Issue 04/2023

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54 bioplastics MAGAZINE [<strong>04</strong>/23] Vol. 18 Applications Your choice matters Arapaha, a Dutch purpose-driven start-up from Maastricht, has recently launched its first signature bio-circular products that underline the company’s philosophy: “Discover a lifestyle in balance with our planet”. The company designs products for the home, work, sports, and outfit markets. Products are designed with closed-loop recycling in mind. These products are manufactured with bio-circular polymers. It’s bio because Arapaha develops and launches products based on biopolymers such as PLA. It’s circular because the company applies design-for-recycling principles and guarantees productto-product recycling. recycle Arapaha products are to the furthest extent made from one single biopolymer to make recycling easy. The first tangible products on the market are DRAAG a shopping bag and draag, a fashionable small handbag. These bags have in common that the various form factors are from one type of biobased polymer. That means that the outer felt, the knitted inner liner, the woven belt and the injection moulded protective bottom studs and the thimbles that secure the belt are made from polylactic acid (PLA). At the end of their functional life, the bags do not need to be disassembled prior to shredding as a first step in the recycling process. Arapaha has developed and patented a unique molecular recycling process to depolymerize PLA products into oligomers. These oligomers can be polymerised again to rPLA having the same quality as virgin PLA. The colourants and additives used, the polyester (PET) sewing thread and the magnetic closure do not hamper recycling. Each Arapaha product holds a unique QR code. This QR code gives access to a product passport with information on materials used, the origin of the raw materials, manufacturing and much more. Furthermore, the QR code gives hints and tips on care and repair. At the end of its functional life, the product can be returned free of charge and the company will take care of re-use, repair or recycling depending on the product’s state. create repeat return In this way, Arapaha creates a lifestyle in balance with our planet. It’s possible! The company’s in-depth knowledge of recycling processes, biobased materials and manufacturing is shared and deepened further in (inter)national partnerships and projects with raw materials suppliers, universities, research institutes, and manufacturers. Arapaha has been very active in projects like BEGIN (Fully recyclable rugs based on advanced biomaterials; Circular Chain Projects), REPLACER (recycling of materials made from advanced grades of polylactic acid in a closed-loop for CO 2 emission reduction; project Top Sector Energy), SPLASH (sustainable PLA based hockey and use other sports clothing; Circular Chain Projects) and PLACE (a PLA based Circular Economy; project European Regional Development Fund) to name a few. Together with partners, Arapaha has proven that dyeing of PLA yarn with super-critical CO 2 (scCO 2 ) results in colourfast yarns and substantially reduces the environmental footprint compared to traditional yarn dyeing. Using scCO 2 leads to a substantial reduction in the use of water, dyes, and chemicals. In e.g., project PLACE it has been proven that molecular recycling of a complete shopping bag consisting of various form factors of PLA without prior disassembly can be processed. Furthermore, it was found that combining PLA with a suitable modifier enhances the impact strength of injection moulded products. Even more so, the impact strength exceeds that of ABS, a polymer known for its impact performance. The company holds patents on closed-loop recycling of PLA and scCO 2 dying of PLA yarn. On short notice, Arapaha will publish the results of an extensive life cycle assessment of “advanced grade PLA product with novel end-of-life treatment of depolymerization” done in cooperation with the TNO institute in the Netherlands. MT www.arapaha.com
ioplastics MAGAZINE [<strong>04</strong>/23] Vol. 18 55 Ruian Gregeo A biodegradable plastic production enterprise in China. Direct manufacturer and supplier of PBAT, PBS, Biodegradable Compounds. Ruian Gregeo is a leading supplier of integrated solutions for new environmental protection materials. Gregeo insists on technological innovation and has developed a variety of new material products independently, with product lines covering entirely biodegradable materials. PBAT Material Property: Patent and Certificate: Jiangsu Ruian Applied Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Website: www.ruiangeo.com Email: ruiankeji@ruiangeo.com Twitter: RuianGregeo
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