Cardia Bioplastics, the combination of quality and competitive price

In Bioplastics sector, Cardia Bioplastics was the first to enter and from that time only its proprietary technology keeps considering development of high quality bio hybrid films. The company is now known well to supply bio hybrid films, products and bags at fully certified status and competitive price. These products are highly compostable. The company has shopped three new film extrusion and bag manufacturing devices; and planning more machines till and of June. Every production unit there is efficient for manufacturing extra 1.5 million bags monthly.

The company is planning well for major expansion in order to meet the continuously increasing demand of compostable films, bags and custom products. Strategy of Cardia Bioplastics is to elaborate properly finished products having good impact on international marketing. Increased finishing quality of products will help to meet seamless sales boundaries. The in house production of compostable items will promote this deal in Cardia Bioplastics. One of the most important facts to remember is that resin production cannot be changes due to requirement of business meeting. Read full story about the collection of well finished Cardia products here -
 http://www.packagingnews.com.au/news/cardia-bioplastics-is-working-harder

Ultimately finished products by Cardia Bioplastics have increased reputation of the company for offering high quality products at affordable price.

IBM to lead the first ever used bioplastics in servers

IBM is securing its extensive place in the series of world class gamesman and technology explorers. The company now expects commercialization of the all new renewable bioplastics in computer servers. This exclusive renewable plastic is nothing but a blend of polylactic acid (PLA) and polycarbonate which has been selected for utilization in a totally well developed series of products. This blended bioplastics has been manufactured by PolyOne. The final product possesses 30 percent PLA that replaces PC or ABS blend but cost a little higher, 90 cents per cover. IBM procurement is planning for cost parity soon within a few years as the supply base will be set up for PLA compound. In this way, server pricing begins at $6K each unit. This procurement is assisting for expansion of supply base in order to decrease the cost.

Full story can be read here - http://www.themoldingblog.com/2014/02/19/ibm-leads-in-first-ever-use-of-bioplastics-in-servers/

For development of PLA and PC blends, compounders RTP, Bayer Material Science and Teknor Apex is working well with IBM. These groups are known well to have specialization in renewable materials. This idea is ultimate for sustainable application as it does not require polycarbonate to impact strength. Parts of the product will be subjected for molding and assembly in China. The new cover strategy has been reviewed recently in a conference in Orlando.

Ahlstrom has launched products meant for food packaging

Ahlstrom has secured its way to the world’s top class fiber based materials company as it has launched high performance products fabulously during recent years. Nowadays, the company is again in discussion for the launch of its awesome biodegradable molding material, Ahlstrom NatureMold which is used for food packaging. This awesome product combines environmental credentials, performance and product differentiation. This product is highly featured for food processing and key benefits involve simple release, heat resistance, awesome grease resistance and higher wet strength. Know more about the deal here - http://www.nonwovens-industry.com/contents/view_breaking-news/2014-02-20/ahlstrom-launches-product-for-food-packaging/

Apart from this, the latest molding material by Ahlstrom is provided with excellent branding and differentiation properties with probabilities of packaging wide range of hot food. The Ahlstrom NatureMold product has been developed with FSC certified pulp. It can be utilized as the best eco friendly product as an option of plastic products. This excellent line of products has great performance due to its grease repelling and easy release properties. The sustainability credentials of the product make it completely biodegradable. Watermark and coloring alternatives in the product are important for signifying various brand differentiation. In this way, Ahlstrom has elaborated its opportunities for being global supplier of food packaging products. The company possesses seven manufacturing sites in four leading nations of the world.

Metabolix to discover innovation for development of PHA biopolymer technology

Metabolix Inc. Cambridge is a well developed biomaterials company that strives hard regularly to promote performance through innovations and sustainable solutions. Recently, Metabolix declared current advancements for sustainable options to plastics, energetic industries and chemicals etc. the recent project of the company is based upon development of PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) biopolymer technology. In order to develop the performance of PLA polymers, rubber modifiers are applied often. Full story about the developmental deal can be checked here - http://www.mediawebsite.net/elpaso/story/?catSetID=7012&catID=292897&nrid=245965491&page=1

Joseph Shaulson, the CEO and president of Metabolix states that the company is making great progressive approach in utilization of core PHA technology in the form of a performance driven modifier as a result of which biobased and conventional polymers like PLA and PVC are being subjected for improvement and innovation. According to Shaulson, Mirel rubber modifiers possess outstanding potential for expansion of application space for PLA. This idea will surely lead to innovative business opportunities. Out of the regularly going on developmental programs, Metabolix has evolved new amorphous PHA biopolymers having physical characteristics

On other hand, Bob Engle, vice president of Metabolix stated that continuous innovations in rubber modified is really an extension to the technology platform of the company. The efficiency and improvement in the rubber modifiers demonstrate better performance of the team.

Mater Bi Materials, excellent biodegradable plastic products

Instituto Italiano of Plastics (IIP, testing institute and confirm certification body for rubber, plastics and paper products) supervised the program to study that over 80 percent of the fourth generation Mater Bi materials are biodegradable. These products tend to be degraded completely within 220 days. The manufacturer of these biodegradable products, Novamont SpA notified all about the biodegradable properties of these decomposable materials.

According to the tests carried out in laboratory for degradation of bioplastics, research has been carried out that environmental conditions and marine life in sea bed supports decomposing of these products. Riparian zones of sea bed are those places where huge amount of plastic wastes have been observed. As per analysis, it has been confirmed that products can be degraded from compostable plastics under environmental conditions; marine habitats promote decomposition of the products and the time for processing shortens with the influence of marine life.   More about the story can be found here - http://www.neue-verpackung.de/texte/anzeigen/8966/Untersuchung-Mater-Bi-Werkstoffe-im-Meerwasser-abbaubar

The company continues to carry out good job in development and production of materials through renewable resources. Over 323 employees worked hard in the company to achieve the in turnover of over € 135 million 2012; 4.9 percent of sales in 2012 is being invested in R & D process again as the company bears over 1K patents right now. Novamont is working with Porto Torres (Sardinia region) and Bottrighe (Veneto region).

Lego Looks Shifting into Bioplastics

Lego, the international manufacturer of building blocks for kids is now soon to launch a long term sustainability program on the basis of bioplastics. The material engineer of the company, Alan Rasmussen stated that it is already planned and nothing but a matter of time now. According to statistics, Lego consumes about 60K metric tons of plastic every year in its huge captive molding plants situated in Mexico, Hungary and Denmark. Full story about the issue can be explored here - http://www.plasticstoday.com/articles/lego-investigates-shift-bioplastics0218201401

Although, the planning of this long term sustainability program is still going on and some interruptions seems to address the way such as the poly lactic acid delivered by Nature Works is not working well to meet internal test requirements of Lego still middle way to sought out the problem is being paved by the management. According to Alan, it’s really intolerable for the company and customers both that PLA bricks can be pressed well together but cannot be kept locked over a couple of weeks. Moreover, the company is now looking for the elaboration of models that can remain stagnant for longer time period.

On other hand, Nature Works’ spokesman states that they are aware about the creep property of PLA and factors to work behind this property, the only thing  to be done is investigation of solutions and the team of Nature Works’ is working on it. Although Lego is also testing other bioplastics but they are not identified yet.

3 US Universities are establishing research centers for bioplastics

Three US universities are joining hands to establish a Center for Biocomposites and Bioplastics to merge private and academic resources for research on technical issues regarding renewably sourced materials.

At Innovation Takes Root in Orlando, FL in an interview a faculty member in the University of Massachusetts Lowell Mr. Meg Sobkowicz Kline said that their plan is to carry out pre-competitive research which shall benefit many companies. Companies which will Participate in it shall be able to utilize the results of the study on a royalty free way. Research projects shall be defined by the members. Many big companies such as 3M and Rubbermaid are by now on board and many more will join soon.

The participating organizations are Washington State University, University of Massachusetts Lowell and Iowa State University. For the program Sobkowicz-Kline is site director of UMass Lowell.

The price tag to join research on technical issues concerning renewably sourced materials is $15,000 for companies having less than 500 employees and $30,000 for companies having more than 500 employees.

The Administrative costs for this project are being underwritten by the National Science Foundation headed beneath a plan to support collaborative research.
A commencement meeting will be called later this year to settle on organizational formation and by-laws.

Unique and creative bioplastics applications can enter for SPI’s second annual award

After last year’s successful award event organized by a special branch of the SPI known as Bioplastics Council, the second annual Innovation for Bioplastics Award is up for grabs in the year 2014 by anyone who has managed to apply bioplastics materials in an outstanding, unique and creative manner.

The panel of judges will be basing their judgments on the impact created on the market, the benefits of the sustainability of the product and its innovativeness. The contest is held with the aim of promoting futuristic thinking in the field of bioplastics.

The 2013 award was given to Avantium for the development of polyethylene furaonate or PEF which is more superior to PET when it comes to beverage packaging. It provides a much more advanced barrier to oxygen, carbon dioxide and water and has a simpler manufacturing process.

The official website of the SPI Bioplastics Council contains all the information that any applicants may need. The applications can be submitted through 31st March, 2014 and the winner will be awarded in the May 2014 Biopolymers Symposium where he will be given a platform to address the public and a free exhibition spot along with extensive coverage by the press. The source of this information is at website http://www.plasticstoday.com/articles/spi%E2%80%99s-second-annual-innovation-bioplastics-award-open-entries

Cardia Bioplastics Signs Supply Contract with Ricoy Supermercados in Brazil

Ricoy Supermercados, one of the largest supermarket chains in Brazil has ordered 150,000 US dollars’ worth of bags from Cardia Bioplastics Ltd. over a time period of four months and has validated the product quality. The companies have signed an annual supply contract with an estimation of 5 million bioplastic bags per month based on the initial supply order.

Cardia has entered Brazil at a very promising time as Brazil, which is South America’s largest consumer nation, will be hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The change is legislation in Brazil has also increased the demand of compostable bags.

Dr Frank Glatz, the Managing Director of Cardia Bioplastics says that they are very excited about the contract and are happy to be entering the nation alongside a true leader like Ricoy Supermercados. He also mentions the potential of growth that Brazil presents for Cardia and how he hopes that the presence of a local team will help their company grow further. The local team headed by Joao Paulo Mignot has come up with both the resources and the infrastructure required to penetrate the Brazilian plastics market.

This Brazilian contract was a successor to other successful contracts made by Cardia in China, such as one made with Shanghai Pudong Council in order to supply them with Biohybrid waste management merchandise. The source of this information is in website http://www.packagingeurope.com/Packaging-Europe-News/57164/Cardia-Bioplastics-Signs-Supply-Contract-with-Ricoy-Supermercados-in-Brazil.html.

Innovations through Polymers Power

Bayer Material science is doing wonders in the world of developmental technology nowadays and its latest sensation is the high performance plastic that will help smart phones to catch high quality photographs. Actually, the company has discovered a technology to make flash lenses that are highly durable in comparison to earlier developed cameras as it possesses an improved picture quality. An exclusive polycarbonate based upon Apec often combines with various effective properties such as transparency, heat resistance and light weight technology. Know more about the deal in website http://www.prw.com/subscriber/newscat2.html?cat=35&channel=310&id=4350

According to the technical sales manager of Bayer Material Science, Wilfredo Aguilar Singapore the material has been utilized earlier for car headlamps as lenses while the point is being turned for application in other field. He further states that Apec possesses an outstanding property of meeting requirement of manufacturing groups; that’s why they work in closed collaboration with them. It is confirmed that the innovative series of solutions is good for fulfilling the industrial demand and customers’ expectation.

The combination of sustainable biodegradable polymer with suitable nanofiller is good to act as an electricity conductor. This kind of combination is good for increasing the resistance of LED lenses. Traditionally settled materials for this purpose are softer so that fragile. The use of Apec results for better and clearer photographs.

ADM investing $25 Million in Rennovia: Know the Facts

Number of events of investment on research and development programs out of waste and renewable products by the leading companies, is increasing day by day. Recently, ADM i.e. Archer Daniels Midland Company and Rennovia has declared to commit about $25 equity investment in the privately held company in order to promote research and development programs for production of chemicals out of recyclable feedback. In this way, they plan a cost advantage production through renewable feed stocks. The first two products of this company are nylon intermediates adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine (HMD). Full story regarding this can be explored in http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2014/02/12/adm-invests-25m-in-rennovia-the-complete-story/

According to the Senior Vice President of ADM; they believe for development of new technologies for chemical production by Rennovia. With the support of ADM for production of beneficial chemicals out of biodegradable feed stocks, this private company will get an opportunity of delivering far competitive products that will make their portfolio more impressive.

On other hand, Kevin Moore vice president of the Renewable Chemicals states that the growing demand of chemical products that are made up of recyclable products introduces requirement of new searches in this direction. As they are impressed with the latest developmental technology of Rennovia; they invested good amount with the company looking forward to trigger the graph of growth.

Mitsubishi Chemical increases Durabio output

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) is the best performing and highly popular corporation has recently announced to expand production of DURABIO, isosorbide based developed plastic in Japan based Kurosaki plant. MCC is planning increment of about 16K per year by next year. This annual production has been planned with the enhancement of producing 5K tons extra DURABIO per year. The engineered plastic is being launched online as an option for the petro based polycarbonate. Actually, as per the spokesmen of the company, traditional polycarbonates are not good as they can be distorted in light transmission; thus it cannot be applied for seeing the touch panel.

DURABIO is known well as the new generation bioplastic that possesses optical properties and heat resistant capacity. That’s why it can be successfully applied in automobile’s touch panels to control audio systems, car navigation systems and air conditioners.  Also, this well developed bioplastic is good for its flexible designing and increased interior. The corporation imparts its focus to promote the production and use of bioplastic as it is highly in demand; apart from application in automobiles, it is employed in cell phones, film laminated sheets, sound proof walls and LED lighting etc. The chemical to be used as monomer for the production of isosorbide is sorbitol.

Heat-Resistant PLA will increase 3D Printing Capabilities

The latest sensation by ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute), Taiwan is that they are introducing development in the production of PLA plastic in order to enhance the quantity of production as well as developing the quality too. This kind of plastic is often used as 3D printing material and utilizes cornstarch and sugarcane as raw material for chemical derivation. This special bio plastic is employed for numerous uses but the main disadvantage of the product is that it is not efficient for resistance of heat. PLA Plastic is known well for distortion of shape on exposure in temperature more than 50°C. This kind of demerit of PLA represented problematic condition for customer grade 3D printer users because they are not capable of carrying temperature resistant agents in this way.

But now, good news is here that ITRI has developed the plastic product to become heat resistant for up to 100°C. A non toxic nucleating agent is being added during the production that offers the plastic capacity of crystallization and swift congealing. These two properties are enough to bring down accuracy and stability in the product. More information about the deal can be collected from website http://www.engineering.com/3DPrinting/3DPrintingArticles/ArticleID/7087/Heat-Resistant-PLA-Could-Expand-3D-Printing-Capabilities.aspx

Apart from these efforts, the idea of utilizing cereal grains or lactic acid to enhance thermo physical properties of PLA is also being employed by the scientists in ITRI. With the help of this modified form of PLA, production of electronic circuit boards, food grain containers, solar panel housings and other heat resistant objects can be carried out successfully.  

Metabolix is planning to bring new sensations in the world of bio products

The world famous plastic supplier K.D. Feddersen GmbH & Co. is known well for the production of two bioplastics, ‘Miral’ and ‘Mvera’ with Metabolix as co producer. Both of these bioproducts are eco friendly and marketable sources. K. D. Feddersen is reputed for selling biodegradable plastic in order to support reuse of waste products. With the employment of compost, water and biogas plants, the institute studied well about the organic waste systems under which Mvera, the plastic products decomposed well within 12 weeks by bacteria. Full story regarding this topic can be read in http://plasticker.de/Kunststoff_News_21324_KD_Feddersen_Schnell_abbaubare_Biokunststoffe_von_Metabolix?nmax=25&kat=&nmin=0

About Metabolix, it is an amazing corporation to represent its bioplastics from polyhydroxialkanoat (PHA). This product is formed by microbes through a biological procedure. Some levels of the process involve fermentation, extraction and compounding so that the bioplastic can arise to be biodegradable. The main objective to work behind the production of this bio product is nothing but substitution of petroleum based resources. Reduction in the quantity of waste products, maintenance of climatic conditions and production of contamination free organic product are also some important goals of this corporation. Now, they are planning to link the production of these organic and biodegradable products along with agriculture, horticulture etc. to recycle waste products for a beneficial deal.

SUCCIPACK to produce green PBS which is being investigated by EU project

The potential of bio-based polybutylene succinate or PBS in the food packaging industry is being studied as part of a European project. SUCCIPACK is to produce PBS materials using 100% bio-based succinic acid from the wheat sector in order to process food packaging. USA and Asia have seen a lot of developments in green PBS products and this is a chance for the European industry, especially the SMEs, to catch up in matters of environmental concern. The major aim of the project is to make sure that the least amount of investment is required in order to make use of the recently produced material in the existing process.

Beef and ricotta cheese have already been tested and packed in PBS and further tests are planned for packaging of fish, vegetables and chicken. The flexibility of the material will be tested in their own production lines by the SMEs like Ortoreale, Gimar, Conbio and Mambelli.

The material is made by the polycondensation of succinic acid 1.4-butanediol. Its characteristics are common to other polymers that are bio-based such as polylactic acid(PLA). However, PBS is three times better an oxygen barrier than PLA and other polyolefins.

This project is scheduled to run until the end of the year and will develop adjusted PBS grades, formulations, structures, recycling routes and treatments.

Source: http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Trends/Going-green/Green-PBS-potential-investigated-in-EU-project

World’s largest bio-succinic acid plant to produce 30,000 tons annually from 2015

Mitsui & Co. Ltd. along with industrial biotech company BioAmber Inc have come to the decision that the annual yield of their first bio-based succinic acid plant called Plant, which will be the largest in the world and will begin functioning by 2015, will be 30,000 tons. Mitsui and BioAmber have combined to form BioAmber Sarnia in order to manufacture bio-succinic acid with the help of yeast technology licensed by the American company Cargill exclusively to BioAmber. The global demand for bio-succinic acid has prompted the decision to produce 30,000 tons annually and the Plant is capable of being expanded to 50,000 tons. The raw materials required for the production process are readily available in the area where the Plant is being constructed. All these factors are going to make the product for BioAmber Sarnia extremely cost effective.

Mitsui is committed to further the environmental cause and is promoting the Plant as a strategic investment for a better future. The Plant offers a better way of life which is eco-friendly, safe and healthy. Bio-succinic acid can be applied in the manufacture of biodegradable plastics, personal care products and polyurethanes. With BioAmber on its side, Mitsui will continue to expand bio-succinic acid facilities and will consider diversification of production into derivatives.

Source: http://www.jpubb.com/en/press/73650/

Bioplastics will bring about a sustainable future

After much hardship, Mark Herrema and his company Newlight have finally been able to produce pellets of plastic called Air Carbon from methane gas, which is a common by-product on farms. In 2012, an estimated 288 million metric tons of plastic was produced in comparison to the 99 million metric tons produced in the year 1989. With the reduction in fossil fuel resources, a lot people are looking into producing plastics out of renewable sources.

Conventional plastics take a lot of time to decompose and when discarded, they tend to cause a lot of harm to the environment. Newlight has created a material that has the potential to be used in automobile parts, packaging, electronics etc. It is supposed to be used later this year to produce mobile cases for Virgin Mobile and plastic chairs for KI furniture.

Methane is 21 times more harmful to the atmosphere than CO₂ and when it is used to make plastic which is long lasting it is benefitting the environment even more as there is no methane released in the atmosphere. However, methane is not the only compound which can be used to create plastics. In Nebraska, NatureWorks is using the sugar from corn to produce Ingeo through fermentation.

Methane is still a better compound for the manufacture of plastic as the production process is more environmentally beneficial and there is no food-fuel debate around it.

Coca Cola is one of the biggest consumers of conventional plastic and has asked 3 firms to try and produce completely renewable plastic. One of these firms is Englewood based Gevo. In 2010, a Brazilian petrochemical company called Braskem started using sugar cane to derive ethanol and use it to produce polyethylene which is the most frequently used plastic. Now, this company makes Pantene Nature Fusion shampoo bottles, Odwalla juice bottles and hard hats (safety equipment).

Source: http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059993608

Recent report sees Bioplastics becoming a part of mainstream market

Lucintel, one of the top firms in global management consultations and market research, predicts in its publication, Global Bioplastic Industry 2013-2018: Trend, Forecast, and Opportunity Analysis, that over the next 5 years the bioplastics industry will grow and reach an estimated $7.02 billion by the year 2018 and starch-based bioplastics will show the maximum growth. Europe and North America will remain the top destinations for research and sales. The growth of bioplastics industry will be because of acceptance by the consumers, the threat of climate change and increasing price of fossil based resources.

Bioplastics have a wide variety of applications which is highly advantageous when competing with other products in the market. Their application has a huge potential in automotive and electronic industries. Their biggest drawback is the high price of bioplastic resins, which are almost twice the price of petro plastic resins.

Bioplastics reduce CO₂ emissions by 30% to 70% compared to oil-derived plastics, which is significant hazardous waste reduction. Global business is accepting bioplastics in order to follow the pollution norms of the government.

According to the report, bioplastics are nearing an established position in certain application based sectors like electronics, packaging and automotive industry. PepsiCo, Tetra Pak, Ford, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Toyota are the brands that are using bioplastic materials and products, fueling the full market penetration of bioplastics.

Source:  http://www.plasticstoday.com/articles/new-report-sees-bioplastics-moving-out-niche-and-entering-mass-market

Unique Bioplastic Innovations will Receive an Award by SPI’s Bioplastic Council

The second annual contest organized by the Bioplastics Council of the SPI – The Plastic Industry Trade Association will present an Award for Innovation in Bioplastics to remarkable innovators who have managed to apply bioplastics in unique ways. The award is distributed in order to encourage creative thinking and further the use of bioplastics in the world.

The current Chairman of the SPI Bioplastics Council talks about how the first contest managed to attract a lot of forward-thinking entrants who brought with them a lot of cutting edge ideas. The 2013 Innovation in Bioplastics Award was presented to Avantium who developed polyethylene furanoate (PEF), which is a superior barrier to CO₂, water and oxygen. Avantium was recognised for the many new exciting opportunities it presented in the field of packaging for beverage manufacturers. Bottles could be made lighter and the production process could be highly simplified.

Companies interested in submitting an application can look for information on the SPI Bioplastics Council website. Applicants can apply through 31^st March 2014 and the winner will be awarded at the Biopolymers Symposium in Philadelphia, PA in May 2014. The winner will receive a speaking opportunity and free space for exhibition at the Symposium, press coverage, recognition at future events held by the Council and a yearlong banner ad on the Council website.

Excellent use of I’m green TM from Braskem by Nomacroc to produce sustainable wine closures

With the use of I’m greenTM Polyethylene of Braskem, Nomacroc becomes the first company in the world to produce plant-based closure. Select Bio from wine bottles. It should be noted here that Green PE is derived from completely renewable material, sugarcane ethanol which can help in substantial reduction of carbon footprint. Greenhouse gas emissions will be also reduced with this product because 1 ton of Green PE is capable of sequestrating nearly 2 tons of carbon dioxide which is really an appreciable effort when compared to conventional polyethylene products.

Website http://www.southeastgreen.com/index.php/news/north-carolina/10522-nomacorc-launches-first-plant-based-wine-bottle-closure-using-braskem-s-green-polyethylene clearly mentions that this wine closure is an excellent product in the series of Nomacroc’s Select Series Portfolio which assures the best oxygen performance management. In other words, Select Bio is capable of reducing environmental impacts of wines which occur due to oxidation and reduction by preventing waste and wine spoilage, which will ultimately benefit the reputed wineries that will be capable of packaging wine bottles with carbon neutral closure with precise oxygen quantity.

On the other hand, Braskem is a reputed and stronger company with a solid approach to produce eco-friendly and sustainable polymer materials and is engaged in the production of I’m greenTM since 2010 in Brazil, with massive investment of USD290 million. Of course, the company feels pleased to convey that Nomacroc has selected its Green PE to offer sustainable and reliable wine closures to consumers.