the cycle at various positions 

in the value chain of plastics (Figure 1). Below, the capabilities as well as the feedstocks and products of each technology are 

described in more detail. 

Figure 1: Full spectrum of available recycling technologies divided by their basic working principles. 

Dissolution (Figure 2) is a solvent-based technology that is based on physical processes. Targeted polymers from mixed plastic 

wastes can be dissolved in a suitable solvent while the chemical structure of the polymer remains intact. Other plastic components 

(e.g. additives, pigments, fillers, non-targeted polymers) are not dissolved and can be cleaned from the dissolved target polymer. 

After cleaning an anti-solvent is added to initiate the precipitation of the target polymer. After the process the polymer can directly 

be obtained, in contrast to solvolysis, no polymerisation step is needed. 

The solvent-based solvolysis (Figure 3) is a chemical process based on depolymerisation which can be realised with different 

solvents. The process breaks down polymers (mainly PET) into their building units (e.g. monomers, dimers, oligomers). After 

breakdown, the building units need to be cleaned from the other plastic components (e.g. additives, pigments, fillers, non-targeted 

polymers). After cleaning, the building units need to be polymerised to synthesise new polymers. 

With pyrolysis (Figure 4), a thermochemical recycling process is available that converts or depolymerises mixed plastic wastes 

(mainly polyolefins) and biomass into liquids, solids, and gases in presence of heat and absence of oxygen. Obtained products can 

be for instance different fractions of liquids including oils, diesel, naphtha, and monomers as well as syngas, char, and waxes. 

Depending on the obtained products new polymers can be produced from these renewable feedstocks. 

Gasification (Figure 5) represents another thermochemical process that is capable to convert mixed plastics wastes and 

biomass in presence of heat and oxygen into syngas and CO 2 

. 

Enzymolysis represents a technology based on biochemical processes utilising different kinds of biocatalysts to depolymerise 

a polymer into its building units. Being in early development the technology is available only at lab-scale. 

The market study “Mapping of advanced recycling technologies for plastics waste” provides an in-depth insight into advanced 

recycling technologies and their providers. More than 100 technologies and their status are presented in detail which also lists 

the companies, their strategies, and investment and cooperation partners. The study is available online for EUR 2,500. 

www.renewable-carbon.eu 


By: 

Lars Krause, Senior Expert – Technology & Markets 

Basics 

nova Institute 

Hürth, Germany 

Figure 2: Process diagram showing the inputs and outputs of the solvent-based dissolution process. 

Figure 4: Process diagram showing the inputs and outputs of different secondary valuable materials (SVM) from the pyrolysis 

process. The main products are usually pyrolysis oil (via thermal-/catalytic-/hydro-cracking) or monomers (via thermal 

depolymerisation) Adapted from Stapf et al. (2019). 

Figure 5: Process diagram showing the inputs and 

outputs of secondary valuable materials (SVM) from the 

gasification process. 

Figure 3: Process diagram showing the solvent-based solvolysis of PET 

including the inputs and outputs (polyols, bis(hydroxyethyl)terephthalate 

(BHET), dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), terephthalic acid (TPA), and 

TPA amide). Adapted from Aguado et al. (1999). 

References 

Aguado, J., Serrano, D. P. and Clark, J. H. 1999: Feedstock Recycling 

of Plastic Wastes The Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, United 

Kingdom. 

Stapf, D., Seifert, H. and Wexler, M. 2019: Thermische Verfahren 

zur rohstofflichen Verwertung kunststoffhaltiger Abfälle. Energie 

aus Abfall, Band 16. Thiel, S., Thomé – Kozmiensky, E., Quicker, 

P. and Gosten, A. (Ed.). Thomé-Kozmiensky Verlag GmbH, 

Neuruppin, Germany. 


55

10 

Years ago 

In November 2022, Lars Börger, 

Vice President Strategy and 

Long-term Development, Neste 

Renewable Polymers and 

Chemicals, said: 

Category 

Published in 


N 

Materials 

este Oil, Espoo, Finland - the world´s largest producer 

of renewable diesel - has launched the commercial 

production and sales of renewable naphtha for corporate 

customers. Among others NExBTL renewable naphtha 

can be used as a feedstock for producing bioplastics. Neste 

Oil is one of the world´s first companies to supply bio-naphtha 

on a commercial scale. NExBTL naphtha is produced as 

a side product of the biodiesel refining process at Neste Oil´s 

sites in Finland, the Netherlands, and Singapore. NExBTL 

biodiesel is made of more than 50% crude palm oil, over 

40% of waste and residue (such as waste animal fat), and 

the rest out of various vegetable oils. Thus the bio-naphta is 

100% based on renewable resources. “All our raw materials 

are fully traceable and comply fully with sustainability criteria 

embedded in biofuels-related legislation (e.g. EU RED)”, as 

Kaisa Hietala, Vice President, Renewable Fuels at Neste Oil 

explained to bioplastics MAGAZINE. 

Renewable naphtha for 

producing bioplastics 

All ethylene, propylene, butylene, and butadiene-based 

polymers can be derived from NExBTL Renewable Naphtha. 

These are for example PE, PP, PVC, Acrylates, PET, ABS, 

SAN, ASA, Epoxies, Polyurethanes and include biodegradable 

polymers such as PBAT or PBS. Bioplastics produced from 

NExBTL naphtha can be used in numerous industries 

that prioritize the use of renewable and sustainable raw 

materials, such as companies producing plastic parts 

for the automotive industry and packaging for consumer 

products. The mechanical and physical properties of 

bioplastics produced from NExBTL renewable naphtha are 

fully comparable with those of plastics produced from fossil 

naphtha; and the carbon footprint of these plastics is smaller 

than that of conventional fossil-based plastics. 

Bioplastic products produced from NExBTL renewable 

naphtha can be recycled with conventional fossil-based 

plastic products, and can be used as a fuel in energy 

generation following recycling. 

www.nesteoil.com 

Probably not many people, including 

myself, thought that the news ten 

years ago was actually the beginning 

of something really big. Neste had sold 

the first tonnes to a large chemical 

enterprise as a replacement for 

naphtha. And not even everyone in the team understood why 

and how that had happened. However, we are all somewhat 

wiser today. In fact, the chemical industry is undergoing 

an incredible transition. Starting with a project to support 

IKEA in getting biobased polypropylene, we have turned 

into a sizable sustainable business that serves value 

chains all over the globe. We have created 

the Neste RE TM brand which combines our 

renewable and recycled hydrocarbons for 

polymers and chemicals under one roof. 

And we at Neste have shifted our renewable 

feedstock pool from mostly vegetable oils to 

BIOADIMIDE TM IN BIOPLASTICS. 

EXPANDING THE PERFORMANCE OF BIO-POLYESTER. 

more than 90 % waste and residue and are 

working on introducing innovative materials 

such as plastic waste. That all is driven by 

our corporate purpose to create a healthier 

planet for our children and our ambition to 

transform the chemical industry towards 

fossil-free renewable and circular solutions. 

NEW PRODUCT LINE AVAILABLE: 

BIOADIMIDE ADDITIVES EXPAND 

THE PERFOMANCE OF BIO-POLYESTER 

Thus, a lot has changed over ten years, 

but some things didn’t at all. Neste RE is still 

a drop-in solution that can be used within 

the existing infrastructure. Properties and 

characteristics of polymers and end products 

remain unchanged. That’s one of the reasons 

why several collaborations with value chain 

partners have led to market launches of 

products made from renewable materials in a 

very short time – ranging from baby soothers to 

BioAdimide additives are specially suited to improve the hydrolysis resistance and the processing stability of bio-based 

polyester, specifically polylactide (PLA), and to expand its range of applications. Currently, there are two BioAdimide grades 

available. The BioAdimide 100 grade improves the hydrolytic stability up to seven times that of an unstabilized grade, thereby 

helping to increase the service life of the polymer. In addition to providing hydrolytic stability, BioAdimide 500 XT acts as a 

chain extender that can increase the melt viscosity of an extruded PLA 20 to 30 percent compared to an unstabilized grade, 

allowing for consistent and easier processing. The two grades can also be combined, offering both hydrolysis stabilization and 

improved processing, for an even broader range of applications. 

diapers, from plastic film to coffee capsules and 

infrastructure like pipes. 

For an industry used to CAPEX-heavy 

transformations, ten years isn’t a long period of 

time. A lot can still happen in that timeframe. 

Renewable polymers keep reminding us of that. 

Focusing on performance for the plastics industries. 

Whatever requirements move your world: 

We will move them with you. www.rheinchemie.com 

30 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/12] Vol. 7 

And what has also not changed is that we 

need solid information in this ever-changing 

environment. Information that Michael and his 

team from the bioplastics MAGAZINE are providing 

on a continuous basis. 


Download the 


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Next issues 

Issue 

Month 

Publ. 

Date 

edit/ad/ 

Deadline 

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Trade Fair 

Specials 

01/2023 Jan/Feb 06.02.2023 23.12.2022 Automotive Toys 

02/2023 Mar/Apr 10.04.2023 10.03.2023 Thermoforming / Rigid Packaging Foam 

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Chinaplas Preview 

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Interpack Review 

04/2023 Jul/Aug 07.08.2023 07.07.2023 Blow Moulding Biocomposites / Thermoset 

05/2023 Sep/Oct 02.10.2023 01.09.2023 Fibres / Textiles / Nonwovens Polyurethanes / Elastomers 

06/2023 Nov/Dec 04.12.2023 03.11.2023 Films / Flexibles /Bags Barrier materials 

01/2024 Jan/Feb 05.02.2024 23.12.2023 Automotive Foam 

Subject to changes 


57

Basics 

Glossary 5.0 last update issue 06/2021 

In bioplastics MAGAZINE the same expressions appear again 

and again that some of our readers might not be familiar 

with. The purpose of this glossary is to provide an overview 

of relevant terminology of the bioplastics industry, to avoid 

repeated explanations of terms such as 

PLA (polylactic acid) 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 nonrenewable 

(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. 

Advanced Recycling | Innovative recycling 

methods that go beyond the traditional 

mechanical recycling of grinding and 

compoundig plastic waste. Advanced recycling 

includes chemical recycling or enzyme 

mediated recycling 

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] 

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] 

Since this glossary will not be printed 

in each issue you can download a pdf version 

from our website (tinyurl.com/bpglossary). 

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

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 (radiocarbon 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 thirdparty 

institutions. For the property biobased 

such labels are in place by certifiers →DIN 

CERTCO and →TÜV Austria who both base their 

certifications on the technical specification 

as described in [4,5]. A certification and the 

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 | 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 biobased 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, because it 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 warming potential 

[1,2,15] 

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 by 

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 

CCU, Carbon Capture & Utilisation | is a broad 

term that covers all established and innovative 

industrial processes that aim at capturing 

CO 2 

– either from industrial point sources or 

directly from the air – and at transforming it 

into a variety of value-added products, in our 

case plastics or plastic precursor chemicals. 

[bM 03/21, 05/21] 

CCS, Carbon Capture & Storage | is a 

technology similar to CCU used to stop large 

amounts of CO 2 

from being released into the 

atmosphere, by separating the carbon dioxide 

from emissions. The CO 2 

is then injecting it into 

geological formations where it is permanently 

stored. 

Cellophane | Clear film based on →cellulose. 

[bM 01/10, 06/21] 

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 (multi-sugar) [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, 

06/21] 

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 they 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. 

Circular economy | The circular economy is a 

model of production and consumption, which 

involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, 

refurbishing and recycling existing materials 

and products as long as possible. In this 

way, the life cycle of products is extended. 

In practice, it implies reducing waste to a 

minimum. Ideally erasing waste altogether, 

by reintroducing a product, or its material, at 

the end-of-life back in the production process 

– closing the loop. These can be productively 

used again and again, thereby creating further 

value. This is a departure from the traditional, 

linear economic model, which is based on a 

take-make-consume-throw away pattern. This 

model relies on large quantities of cheap, easily 

accessible materials, and green energy. 

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. 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 | are 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 

glycol made from bio-ethanol. Developments 

to make terephthalic acid from renewable 

resources are underway. 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 plants (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 | are proteins that catalyze chemical 

reactions. 

Enzyme-mediated plastics | are not 

→bioplastics. Instead, a conventional nonbiodegradable 

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 nonbiodegradable 

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, the 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. 

Glossary 


59

Basics 

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 | The 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. 

Gelatine | Translucent brittle solid substance, 

colourless or slightly yellow, nearly tasteless 

and odourless, 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 are 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 → greenhouse gases. 

Glucose | is a monosaccharide (or simple 

sugar). It is the most important carbohydrate 

(sugar) in biology. Glucose 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 waterresistant 

and weatherproof, 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 weatherproof, 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 0.02 % of the 

global agricultural area of 4.7 billion hectares. 

It is not yet foreseeable to what extent an 

increased use of food residues, non-food crops 

or cellulosic biomass in bioplastics production 

might lead to an even further reduced land use 

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

LCA, Life Cycle Assessment | 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, eco-balance or cradle-to-grave 

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 mainland-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, several standardisation 

projects are in progress at the ISO and ASTM 

(ASTM D6691) 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 

sizes, such as bacteria, fungi or yeast. 

Molecule | A 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 the 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. Oxo-degradable or oxofragmentable 

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. for baby bottles or CDs. Criticized for its 

BPA (→ Bisphenol-A) content. 

PCL | Polycaprolactone, a synthetic (fossilbased), 

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 bioethanol 

(sugar cane) and, since recently, from 

plant-based paraxylene (bPX) which has been 


converted to plant-based terephthalic acid 

(bPTA). [bM 04/14. bM 06/2021] 

PGA | Polyglycolic acid or polyglycolide is a 

biodegradable, thermoplastic polymer and the 

simplest linear, aliphatic polyester. Besides 

its 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 some bacteria 

that hold intracellular reserves in form of 

of polyhydroxyalkanoates. Here the microorganisms 

store a particularly high level of 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 PHAs 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 produced 

similarly to PET, 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 Carbon | entails all carbon 

sources that avoid or substitute the use of any 

additional fossil carbon from the geosphere. 

It can come from the biosphere, atmosphere, 

or technosphere, applications are, e.g., 

bioplastics, CO 2 

-based plastics, and recycled 

plastics respectively. Renewable carbon 

circulates between biosphere, atmosphere, 

or technosphere, creating a carbon circular 

economy. [bM 03/21] 

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 resourceefficient 

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 → TÜV Austria. 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 named for the sugarfamily. 

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 finished products 

Sorbitol | Sugar alcohol, obtained by reduction 

of glucose changing the aldehyde group to 

an additional hydroxyl group. It 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 polymer 

chains in a 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 known → 

amylose and → amylopectin. [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 butanoic 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. 

Sustainability | 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. It 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. 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. 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. 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 Bonsucro, are 

an appropriate tool to ensure the sustainable 

sourcing of biomass for all applications around 

the globe. 

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. 

TÜV Austria Belgium | Independant certifying 

organisation for the assessment on the 

conformity of bioplastics (formerly Vinçotte) 

WPC | Wood Plastic Composite. Composite 

materials made of wood fibre/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, 2012 

[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 

Glossary 


61

Suppliers Guide 

1. Raw materials 

AGRANA Starch 

Bioplastics 

Conrathstraße 7 

A-3950 Gmuend, Austria 

bioplastics.starch@agrana.com 

www.agrana.com 

Mixcycling Srl 

Via dell‘Innovazione, 2 

36042 Breganze (VI), Italy 

Phone: +39 04451911890 

info@mixcycling.it 

www.mixcycling.it 

Biofibre GmbH 

Member of Steinl Group 

Sonnenring 35 

D-84032 Altdorf 

Fon: +49 (0)871 308-0 

Fax: +49 (0)871 308-183 

info@biofibre.de 

www.biofibre.de 

39 mm 

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 listed among top suppliers in the 

field of bioplastics. 

For Example: 

Polymedia Publisher GmbH 

Dammer Str. 112 

41066 Mönchengladbach 

Germany 

Tel. +49 2161 664864 

Fax +49 2161 631045 

info@bioplasticsmagazine.com 


Sample Charge: 

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The entry in our Suppliers Guide 

is bookable for one year (6 issues) 

and extends automatically if it’s not 

cancelled three months before expiry. 

Arkema 

Advanced Bio-Circular polymers 

Rilsan ® PA11 & Pebax ® Rnew ® TPE 

WW HQ: Colombes, FRANCE 

bio-circular.com 

hpp.arkema.com 

BASF SE 

Ludwigshafen, Germany 

Tel: +49 621 60-76692 

joerg.auffermann@basf.com 

www.ecovio.com 

Gianeco S.r.l. 

Via Magenta 57 10128 Torino - Italy 

Tel.+390119370420 

info@gianeco.com 

www.gianeco.com 

Tel: +86 351-8689356 

Fax: +86 351-8689718 

www.jinhuizhaolong.com 

ecoworldsales@jinhuigroup.com 

Bioplastics — PLA, PBAT 

www.lgchem.com 

youtu.be/p8CIXaOuv1A 

bioplastics@lgchem.com 

PTT MCC Biochem Co., Ltd. 

info@pttmcc.com / www.pttmcc.com 

Tel: +66(0) 2 140-3563 

MCPP Germany GmbH 

+49 (0) 211 520 54 662 

Julian.Schmeling@mcpp-europe.com 

MCPP France SAS 

+33 (0)2 51 65 71 43 

fabien.resweber@mcpp-europe.com 

Xiamen Changsu Industrial Co., Ltd 

Tel +86-592-6899303 

Mobile:+ 86 185 5920 1506 

Email: andy@chang-su.com.cn 

Xinjiang Blue Ridge Tunhe 

Polyester Co., Ltd. 

No. 316, South Beijing Rd. Changji, 

Xinjiang, 831100, P.R.China 

Tel.: +86 994 22 90 90 9 

Mob: +86 187 99 283 100 

chenjianhui@lanshantunhe.com 

www.lanshantunhe.com 

PBAT & PBS resin supplier 

Zhejiang Huafon Environmental 

Protection Material Co.,Ltd. 

No.1688 Kaifaqu Road,Ruian 

Economic Development 

Zone,Zhejiang,China. 

Tel: +86 577 6689 0105 

Mobile: +86 139 5881 3517 

ding.yeguan@huafeng.com 

www.huafeng.com 

Professional manufacturer for 

PBAT /CO 2 

-based biodegradable materials 

1.1 Biobased monomers 

1.2 Compounds 

Earth Renewable Technologies BR 

Estr. Velha do Barigui 10511, Brazil 

slink@earthrenewable.com 

www.earthrenewable.com 

eli 

bio 

Elixance 

Tel +33 (0) 2 23 10 16 17 

Tel PA du +33 Gohélis, (0)2 56250 23 Elven, 10 16 France 17 - elixb 

elixbio@elixbio.com/ www.elixbio.com 

www.elixance.com - www.elixb 

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 

P O L i M E R 

GEMA POLIMER A.S. 

Ege Serbest Bolgesi, Koru Sk., 

No.12, Gaziemir, Izmir 35410, 

Turkey 

+90 (232) 251 5041 

info@gemapolimer.com 

http://www.gemabio.com 

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 

www.facebook.com 

www.issuu.com 

www.twitter.com 

www.youtube.com 

Microtec Srl 

Via Po’, 53/55 

30030, Mellaredo di Pianiga (VE), 

Italy 

Tel.: +39 041 5190621 

Fax.: +39 041 5194765 

info@microtecsrl.com 

www.biocomp.it 

BIO-FED 

Member of the Feddersen Group 

BioCampus Cologne 

Nattermannallee 1 

50829 Cologne, Germany 

Tel.: +49 221 88 88 94-00 

info@bio-fed.com 

www.bio-fed.com 

GRAFE-Group 

Waldecker Straße 21, 

99444 Blankenhain, Germany 

Tel. +49 36459 45 0 

www.grafe.com 


Green Dot Bioplastics Inc. 

527 Commercial St Suite 310 

Emporia, KS 66801 

Tel.: +1 620-273-8919 

info@greendotbioplastics.com 

www.greendotbioplastics.com 

Sukano AG 

Chaltenbodenstraße 23 

CH-8834 Schindellegi 

Tel. +41 44 787 57 77 

Fax +41 44 787 57 78 

www.sukano.com 

Sunar NP Biopolymers 

Turhan Cemat Beriker Bulvarı 

Yolgecen Mah. No: 565 01355 

Seyhan /Adana,TÜRKIYE 

info@sunarnp.com 

burc.oker@sunarnp.com.tr 

www. sunarnp.com 

Tel: +90 (322) 441 01 65 

GRAFE-Group 



Tel. +49 36459 45 0 

www.grafe.com 


a brand of 

Helian Polymers BV 

Bremweg 7 

5951 DK Belfeld 

The Netherlands 

Tel. +31 77 398 09 09 

sales@helianpolymers.com 

https://pharadox.com 

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.kingfa.com 

Trinseo 

1000 Chesterbrook Blvd. Suite 300 

Berwyn, PA 19312 

+1 855 8746736 

www.trinseo.com 

1.3 PLA 

ECO-GEHR PLA-HI® 

- Sheets 2 /3 /4 mm – 1 x 2 m - 

GEHR GmbH 

Mannheim / Germany 

Tel: +49-621-8789-127 

laudenklos@gehr.de 

www.gehr.de 

UNITED BIOPOLYMERS S.A. 

Parque Industrial e Empresarial 

da Figueira da Foz 

Praça das Oliveiras, Lote 126 

3090-451 Figueira da Foz – Portugal 

Phone: +351 233 403 420 

info@unitedbiopolymers.com 

www.unitedbiopolymers.com 

1.5 PHA 

CJ Biomaterials 

www.cjbio.net 

hugo.vuurens@cj.net 

www.granula.eu 

Treffert GmbH & Co. KG 

In der Weide 17 

55411 Bingen am Rhein; Germany 

+49 6721 403 0 

www.treffert.eu 

Treffert S.A.S. 

Rue de la Jontière 

57255 Sainte-Marie-aux-Chênes, 

France 

+33 3 87 31 84 84 

www.treffert.fr 

2. Additives/Secondary raw materials 

Plásticos Compuestos S.A. 

C/ Basters 15 

08184 Palau Solità i Plegamans 

Barcelona, Spain 

Tel. +34 93 863 96 70 

info@kompuestos.com 


Natureplast – Biopolynov 

11 rue François Arago 

14123 IFS 

Tel: +33 (0)2 31 83 50 87 

www.natureplast.eu 

NUREL Engineering Polymers 

Ctra. Barcelona, km 329 

50016 Zaragoza, Spain 

Tel: +34 976 465 579 

inzea@samca.com 

www.inzea-biopolymers.com 

TECNARO GmbH 

Bustadt 40 

D-74360 Ilsfeld. Germany 

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

www.tecnaro.de 

TotalEnergies Corbion bv 

Stadhuisplein 70 

4203 NS Gorinchem 


Tel.: +31 183 695 695 

www.totalenergies-corbion.com 

PLA@totalenergies-corbion.com 

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 

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 

Plásticos Compuestos S.A. 

C/ Basters 15 

08184 Palau Solità i Plegamans 

Barcelona, Spain 

Tel. +34 93 863 96 70 

info@kompuestos.com 


Kaneka Belgium N.V. 

Nijverheidsstraat 16 

2260 Westerlo-Oevel, Belgium 

Tel: +32 (0)14 25 78 36 

Fax: +32 (0)14 25 78 81 

info.biopolymer@kaneka.be 

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 

1.6 Masterbatches 

Albrecht Dinkelaker 

Polymer- and Product Development 

Talstrasse 83 

60437 Frankfurt am Main, Germany 

Tel.:+49 (0)69 76 89 39 10 

info@polyfea2.de 

www.caprowax-p.eu 

GRAFE-Group 



Tel. +49 36459 45 0 

www.grafe.com 

3. Semi-finished products 

3.1 Sheets 

Customised Sheet Xtrusion 

James Wattstraat 5 

7442 DC Nijverdal 


+31 (548) 626 111 

info@csx-nijverdal.nl 

www.csx-nijverdal.nl 

4. Bioplastics products 

Bio4Pack GmbH 

Marie-Curie-Straße 5 

48529 Nordhorn, Germany 

Tel. +49 (0)5921 818 37 00 

info@bio4pack.com 

www.bio4pack.com 

bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/22] Vol. 17 63


Plant-based and Compostable PLA Cups and Lids 

Great River Plastic Manufacturer 

Company Limited 

Tel.: +852 95880794 

sam@shprema.com 

https://eco-greatriver.com/ 

6.1 Machinery & moulds 

Buss AG 

Hohenrainstrasse 10 

4133 Pratteln / Switzerland 

Tel.: +41 61 825 66 00 

info@busscorp.com 

www.busscorp.com 

6.2 Degradability Analyzer 

nova-Institut GmbH 

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

contact@nova-institut.de 

www.biobased.eu 

Bioplastics Consulting 

Tel. +49 2161 664864 

info@polymediaconsult.com 

10. Institutions 

Institut für Kunststofftechnik 

Universität Stuttgart 

Böblinger Straße 70 

70199 Stuttgart 

Tel +49 711/685-62831 

silvia.kliem@ikt.uni-stuttgart.de 

www.ikt.uni-stuttgart.de 

Minima Technology Co., Ltd. 

Esmy Huang, Vice president 

Yunlin, Taiwan(R.O.C) 

Mobile: (886) 0-982 829988 

Email: esmy@minima-tech.com 

Website: www.minima.com 

w OEM/ODM (B2B) 

w Direct Supply Branding (B2C) 

w Total Solution/Turnkey Project 

MODA: Biodegradability Analyzer 

SAIDA FDS INC. 

143-10 Isshiki, Yaizu, 

Shizuoka, Japan 

Tel:+81-54-624-6155 

Fax: +81-54-623-8623 

info_fds@saidagroup.jp 

www.saidagroup.jp/fds_en/ 

7. Plant engineering 

10.1 Associations 

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 

10.3 Other institutions 

Naturabiomat 

AT: office@naturabiomat.at 

DE: office@naturabiomat.de 

NO: post@naturabiomat.no 

FI: info@naturabiomat.fi 

www.naturabiomat.com 

Natur-Tec ® - Northern Technologies 

4201 Woodland Road 

Circle Pines, MN 55014 USA 

Tel. +1 763.404.8700 

Fax +1 763.225.6645 

info@naturtec.com 

www.naturtec.com 

NOVAMONT S.p.A. 

Via Fauser , 8 

28100 Novara - ITALIA 

Fax +39.0321.699.601 

Tel. +39.0321.699.611 

www.novamont.com6. Equipment 

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 

9. Services 

Osterfelder Str. 3 

46047 Oberhausen 

Tel.: +49 (0)208 8598 1227 

thomas.wodke@umsicht.fhg.de 

www.umsicht.fraunhofer.de 

Innovation Consulting Harald Kaeb 

narocon 

Dr. Harald Kaeb 

Tel.: +49 30-28096930 

kaeb@narocon.de 

www.narocon.de 

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 

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/ 

Green Serendipity 

Caroli Buitenhuis 

IJburglaan 836 

1087 EM Amsterdam 


Tel.: +31 6-24216733 

www.greenseredipity.nl 

GO!PHA 

Rick Passenier 

Oudebrugsteeg 9 

1012JN Amsterdam 


info@gopha.org 

www.gopha.org 

Our new 

frame 

colours 

Bioplastics related topics, i.e. 

all topics around biobased 

and biodegradable plastics, 

come in the familiar 

green frame. 

All topics related to 

Advanced Recycling, such 

as chemical recycling 

or enzymatic degradation 

of mixed waste into building 

blocks for new plastics have 

this turquoise coloured 

frame. 

When it comes to plastics 

made of any kind of carbon 

source associated with 

Carbon Capture & Utilisation 

we use this frame colour. 

The familiar blue 

frame stands for rather 

administrative sections, 

such as the table of 

contents or the “Dear 

readers” on page 3. 

If a topic belongs to more 

than one group, we use 

crosshatched frames. 

Ochre/green stands for 

Carbon Capture & 

Bioplastics, e. g. PHA made 

from methane. 

Articles covering Recycling 

and Bioplastics ... 

Recycling & Carbon Capture 

We’re sure, you got it! 


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now at 

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the next six issues for €179.– 1) 

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p 

Event Calendar 

You can meet us 

18 th LAPET Series - Circular Plastics Packaging LATAM 

06.12. - 07.12.2022, Mexico City, Mexico 

www.cmtevents.com/eventschedule.aspx?ev=221230& 

17th European Bioplastics Conference 

06.12. - 07.12.2022, Berlin, Germany (hybrid) 

https://www.european-bioplastics.org/events/eubp-conference/ 

9 th European Biopolymer Summit 

08.02. - 09.02.2023, London, UK 

https://www.wplgroup.com/aci/event/european-biopolymer-summit/ 

World Biopolymers and Bioplastics Innovation Forum 

01.03. - 02.03.2023, Berlin, Germany 

www.leadventgrp.com/events/world-biopolymers-and-bioplasticsinnovation-forum/details 

Plastics Recycling Conference 

06.03. - 08.03.2023, National Harbour, MD, USA 

https://www.plasticsrecycling.com/ 

Cellulose Fibres Conference 2023 (CFC) 

08.03. - 09.03.2023, Cologne, Germany (hybrid) 

https://cellulose-fibres.eu 

bio!TOY 

21.03. - 22.03.2023, Nuremberg, Germany 

Events 

daily updated eventcalendar at 


by bioplastics MAGAZINE 

https://www.bio-toy.info 

Conference on CO 2 -based Fuels and Chemicals 2023 

19.04. - 20.04.2023, Cologne, Germany (hybrid) 

https://co2-chemistry.eu 

interpack 2023 

04.05. - 10.05.2023, Düsseldorf, Germany 

https://www.interpack.com 

bio!PAC 

08.05. - 10.05.2023, Düsseldorf, Germany 

by bioplastics MAGAZINE 

https://www.bio-pac.info 

CO 2 Capture, Storage & Reuse 2023 

16.05. - 17.05.2023, Copenhagen, Denmark 

https://fortesmedia.com/co2-capture-storage-reuse-2023,4,en,2,1,21. 

html 

Renewable Materials Conference 2023 (RMC) 

23.05. - 25.05.2023, Siegburg, Germany (hybrid) 

www.renewable-materials.eu 

+ 

Plastics for Cleaner Planet 

26.06. - 28.06.2023, New York City Area, USA 

https://innoplastsolutions.com/conference/ 

Subject to changes. 

For up to date event-info visit https://www.bioplasticsmagazine.com/en/event-calendar/ 

Use the promotion code ‘book‘ and you will get the basics 

book 3) Bioplastics Basics. Applications. Markets. 

for free. (New subscribers only).) 

Tell us by e-mail the desired language (EN, ES, FR or CN. 

1) Offer valid until 31 Jan 2023. 

3) Gratis-Buch in Deutschland leider nicht möglich (Buchpreisbindung). 

. 

bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/22] Vol. 17 65

Company Editorial Advert 

Company Editorial Advert 

Companies and people in this issue 

Agrana Starch Bioplastics 62 

AIMPLAS 11,18 

AITIIP 22 

Alfa Laval 14 

All Nippon Airways ANA 50 

Andreu World 30 

Arctic Biomaterials 42 

Arkema 62 

Avient 35 

BASF 19,44 62 

Be Good Friends BGF 6 

BeGaMo 11 

Benvic 37 

Better Biomass 53 

Bio4Pac 63 

BioBTX 14 

Bio-Fed Branch of Akro-Plastic 62 

Biofibre 62 

Biotec 50 63,67 

BLOND:ISH Abracadabra 32 

Borealis 35 

BPI 64 

Brabender 40 

Braskem 51 

Bugaboo 28 

BUSS 21,64 

BW Flexibles 51 

Bye Bye Plastic 32 

Callaghan Innovation 27 

CAPROWAX P 63 

Carbios 12 

Carbon Recycling International 26 

Interzero 5,13 

ISCC 6,28,34,53 

JinHui ZhaoLong High Technology 62 

Kaneka 63 

Kingfa 63 

Kompuestos 22,38 63 

KPMG 13 

KraussMaffei 14 

Lanxess 37 

LanzaTech 7 

LG Chem 62 

L'Oréal 35 

Maip 10, 30 

Michigan State University 64 

Microtec 62 

Minima Technology 64 

MIT 20 

Mitsubishi Corporation 5,10, 37 

Mixcycling 62 

Mynusco 36 

narocon InnovationConsulting 9, 11 64 

Naturabiomat 64 

Natureplast-Biopolynov 63 

NatureWorks 5,43 

NaturTec 13 64 

Neste 5,12,28,37,56 

nova Institute 12,15,54 15,31,39,49,64 

Novamont 39 64,68 

NREL 21 

Nurel 63 

OMV 15,34 

Orkla 36 

Alonso,Mercedes 28 

Altice, Rich 43 

Amory, Martijn 28 

Barbier, Maxime 27 

Berthoud, Mathieus 12 

Börger, Lars 56 

Borghans, Marc 14 

Bray, Steve 5 

Brouard Gailloit, Solenne 12 

Brunelle, Nathalie 35 

Brunk, Peter 46 

Bussières, Virginie 13 

Carraway, Daniel 29 

Carus, Michael 12 

Coué,Gregory 22 

Daphne, Tian 53 

de Bie, Francois 10 

de Wilde, Bruno 10,47 

Di Mucci, Luca 38 

Dreisbach, Friedrich 14 

Ehlert, Oliver 44 

Fischer, Thomas 46 

Gielen, Gerty 27 

Granacher, Christine 11 

Grivalský, Tomáš 24 

Groen, Joop 14 

Guitteau, Camille 32 

Helin, Maiju 13 

Celanese Engineered Materials 48 

OWS 10,47 

Hesselink, Tom 13 

Centre for Res. in Agricult. Genomics 23 

PADM 52 

Hofer,Wolfgang 15 

Chimei 5,37 

Plastic Energy 13 

Hoffmann,Luis 14 

Circular Biobased Delta 14 

CJ Biomaterials 43 63 

Cocoa Canopy 51 

Cove 29 

CSIC 22 

Customized Sheet Extrusion 63 

plasticker 19 

polymediaconsult 64 

Polystyvert 12 

Polytan 51 

POSTECH 23 

PTT/MCC 62 

Hong, Chul-Ki 6 

Kaeb, Harald 11 

Kamphuis, Paul 52 

Keilbach, Franz-Xaver 14 

Konstantinov, Igor 53 

Di Mucci 38 

Pyrowave 13 

Kopp, Julian 

DIN CERTCO 44 

REDcert 53 

Krause, Lars 54 

Dr. Heinz Gupta Verlag 42 

DSD Duales System Deutschland 13 

DSM 28,35,39 

DUH Deutsche Umwelthilfe 44 

DuPont 36,48 

Earth Renewable Technologies 62 

Roswell Textiles 42 

RSB 6,53 

RSPO 53 

RWDC 29 

Sabic 36 

SAES Coated Films 39 

Kristjánsdóttir, Björk 26 

Larsen, Carsten 13 

Lee, Seung-Jin 43 

Lindsey, Blake 29 

Martini, Eligio 10, 30 

Eastman 13 

Saida 64 

Martini, Emanuele 10 

Eckart 37 

Samsung 35 

Moei-Galera, Anne-Marie 14 

Ecoloop 53 

Schneider Electric 35 

Moon, Jo Hyun 23 

Elixance 37 62 

Erema 64 

Erewhon 29 

EUCertPlast 53 

European Bioplastics 11 64 

Scion 27 

Shell 13 

Sino Thai Engieering and Construction 5 

Stora Enso 6 

Sukano 64 

Muscatello, Allegra 10 

Niessner, Norbert 7 

Noh, Myung Hyun 23 

Parker, David 27 

Evolution Music 32 

Sulzer Chemtech 14 

Parker, Mike 52 

Fibrant 28 

Sunar NP 63 

Philipon, Thomas 6 

FKuR 62 

TA Instruments 14 

Polet, Roeland 28 

Ford Motor Company 35 

Fraunhofer UMSICHT 64 

Futamura 51 

Gehr 34 63 

Gema Polimers 62 

Tacoil 6 

Tech. Univ. Vienna 24 

Technip Energies 13 

Tecnaro 63 

Tianan Biologic Material 63 

Pras, Erik 50 

Ravenstijn, Jan 10 

Reiffenhäuser,Ulrich 34 

Sabur, Mesbah 53 

Gianeco 62 

Ticinoplast 39 

San, Shiba 32 

Global Biopolymers 62 

Toray 50 

Schellerer, Karl-Martin 34 

GO!PHA 10 64 

TotalEnergies Corbion 6,10,35,52 63 

Schmidtchen, Ludwig 40 

Grafe 28 62,63 

Granula 63 

Great River Plastic Manuf. 64 

Green Dot Bioplastics 52 63 

Green Serendipity 17 64 

Gualapack 39 

Treffert 63 

Trinseo 63 

TTCL 5 

TÜV Austria 29,38 

United Bioplolymers 63 

Univ Philippines 40 

Stratmann, Matthias 15 

Suijkerbruijk, Bart 13 

Thiery, Adriaan 28 

Thomazo-Jegou, Juliette 11 

Totterman, Alex 29 

Helian Polymers 42 63 

Univ. App. Sc. Upper Austria 24 

Ueda, Hiroyuki 10 

Henan Shuncheng Group 26 

Verbund kompostierbarer Produkte 46 

Urquiola, Patricia 30 

Idemitsu Kosan 5,37 

Imerys 36 

INEOS 6,7 

ING 14 

Inst. F. Bioplastics & Biocomposites 64 

Institut f. Kunststofftechnik, Stuttgart 64 

Westlake Vinnolit 34 

Wilson & Ross 27 

Xiamen Changsu Industries 62 

Xinjiang Blue Ridge Tunhe Polyester 62 

Zeijiang Hisun Biomaterials 63 

Zeijiang Huafon 62 

von Ketteler, Michael 46 

Vries, Tijmen 14 

Wilson, Peter 27 

Ye, Dae-yeol 23 

Yung, GyooYeol 23 

Institute of Microbiol. Centra Algatech 24 


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