Issue 04/2019

Jul / Aug
04 | 2019
bioplastics MAGAZINE Vol. 14 ISSN 1862-5258
Basics
Home composting | 44
Highlights
Bottles / Blow Moulding | 10
Biocomposites | 24
Cover Story
Cove PHA bottles
... is read in 92 countries

KEEN ON VEGGIES –
BIO INSIDE AND OUT
The new organic cosmetics brand Hands on Veggies uses a variety of
ingredients from the vegetable garden. Vitamin bombs such as kale,
pumpkin, carrots or artichoke make headway to nutrient-rich ingredients in
their care products. The company is also breaking new ground in terms
of packaging: the organic cosmetics are fi lled exclusively in tubes made
of the biobased plastic Green PE. Bio all around!

Editorial
dear
readers
Last year I wrote in issue 04 : “This year is the hottest summer in Germany that I can
remember in 15 years.” This year, with temperatures of 41°C (106°F) at the time
of writing, has already broken that record. The advice I gave last year, however,
still holds. As I wrote then, “one of the fundamental rules in weather like this is to
drink a lot. Preferably water.” And we’ve kept to the theme with a cover story this
year about water bottles - in this case, the world’s first PHA water bottles.
The second big highlight topic in this issue is Biocomposites. This fastdeveloping
area continues to generate considerable interest, as evidenced by the
number of articles included in this feature.
The Basics section covers home composting, a subject that is indeed much
more complex than one may think.
I also have two more points to which I’d like to direct your attention.
Coming events cast their shadows before, especially when they are as big as
the K show, the world’s leading trade fair for plastics and rubber. An important
event during K 2019 is certainly our 4 th Bioplastics Business Breakfast. In
what has become a bioplastics tradition, we are organizing a series of mini
conferences on October 17-18-19 and 20 and are happy to welcome you to
attend, from 8am-12:30pm, in the CCD-Ost on the fairgrounds. See pp 8-9 for
details.
Second, we’re still calling for submissions for the 2019 edition of the Global Bioplastics
Award. If you think your product or service from the world of biobased plastics deserves the
award, or you’d like to nominate somebody else’s, please let us know. See page 42.
Until then, please enjoy the summer - and have a great time reading this latest issue of
bioplastics MAGAZINE.
Sincerely yours
EcoComunicazione.it
WWW.MATERBI.COM
r1_05.2017
05/05/17 11:39
bioplastics MAGAZINE Vol. 14 ISSN 1862-5258
Basics
Home composting | 44
Highlights
Bottles / Blow Moulding | 10
Biocomposites | 24
Jul / Aug
Cover Story
Cove PHA bottles
04 | 2019
... is read in 92 countries
Michael Thielen
Follow us on twitter!
www.twitter.com/bioplasticsmag
Like us on Facebook!
www.facebook.com/bioplasticsmagazine
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 3

Content
Imprint
34 Porsche launches cars with biocomposites
Jul / Aug 04|2019
Cover Story
10 1 st PHA water bottle
Blow moulding
10 1 st PHA water bottle
12 Demonstrating closed loop
14 10 years ago
Machinery
22 Biodegradable blown film
Materials
23 PHA’s: the natural materials of the future
42 Paper cups
Biocomposites
24 Biocomposites in the automotive industry
26 Biocomposites are a great alternative
28 Biocomposites-lessons learned
30 Biocomposites for 3D printing
33 Natural fibers
34 Porsche launches cars with biocomposites
36 Biobased surfboards
38 Improved filling characteristics
39 Biosourced composites
40 Strategic partnership
41 PLA based WPC
3 Editorial
5 News
8 Events
14 10 years ago
16 Application News
44 Basics
46 Patents
49 Brand Owner
50 Glossary
54 Suppliers Guide
58 Companies in this issue
Publisher / Editorial
Dr. Michael Thielen (MT)
Samuel Brangenberg (SB)
Head Office
Polymedia Publisher GmbH
Dammer Str. 112
41066 Mönchengladbach, Germany
phone: +49 (0)2161 6884469
fax: +49 (0)2161 6884468
info@bioplasticsmagazine.com
www.bioplasticsmagazine.com
Media Adviser
Samsales (German language)
phone: +49(0)2161-6884467
fax: +49(0)2161 6884468
sb@bioplasticsmagazine.com
Michael Thielen (English Language)
(see head office)
Layout/Production
Kerstin Neumeister
Print
Poligrāfijas grupa Mūkusala Ltd.
1004 Riga, Latvia
bioplastics MAGAZINE is printed on
chlorine-free FSC certified paper.
Print run: 3.400 copies
bioplastics magazine
ISSN 1862-5258
bM is published 6 times a year.
This publication is sent to qualified subscribers
(169 Euro for 6 issues).
bioplastics MAGAZINE is read in
92 countries.
Every effort is made to verify all Information
published, but Polymedia Publisher
cannot accept responsibility for any errors
or omissions or for any losses that may
arise as a result.
All articles appearing in
bioplastics MAGAZINE, or on the website
www.bioplasticsmagazine.com are strictly
covered by copyright. No part of this
publication may be reproduced, copied,
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in any form, including electronic format,
without the prior consent of the publisher.
Opinions expressed in articles do not necessarily
reflect those of Polymedia Publisher.
bioplastics MAGAZINE welcomes contributions
for publication. Submissions are
accepted on the basis of full assignment
of copyright to Polymedia Publisher GmbH
unless otherwise agreed in advance and in
writing. We reserve the right to edit items
for reasons of space, clarity or legality.
Please contact the editorial office via
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The fact that product names may not be
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is not an indication that such names are
not registered trade marks.
bioplastics MAGAZINE tries to use British
spelling. However, in articles based on
information from the USA, American
spelling may also be used.
Envelopes
A part of this print run is mailed to the
readers wrapped bioplastic envelopes
sponsored by Taghleef Industries, Italy
Cover
Cove
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daily upated news at
www.bioplasticsmagazine.com
News
French President
Emmanuel Macron
promotes bioplastics
VivaTech is the world’s rendezvous for startups and
leaders to celebrate innovation. It’s a gathering of the
world’s brightest minds, talents, and products taking
place in Paris.
At this year's VivaTech, Emmanuel Macron, President
of the French Republic promoted bioplastics.
Listen to him in a videdoclip on bioplasticsnews.com.
For example at 00:48 he states "We will have to
stop with the old plastic industry..." And he goes on
"creating new kinds of plastics, 100% biobased, and
they are creating jobs..." MT
Info
See the video-clip at:
tinyurl.com/macron-bio
(Source: VivaTech)
Novamont’s Mater-Bi
confirmed to be
marine biodegradable
Studies commissioned by Italian bioplastics manufacturer
Novamont have demonstrated that the Mater-Bi family of
materials produced by the company will biodegrade in the
marine environment.
The studies, coordinated by Francesco Degli Innocenti,
head Product Ecology and Environmental Communication
at Novamont, covered three areas: intrinsic marine
biodegradability (Novamont laboratories), disintegration in
the marine environment (Hydra) and the released ecotoxicity
in sediments as a result of the biodegradation of fruit /
vegetable bags made of Mater-Bi (University of Siena).
The Mater-Bi materials were tested in accordance with the
requirements of UNI EN ISO 19679: 2018 (Plastic materials
- Determination of aerobic biodegradation of non-fluctuating
plastic materials in the interface of sea water / sandy sediment
- Method using carbon dioxide analysis).
It was shown that when exposed to marine microorganisms,
Mater-Bi behaves in the same way other cellulosic materials
do in terms of degree of degradation and timing. Taking
paper as the reference material, Mater-Bi achieved levels of
degradation that were essentially the same as paper, in a test
period of less than one year.
Importantly, it was also demonstrated that the speed
at which biodegradation occurs increases as the size of
the particles decreases. Hence, Mater-Bi will not release
persistent microplastics; particles this size are completely
degraded within 20-30 days, as required by the OECD
guidelines.
Yet, according to Francesco Degli Innocenti, even if
biodegradable, it is essential not to dispose of waste
‘irresponsibly whether on land or at sea’ as this nevertheless
poses a potential ecological risk. “The intrinsic biodegradability
of Mater-Bi products represents an ecological risk mitigation
factor that must not become a commercial message but a
further element of evaluation of the environmental profile of
biodegradable products,” he said. MT
www.novamont.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-20190620
Mitsui Chemicals unveils project for bio-PP production
(20 June 2019)
(...) The Mitsui Chemicals Group exhibited a concept it has developed
for a bio-polypropylene project, which the company is undertaking as
part of its efforts to achieve its sustainable development goals. (...)
The new production method being attempted for commercialization involves
the fermentation of various biomass types - mainly non-edible plants - to
produce isopropanol (IPA), which is then dehydrated to obtain propylene in a
first-of-its-kind IPA method.
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 5

News
daily upated news at
www.bioplasticsmagazine.com
Neste and LyondellBasell
start commercial-scale
production
Neste, Helsinki, Finland, the world’s largest producer
of renewable diesel from waste and residues, and
LyondellBasell, headquartered in Rotterdam, The
Netherlands, one of the largest plastics, chemicals
and refining companies in the world, jointly announced
in mid June the first parallel production of biobased
polypropylene and biobased low-density polyethylene at a
commercial scale.
The joint project used Neste’s renewable hydrocarbons
derived from sustainable biobased raw materials, such as
waste and residue oils. The project successfully produced
several thousand tonnes of biobased plastics which are
approved for the production of food packaging and being
marketed under Circulen and Circulen Plus, the new
family of LyondellBasell circular economy product brands.
“LyondellBasell has an innovative spirit that spans
decades, and an achievement like this showcases
concrete actions we are taking in support of a circular
economy,” said Richard Roudeix, LyondellBasell Senior
Vice President of Olefins and Polyolefins for Europe,
Asia and International. “Through the use of renewable
resources, we are contributing to the fight against
climate change and helping our customers achieve their
environmental targets.”
“We are excited to enable the plastics industry to
introduce more biobased material into its offering. It is
very satisfying to see Neste’s renewable hydrocarbons
performing perfectly in a commercial scale production
of biobased polymers, providing a drop-in replacement
option to fossil materials,” said Neste’s President and
CEO Peter Vanacker. “This pioneering collaboration
with LyondellBasell marks a major milestone in the
commercialization of Neste’s renewable polymers and
chemicals business focusing on developing renewable
and circular solutions for forward-looking sustainable
brands.”
An industry first
This achievement is extraordinary in that it combined
Neste’s unique renewable feedstock and LyondellBasell’s
technical capabilities. LyondellBasell’s cracker flexibility
allowed it to introduce a new renewable feedstock at its
Wesseling, Germany site, which was converted directly
into biobased polyethylene and biobased polypropylene.
An independent third party tested the polymer products
using carbon tracers and confirmed they contained over
30% renewable content.
LyondellBasell sold some of the renewable products
produced in the trial to multiple customers, one of which is
Cofresco, a company of the Melitta Group and with brands
like Toppits ® and Albal ® , Europe’s leading supplier of
branded products in the field of household film. Cofresco
plans to use the Circulen Plus biobased polyethylene to
create sustainable food packaging materials. MT
www.lyondellbasell.com | www.neste.com
Sucessful webinar
On March 14, 2019 the American Chemical Society
(ACS) broadcasted a live webinar with Ramani
Narayan (Michigan State University) on the topic:
"Is Biodegradability a Solution to Plastic Waste Pollution
in the Ocean and on Land?"
The webinar was really succesful, though the parralel
poll questions results show that there is still a lot of
confusion und misperceptions.
The feedback as well as some of the
remarks from the poll can be downloaded from
www.bioplasticsmagazine.de/201904
The complete webinar was recorded and can be
watched online at tinyurl.com/ACS-bioplastics
No biowaste to landfill
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) asks the UK
to bring forward a ban on biodegradable waste to landfill
to 2025 after a new report published by the Committee
revealed the UK to be ‘lagging far behind’ on efforts to
curb greenhouse gas emissions, a recommendation
that has split opinion within the waste industry.
Disposing of biodegradable waste in landfill is
undesirable because it produces methane, which is a
harmful greenhouse gas, and almost 70 % of emissions
from waste are caused by the anaerobic decomposition
of biodegradable waste in landfill.
tinyurl.com/no-bio-2-landfill
Low-cost Production
of PHA in Camelina
Yield10 Bioscience, Woburn, Massachussetts, USA,
an agricultural bioscience company that uses its
“Trait Factory” to develop high value seed traits for the
agriculture and food industries, recently announced that
the Company has filed a U.S. Patent application for new
technology enabling low-cost production of PHA-based
biomaterials in Camelina sativa, an oilseed crop.
In addition to its use as a biodegradable replacement
for petroleum plastics, the Company explains that
PHA-based biomaterials are of significant interest for
their use in water treatment to remove nitrogen and
phosphates.
The new Yield10 patent application describes a
discovery around maintaining the viability and vigor
of Camelina seed containing high levels of PHA
biopolymer. This is an important step toward realizing
a cost-effective, seed-based production platform for
the simplest member of the PHA family, PHB, using
Camelina.
www.yield10bio.com
6 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

News
Bio-on under attack
Bio-on SpA, (Bologna, Italy) listed in the AIM segment on the Italian Stock Exchange and active in the highquality biopolymers
market, declared on July 24th, that it totally denies the assertions published in a report of the American hedge fund
Quintessential Capital Management (QCM) that would attribute to Bio-On’s management incorrect behaviors and that the
Company is communicating false information to the market. Bio-on said it was considering legal action against the fund.
What has been published is subject to Bio-on’s and its lawyers’ evaluation for the purpose of its own protection against
potential price manipulations by hedge funds. It is underlined that the fund author of the report clearly declared an economic
interest in the Company stock price reduction, as reported in its disclaimer.
In the report, published on July 17th [1] QCM said it was faced with a reality where sales, fixed assets and receivables form a
house of cards consisting of a series of shell companies and an uneconomical, tiny plant. QCM called Bio-On “a massive bubble
based on flawed technology and fictitious sales thanks to a network of empty shell companies.”
In a second press release Bio-on responded that its proprietary PHA production plant, located in Castel San Pietro Terme
(BO), with an annual capacity of 1,000 t/y, is fully operative and active in PHA production.
The production plant of Bio-on S.p.A. is central to the Company's business to create a new standard in the PHA production,
proved on industrial scale, and accelerating PHA spread in the biopolymers market. On the Company's website, since 17
July 2019 a video [2] is available that traces the construction phases of the plant and shows the current production. The
production achieved so far has been used for the time being by the Company for the production of solar products within the
joint venture Aldia S.p.A. in partnership with Unilever and furniture within the partnership with Kartell S.p.A., already on sale
on the market (cf. bM 03/2019). Bio-on’s production plant has been visited over the last few months by multiple public, financial
and industrial players, to whom the full operation of the same was shown. Bio-on also stated to have approved on 30 April
2019 its financial statements as at 31 December 2018, also containing data and information on the joint ventures set up by the
Company in 2018 with partners of primary international standing, published on the same date on the Company's website. The
financial statements have been certified by the auditing company E&Y, who issued a report without comments published on the
Company's website: the documents, together with the report of the Board of Statutory Auditors, are published in the Investor
Relations section. MT
Find a more comprehensive statement of Bio-on at [3].
[1] Bio-on S.p.A.: Trouble in Bologna? Equity Report by Quintessential Capital Management (2019) tinyurl.com/qcm-bio-on
[2] https://youtu.be/xejB76TR3ws
[3] www.bioplasticsmagazine.de/201904
CB² adds North Dakota State University Site
North Dakota State University has been awarded a National
Science Foundation grant to become a university site of the
Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites (CB 2 ). The CB 2
Center is part of NSF’s Industry–University Cooperative
Research Centers (I/UCRC)
program and NDSU will receive
an initial award of $150,000 to
set up the site followed by an
expected additional $150,000 in
2020.
NDSU joins current CB 2
sites at Iowa State University,
Washington State University,
and the University of Georgia.
NDSU was selected based upon
the institution’s long history of
sustainable materials research
and the strength of industry
partnerships. In addition, the CB 2 Industry Advisory Board
(IAB) has named NDSU as the lead site given that CB 2
founder and director and NDSU engineering professor
David Grewell recently moved from Iowa State University
to NDSU. Grewell currently serves as chair of the NDSU
Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering.
Dean Webster, NDSU professor and chair of Coatings and
Polymeric Materials at NDSU, will serve as the Fargo site
director.
“The work these centers are
doing is taking the traditional
biodegradable products
development to the next step,”
commented Grewell. “Our
researchers are creating
methods of building long term
sustainable products that are
co-products of agricultural
processes, woody materials
as well as other bio-based
Dean Webster and David Grewell
feedstocks.” Examples of some
of the sustainable products already
developed include air conditioning unit components and
seed pots previously made of traditional plastics. MT
www.cb2.iastate.edu
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 7

Events
Bioplastics Business Breakfast
At the World’s biggest trade show on plastics and rubber:
K 2019 in Düsseldorf, Germany, bioplastics will certainly play
an important role again.
During the show, from October 17-20, bioplastics MAGAZINE
will once again be hosting its Bioplastics Business Breakfast
sessions. From 8:00 am to 12:30 pm, delegates will have the
opportunity to listen to and discuss in-depth presentations
and benefit from a unique networking experience. The trade
fair opens at 10 am. Register soon to reserve your seat.
Admission starts at EUR 349.00. The conference fee includes
a free ticket for K 2019 as well as free public transportation
in the greater Düsseldorf area (except taxi).
This preliminary programme will be constantly updated. Please visit the website.
www.bioplastics-breakfast.com
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Welcome remarks
Michael Thielen, bioplastics MAGAZINE
Harald Kaeb, narocon
Biobased Plastic Packaging in Europe - Update & Outlook
Caroli Buitenhuis, Green Serendipity
Future of biobased packaging
Michael Schiele, Mold-Masters Europe
Bio-Resin Hot Runner Applications – extensive analysis, processing
experience and evaluation
Daniel Ganz, Sukano
All you need to know to successfully run PBS
Francois de Bie, Total Corbion PLA
t.b.d.
Marie-Hélène Gramatikoff, Lactips
A competitive and 100% biobased technology
Patrick Zimmermann, FKuR (t.b.c.)
Re-thinking the status-quo – plastics in the circular economy (t.b.c.)
Due to summer holidays we wait for confirmation of NatureWorks, BASF, Taghleef, Bio4pack, Futamura, Braskem, Biotec and others.
Friday, October 18, 2019
Welcome remarks
Michael Thielen, bioplastics MAGAZINE
Marilys Mazeres, Carbiolice
New enzymated technology Evanesto, that make PLA fully compostable
Thomas Unger, Leistritz
Direct extrusion and Compounding of Biopolymers
Daniel Ganz, Sukano
Advances in PLA modification via additives masterbatches
Lorena García, ADBio Composites
Advanced biomaterials for packaging applications
Hugo Vuurens, Total Corbion PLA
t.b.d.
Patrick Zimmermann, FKuR (t.b.c.)
t.b.d.
Caine Folkes-Miller, Floreon
t.b.d.
Michael Carus, nova Institute
The role of PLA in the Bio-based Economy
Due to summer holidays we wait for confirmation of NatureWorks, Taghleef and others.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Welcome remarks
Michael Thielen, bioplastics MAGAZINE
Alejandra de Noren , Neste
Circular drop-in solutions for durable applications
Asta Partanen, nova-Institute
Biocomposites
Julian Truchot , GCR Group
new mineral masterbatch solution for biopolymers (t.b.c.)
N.N. (t.b.d.), Mitubishi Chemical
Durabio - engineering bioplastics (t.b.c.)
Harald Ruhland, Ricone
From engineering to technical application - successful development
of a bio-based technical product
N.N. (t.b.d.), Arkema
Latest developments in castor oil based polyamides
Stephane Wohlgemuth, DSM
EcoPAXX biobased Polyamides
N.N. (t.b.d.), Tecnaro
t.b.d.
Due to summer holidays we wait for confirmation of Braskem, Scion, Evonik and others.
As a novelty, based on the great success of the first PHA platform World Congress 2018, we have added a fourth day to the
programme. This new PHA-day is co-organized by GO!PHA, the Global Organization for PHA.
The programme is in preparation and will be updated soon.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
These general topics will be addressed during the PHA day:
Legislative matters in relation to PHA-polymers
Applications and application developments with PHA-polymers
Status, projects and activities of GO!PHA
Plans and timelines for industrial manufacturing of PHA-polymers
Subject to changes
8 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

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At the World‘s biggest trade show
on plastics and rubber: K‘2019 in
Düsseldorf, Germany, bioplastics
will certainly play an important role
again. On four days during the show
bioplastics MAGAZINE will host a
Bioplastics Business Breakfast:
From 8am to 12pm the delegates
will enjoy highclass presentations
and unique networking opportunity.
The trade fair opens at 10 am.

Cover Story
1 st PHA water bottle
Cove is bringing about the future of packaging
One million plastic bottles are sold every minute. We eat
a credit card’s worth of plastic each year. The effect of
synthetic plastics on human health is still unknown
but has already been linked to disease in corals. Mounting
evidence suggests that human ingestion of plastic may be
a crisis in its own right, along with the more widely known
plastic pollution crisis that is devastating our environment.
It is in that context that Cove was started.
In 2017, Cove’s founder and CEO Alex Totterman noticed
that as clamor around plastic pollution grew, so too
did the size of the bottled water market. Evidently, any
societal pushback to the prevalence of single-use plastic
was not translating to lower sales figures for the industry.
Totterman started working with product designer Matthew
White to provide an alternative with the same form factor,
rather than trying to modify human behavior. The goal was
to develop a water bottle that could both exist on shelves
and cease to exist in nature.
Unsurprisingly, doing so presented serious challenges.
Though efforts began in 2017, it took a sizable amount
of research and development work to get to where Cove
is today with launch slated for the end of 2019. Some
approaches were less promising than others. At first Cove
worked with pulp- or paper-based bodies with impermeable
liners, but ultimately could not dispel the reality that many
biodegradable liners would do a poor job of acting as a
barrier for months on shelves — an obvious requirement if
one is to successfully replace plastic water bottles.
Through elimination, it became clear that the natural
material to work with was PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoate),
a microorganism-derived biodegradable material that
has been part of the metabolism in plants, animals, and
humans for thousands of years. PHA is not just natural — it
can be made using food waste or carbon gases. After-use
value chains for several waste streams are being created
this way, contributing to the circular economy. Purchasing
greenhouse gases to make PHA provides crucial economic
support for carbon capture technologies. As a result, using
this material helps address plastic pollution and also the
carbon footprint and unsustainability of packaging overall.
However, using PHA is easier said than done. PHA is a
natural material category rather than a single product
(cf. p. 23) . So PHA has many forms, many suppliers, and
many different properties. Though we cannot speak to the
specific processes we have developed, it is no secret that
PHA — in all its forms — is temperamental and pricier
than traditional plastic resins. Not only does Cove need to
accept the heightened material cost, it also needs to accept
the adaptations necessary to work around its property
profiles, which entails processes that themselves constitute
additional costs.
As a mission-oriented startup, Cove is not put off by these
barriers in the way that established Consumer Packaged
Goods (CPG) companies may be. Cove’s mission is to help
trigger a revolution in single-use packaging and change
comes with growing pains. In a context where profit-seeking
is the primary consideration, those costs are harder to
justify.
The goal has not been to integrate the production of
biodegradable water bottles with massive and existing
supply chains, but to prove that it is possible to successfully
manufacture and scale such a product. While the latter is
by definition a precursor to the former, it is something that
CPG companies are less driven to pursue.
This is not to say that CPG companies do not care about
anything except the bottom line. A number of industryleading
giants have made substantial commitments
to sustainability, and we have met with many in those
organizations who genuinely care about righting the ship,
primarily through recycling and post-consumer recyclate
(PCR) initiatives. But when it comes to driving genuine
innovation, they seem content taking a backseat.
“There is a lot of power to an underdog organization
with a single purpose, and Cove’s focus has allowed it to
spearhead development all the while working aggressively
on marketing, retail partners, and distribution” says Ben
Kogan, Chief Sustainability Officer at Cove, “but ultimately
the greatest positive impact on packaging sustainability
will be felt when industry giants work with us.” With launch
slated for the end of 2019 in Los Angeles, California, Cove is
ready to engender a shift in the way consumers think about
and interact with single-use plastic packaging. If a PHA
water bottle is possible, then what isn’t?
Jan Ravenstijn, Chief Science Advisor for Cove and
globally-renowned expert on PHA, says that the present
limitations of PHA are a representation of insufficient
investment in this material, not inherent, inalterable
features: “Cove’s launch draws attention, and thus money,
to the PHA industry. This is crucial, because with further
investment and R&D, PHA resins could compete with
plastic resins on cost, and there are few products that
currently use plastic that could not be replaced with PHA
materials. While PHA materials cannot fully substitute any
of the traditional fossil-based polymer families, they can
partly substitute most of them, so the accessible market
10 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Blow moulding
for PHA materials is massive. Depending on the type and
grade they can be used for injection molding, extrusion,
thermoforming, foam, non-wovens, fibers, 3D-printing,
paper and fertilizer coating, glues, adhesives, as additives
for reinforcement or plasticization or as building blocks
for thermosets in paints and foams. The material is
bioresorbable, so it is already being used in medical
applications such as sutures and wound closures. In
the early days of PHA commercialization, PHA materials
are best applied to one-time use applications that will
inevitably or by improper waste management end up
in the environment, e.g. water bottles, microbeads in
cosmetic products, or drinking straws. Biodegradation of
PHA materials in all environments (compost, soil, water)
is comparable to or faster than cellulose (i.e. paper).”
Cove has secured investment from some of the most
notable backers in CPG, including business leader and
philanthropist Marc Benioff, author and entrepreneur
Tony Robbins, Bebo co-founder Michael Birch, Incite.org,
and the founders of Casper, Nest, The Honest Company,
Dollar Shave Club, and RXBar. MT
https://drinkcove.com
Join us at the
14th European Bioplastics
Conference
The leading business forum for the
bioplastics industry
3/4 December 2019
Titanic Chaussee Hotel
Berlin, Germany
REGISTER
NOW!
@EUBioplastics #eubpconf
www.european-bioplastics.org/events
For more information email:
conference@european-bioplastics.org
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 11

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NOW!
Bookstore
BOOK
STORE
www.bioplasticsmagazine.com/en/books
email: books@bioplasticsmagazine.com
phone: +49 2161 6884463
12 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Bottles / Blow moulding
Demonstrating
Closed Plastic Loop at K’2019
Braskem, Kautex Maschinenbau and Erema
following the idea of Circular Economy
At K 2019, Braskem will provide Kautex
Maschinenbau with its innovative bioplastic
I’m green Polyethylene and PCR
for the production of three layer HDPE bottles
with foamed middle layer. The result will be a
bottle, in which the processed virgin and PCR
material, has a drastically reduced CO 2
footprint
in comparison to conventional products.
Instead of handing them out to visitors and
finally producing “waste”, the bottles will be
handed over to Erema for recycling. With this
initiative the three companies will demonstrate
their responsibility to participate in the circular
economy by helping to achieve future goals
with environmentally friendly solutions.
EREMA
Production of PCR
Kautex Maschinenbau, belongs to the world’s
leading manufacturers of extrusion blow moulding machines.
Their customers include major automobile manufacturers
and suppliers, as well as companies working in the packaging
industry. Their machines process thermoplastics which are
completely recyclable. Kautex’s efforts towards contributing
to the success of the Circular Economy comes from the
company’s understanding of their responsibility to promote
the recycling of plastics, and to work with partners to
optimize material cycles. The further development of the use
of recycled materials plays an important role for the company.
“We regard the promotion of plastics recycling and working
with our partners to optimize material cycles as an important
responsibility of our company”, explains Managing Partner
Andreas Lichtenauer.
Kautex Maschinenbau decided to process the Braskem
material solution due to a better processability, less odour
development and because they could offer their PCR
and renewable material in a more sustainable way than
conventional solutions, which is in line with their Circular
Economy commitment. The raw material which is used for
the demo bottles is derived from sugarcane, and the PCR
material comes from already recycled material. By using
Braskem’s technology, Kautex will significantly reduce the
carbon footprint of those bottles as well as the use of fossil
resources. For every kg of I’m green Polyethylene used more
than 5 kg of CO 2
is saved. In addition, the material usage is
reduced by the use of foam technology and thus an additional
optimization of the CO 2
footprint is achieved.
By joining forces with Erema, who will also be present at
K 2019, the loop will be fully closed as they will showcase
solutions for every single step within the plastics recycling
process. This includes recycling technologies as well as
software tools, and engineering and integration services
for plastics recycling projects. Kautex’s bottles made of
5
100% Recycling of
bottles at the EREMA
CIRCONOMIC CENTRE
KAUTEX
Production of sustainable bottles
4 Processing sustainable raw material
Reduction of processed material
Reduction of energy during production
Reduction of waste
5
4
1
Braskem’s material will be collected by Erema and fully
recycled in order to avoid any waste; showcasing the true
objective of the Circular Economy.
At the Erema Circonomic Centre (outdoor area between hall
11 and 15) very tangible lighthouse projects will be displayed.
The name Circonomic Centre, a word composed of circular”
and economics, refers to integrating recycling know-how
into the plastics value chain providing both, economic and
ecological benefits.
Recycling will be demonstrated in several liveperformances,
processing different plastic input material.
In total more than 30 tons will be recycled during K-2019,
including HDPE-bottles produced by Kautex.
According to Kautex’s exhibition motto “Creating Change
Together” the German blow moulding machine manufacturer
will collaborate with Braskem, the leading producer of
biopolymers in the world, who strives with “Passion for
Transforming”. Erema, the global market leader in the
development and production of plastics recycling machines,
offers its customers not only technologies and components
but also consulting, engineering and planning services, as
well as the expertise and dedication of its employees. All of
these are success factors contributing to the performance of
the customers, which is why Erema Group appears at K2019
under the motto “Seeds for your performance”. MT
www.kautex-group.com
www.braskem.com
www.erema.com
K’2019, the world’s leading trade fair for the plastics and rubber
industry, will be held in Düsseldorf, Germany from Oct. 16 to 23.
In the next issue bioplastics MAGAZINE will offer a comprehensive show
preview with show-guide and floorplan.
3
2
BRASKEM
Production of
sustainable raw material
1 Sugarcane captures CO 2
2
3
Production of ethanol
and renewable energy
Production of Green
Polyethylene & PCR
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 13

10 Automotive Years ago
10
Years ago
Published in
bioplastics
MAGAZINE
Green Bottles
at Capitol Hill
Naturally Iowa, a publicly-traded company from Clar
Iowa, USA is one innovative company taking advantag
these positive trends. Naturally Iowa was the world’s
beverage company to use PLA bio-packaging exclusi
for its organic and natural dairy products (bM 02/2007).
company’s new Green Bottle TM Spring Water, made w
water that recently won the world bottled water tast
competition, is made with PLA bio-packaging (bM 06/200
Bottle Applications
Article contributed by Clark Driftmier,
President of Fairhaven Strategy Group,
Boulder, Colorado, USA
T
Company founder and CEO Bill Horner, a farmer a
agricultural entrepreneur, has been successful securin
BioPreferred vendor status and subsequently gainin
distribution with several governmental agencies, includin
USDA and the US Capitol. Green Bottle Spring Water i
now the exclusive bottled water supplier to the ‘Green the
Capitol‘ initiative, is served to Congressional representatives
and staff in House offices, and can also be found in the
commissaries at USDA headquarters in Washington DC.
Green Bottle Spring Water was also featured recently at the
GSA Expo 2009 and was the exclusive bottled water provider
for the Expo.
Bill Horner sees several important initiatives as he builds
the business for Green Bottle Spring Water. According
to Horner, “Our business for Green Bottle Spring Water
will grow as we expand into a greater number of venues
where consumers are oriented in favor of environmentally
responsible products that also have superior taste. It’s also
important that disposal and ‘end of life’ issues are resolved,
which for traditional PET packaging presents a major hurdle.
As many are aware, there is a significant backlash against
PET or PC packaging, both for the disposal and waste issues
and also due to increasing concerns about the potentially
harmful health impacts of BPA (in the case of polycarbonate
water bottles). Bio-packaging offers an excellent solution
and is the environmentally responsible packaging for
bottled water and many other products.” Horner continued,
“Fortunately for us, the governmental agencies and food
service providers that we have contacted have shown an
understanding of these issues and a strong desire to create
greener options for their agencies and staff.”
Horner noted several important trends which will drive
Green Bottles
at Capitol H
he first decade of the 21 st century has
witnessed a steady growth and evolution
in consumer interest in products
with demonstrated ‘green‘ benefits.
This trend toward environmental responsibility
has also influenced governmental
policy-making in the United States. For
example, at the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, the BioPreferred Vendor program
(bM 02/2006) gives preferential vendor status
to those organizations and products which fulfill
the requirements of the program. A good measure of the
growth of the BioPreferred program was the recent GSA Expo 2009
in San Antonio, where over 8,000 government purchasing directors
and agents met with BioPreferred and other government vendors.
The BioPreferred products were among the most popular and wellreceived
items at the show.
Another positive development at the Federal level is the new ‘Green
the Capitol‘ initiative which is a broad program to bring mainstream
environmental responsibility to government, specifically to the U.S.
Capitol building and the many offices of the House of Representatives.
Recycling stations have been placed everywhere. Café’s and food
service venues serve bottled water in bio-packaging. There is even
a composting program for food waste, bio-packaging and other
compostables. This program, under the direction of Perry Plumart, is
growing rapidly and will expand into other areas of Capitol operations
over the next several years.
the growth in sales of products using bio-packaging.
tinyurl.com/bottle-2009
20 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/09] Vol. 4
14 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Blow Automotive Moulding
Bottle Applications
inda,
e of
first
vely
The
ith
ing
8).
nd
g
g
g
s
“Governmental interest will continue to grow rapidly,” said
Horner. “I believe that there will be a rapid acceleration of
bio-plastics adoption by governmental agencies, and they
will use the BioPreferred program to help demonstrate
a positive commitment to environmental stewardship. As
a result, this support will significantly reduce the use of
petroleum-based plastics for foods and other products sold
at these agencies. City governments will also adopt similar
policies, as evidenced by the recent actions in San Francisco
and other U.S. municipalities to restrict or even prohibit
the use of PET bottles. There will also be an increased
push in school systems, especially at the Primary level, to
reduce or restrict the use of PET bottles for environmental
reasons. The alternative, beverages and other foods using
bio-plastics, will see greater acceptance and adoption by the
food service providers who work with school systems and
other institutions.”
Looking to the future, Horner was sanguine about the
prospects for bio-packaging. “When I founded Naturally
Iowa” said Horner, “the company based its mission on the
benefits of bio-packaging and committed ourselves fully
to environmental responsibility. Starting with our dairy
products, and continuing with Green Bottle Spring Water,
every product we have introduced has shown both the promise
and the practicality of bio-packaging. Other companies have
followed a similar path, and I’m very encouraged by what
I now see in the stores, in food service and institutional
sales. From bottled water to trash bags to shampoo to baby
spinach, products with bio-plastic packaging are growing in
both breadth and depth. The next five years will be a period
of significant growth for our industry. We plan for Naturally
Iowa and Green Bottle Spring Water to fully participate in
this growth. We will continue to be a good partner in the
promotion of bio-plastics as the best, most environmentallybeneficial
way to package products.”
www.naturallyiowa.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/09] Vol. 4 21
“We won’t
give up!”
In July 2019
William Horner,
now CEO of Totally
Green Bottles and
Caps LLC (Red
Oak, Iowa) said:
The “Green the
Capitol” Initiative
mentioned in that
2009 article ended
with the 2012 National
Election and the new
majority in the House
of Representatives.
More or less at the
same time Totally Green
made the decision
to withdraw from the
marketplace, at least
temporarily. The reason
was simply because
we couldn’t offer a
completely compostable
bottle, due to the missing
compostable components,
the closure and the label.
Nevertheless, under
the name Totally Green Bottles and Caps (TGBC) we
continued our efforts to eventually reach the goal. Closure
molds were developed to conduct trials for the creation
of a compostable closure for TGBC’s bottles. Tests with
bottles and caps performed by a US laboratory in 2013
confirmed that they met basically the ASTM D6400-04
specifications for compostability.
Not everything went smoothly. So, trials with several
co-packers revealed capping issues with some bottling
lines, which did not pass our high bar for standardization
of the product.
After another few years of research and development
with ups and downs in 2017 TGBC’s bottles, caps, and
labels were ready for an International Testing Laboratory
(OWS) to confirm previous test results and added the label
to the testing protocol. Test results in 2018, concluded
that, in addition to biodegradation the TGBC products
fulfilled the requirements on volatile solids, heavy metals
(Photo: Cheng Chang, iStockphoto)
and fluorine, as defined by ASTM D6400 (2012), CAN/BNQ
0017-088, EN13432 (2000) and ISO 17088(2012).
Last year finally, a truckload of bottled water was
delivered to a closed-loop/ zero waste outdoor event
customer in New York City with great success.
In many parts of the world we have now identified
Distributors, who were briefed on the product line’s
strengths and potential weaknesses, based upon previous
trials in the USA. These Distributors received samples
preforms, caps, and labels for further testing with all
types of bottling lines (blow moulding, filling, capping).
Exclusive Distributors in various countries monitored
each trial to record the strengths and weaknesses of
the preforms, caps, and labels under a wide range of
conditions – with mixed results. Case by case those few
cases where product and equipment did not function
properly were identified and - with the assistance of the
bottlers and Distributors - the necessary points have been
addressed and solved.
And we are going further. Together with the Distributors
twelve proof of concept locations are being identified to
begin operations in 2020. A very important decision was,
that only closed-loop sites, such as campuses, stadiums,
festivals, hospitals, cruise-boats etc, would be selected
so that virtually all empty water bottles could be collected,
and placed together with food scraps for pick-up by an
industrial composter. If no industrial composter is available
TGBC can offer a so called “Bottle Model Digester”. This
machine not only will handle TGBC’s empty bottles, it will
save food services money while relieving the pressure on
landfills that are in short supply world-wide. The digester
grinds the labelled bottles and caps, and then, combined
with the food scraps to quickly processes an effluent for
irrigation, fertilizer, for landscapes around the facility, or
it can be directed to the sewage system within the closedloop
facility. The digester runs continuously, and the cycle
for conversion is approximately 24-48 hours.
The last ten years of research and development since
publication of the referred to article - or even better the
last 15 years since Naturally Iowa started to develop the
first compostable PLA milk bottle (cf. bM 02/2007) have
offered important lessons for the TGBC staff. Perhaps the
most important element for success was the identification
of trustworthy, patient, highly skilled individuals who
believed that there is a solution to the replacement of
petroleum-based bottles with plant-based bottles. That
solution, however, is not as easy as it might appear to
many who would like to undertake it. But we don’t give up
and stay on it. Sure and steady wins the day.

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16 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Application News
Boulder Clean now using bio-PE
Since June 2019, Boulder Clean, producer of impressively powerful plant based cleaning products from Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, USA offers its 30oz. laundry detergent container made from Braskem’s biobased Polyethylene to deliver improved
sustainability and reduce its overall carbon footprint.
Steve Savage, CEO of 1908 Brands and Boulder Clean commented, “We
are elated to partner with Braskem and take advantage of their bioplastic
innovation to improve the sustainability of our Boulder Clean packaging. With
the integration of carbon negative bioplastic into our latest laundry detergent
container, we are taking bold action to help ensure our naturally clean products
are safer for our homes and our planet.”
The new, more sustainable Boulder Clean laundry container is fully recyclable
through traditional post-consumer recycling channels and will be available
for purchase at over 50 Costco Wholesale locations in Southern California,
Arizona, Utah and Colorado. MT
www.boulderclean.com | www.braskem.com/Principal/circulareconomy
Biodegradable tennis-dress
In early July Adidas (Herzogenaurach, Germany)
announced that it would make strides in the continued
drive to solve the problem of product waste with the
introduction of two new apparel innovations within adidas
by Stella McCartney – in addition to
a recyclable hoodie a tennis dress
created with Microsilk and cellulose
blended yarn.
With the world producing an estimated
92 million tonnes of textile waste every
year, adidas by Stella McCartney and
partners are helping turn this problem
into a more sustainable design solution.
The new eco-conscious tennis dress
was developed as part of adidas’
open source approach to creation in
collaboration with Bolt Threads.
adidas by Stella McCartney Biofabric
Tennis Dress is a prototype concept
incubated in partnership with Bolt
Threads, a company that specialises
in bioengineered sustainable materials
and fibres. The tennis dress is the first
of its kind, made with cellulose blended
yarn and Microsilk, a protein-based
material that is made with renewable
ingredients, like water, sugar, and yeast
and has the ability to fully biodegrade at
the end of its life.
The inspiration behind the products
is simple, create product that not only
performs for the athlete, but also for the
world at large. To realise this ambition,
adidas is exploring ways to minimise waste via three focus
areas, one of which is:
Made to Biodegrade is the future-gazing ambition to
create a bionic loop where products have the capability of
adidas by Stella McCartney Biofabric
Tennis Dress - Garbine Muguruza
being completely biodegradable and return to the natural
ecosystem. Using materials developed from natural
resources or made from cells and proteins in a lab, as seen
with the adidas by Stella McCartney Biofabric Tennis Dress
concept, adidas has demonstrated the
possibility to create products using
materials that are made with nature,
and is a step in the brand’s journey to
explore innovative solutions that can, at
some point, also return to nature.
James Carnes, Vice President of
Strategy Creation at adidas, said:
“Creating products with upcycled
plastic waste was our first step. The
next challenge is to end the concept
of waste entirely. Focusing on three
core areas, we will explore ways to
create products that can either be fully
recyclable or biodegradable. We don’t
have all the answers and we know we
can’t do it alone. By collaborating with
partners who share our same vision, as
we’ve done with Evrnu and Bolt Threads,
we can combine adidas’ sports industry
expertise with specialist knowledge to
bring about a waste-free world.”
Stella McCartney, said:
“Fashion is one of the most harmful
industries to the environment. We can’t
wait any longer to search for answers
and alternatives. By creating a truly
open approach to solving the problem of
textile waste, we can help empower the industry at large to
bring more sustainable practices into reality. With adidas
by Stella McCartney we’re creating high performance
products that also safeguard the future of the planet.” MT
www.adidas.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 17

Application News
Cosmetics line for sun protection
Since mid-July MyKAI, the Ocean-Friendly cosmetics
line created out of the alliance between Bio-on (Bologna,
Italy) and Unilever is available at NORTH SAILS stores.
Mykai sun protection products contain no microplastics
and their formulation is enriched with an “oceanfriendly”
system made from 100% mineral filters and
a powerful SPF (Sun Protection Factor) booster.
Mykai sunscreen lotion is available in
three face and body types: SPF 15,
SPF 30 and SPF 50, which protect the
skin from UVB rays, responsible for
sunburn, and UVA rays, associated
with long-term sun damage.
Mykai’s SPF booster is made
from the revolutionary MinervPHB
RIVIERA polymer micro powder made
by Bio-on, which also enables fewer
filters to be used whilst guaranteeing
the same level of protection. The
biopolymer synthesized by Bio-on
is 100% natural, 100% biodegradable, 100%
biocompatible, Cosmos and Natrue certified and GMO
free. Mykai sun protection products are also a pleasure to
use, thanks to their light texture and summer fragrance
for an exclusive sensory experience that leaves no
residue.
“The future of our seas and oceans depends on us, on
the choices made by individuals and businesses,” says
Bio-on Chairman and CEO Marco Astorri. “We are extremely
pleased that North Sails too has chosen Mykai. Their decision
shows just how focused on the environment and innovation the
North Sails brand has always been.”
“North Sails is the perfect home for Mykai,” adds Elisa Riva,
Head of Marketing North Sails. “Our love of the
ocean drives us to take concrete action to
save our seas. It isn’t too late. That’s why
we offer ocean-friendly alternatives in
our stores to raise consumer awareness
and offer products that meet the new
market demand, especially from younger
people.”
The new Mykai brand is designed to
safeguard the seas and oceans and
references the Hawaiian terms Kai (sea)
and Makai (to the ocean). It is inspired
by the principles of Hawaii, one of the
countries at the cutting edge in marine
ecosystem protection and where Bio-on
began its work in the early days. The Mykai launch is
part of Bio-On’s “Cosmetics save the ocean” project, backed
up by the company’s major research and development, which
aims to help solve the serious problem of oceanic pollution,
to safeguard the environment and come up with new ways of
making cosmetics more sustainably. MT
www.my-kai.com | www.bio-on.it
Vegware adds a new branch to their
Green Tree collection – sandwich boxes
Vegware, Edinburgh, Scotland, a manufacturer and
visionary brand, the global specialist in plant-based
compostable foodservice packaging, recently announced
their Green Tree sandwich wedges and boxes are perfect
for hearty meals and sarnies on the go. A crisp white
design with on-pack eco-based messaging intertwined
within a Green Tree motif. A clear identifier of a sustainable
product.
These premium boxes are made from sustainably
sourced board and fully lined with renewable, plant-based
PLA to keep sandwiches fresh for longer. The clear PLA
front window and leaf-shaped cut-outs on the side offer
extra visibility. A simple design for easy assembly. The
boxes are top loading and the wedges front-load with a side
closure.
Pair with soup containers, napkins and hot & cold cups
from the eye-catching Green Tree collection for a stylish
combo meal that provides a unified look.MT
www.vegware.com
18 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Industrial Solutions for Polymer Plants
Polylactide Technology
Uhde Inventa Fischer Polycondensation Technologies has expanded its product portfolio to
include the innovative state-of-the-art PLAneo ® process for a sustainable polymer. The
feedstock for our PLA process is lactic acid, which can be produced from local agricultural
products containing starch or sugar. The application range of PLA is similar to that of polymers
based on fossil resources as its physical properties can be tailored to meet packaging, textile
and other requirements. www.uhde-inventa-fischer.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 19

Applications
New splint for bone fractures
Shapeable, reshapeable and compostable
A
novel splint for immobilizing bone fractures has been
developed that can be repeatedly reshaped during
treatment, such as, for example, when the swelling
subsides. This is made possible through the use of the
biobased plastic PLA. After use, the splint can be composted.
The bioplastic formulation was developed for the new
product by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer
Research IAP (Potsdam, Germany). The innovative splint,
called RECAST, was developed by injection molder Nölle
Kunststofftechnik GmbH, based in Meschede, Germany.
In Germany alone, up to 1.5 million fractures have to be
immobilized every year. In addition, there are probably two to
four times as many immobilizations for other reasons - such as
infections, strains or sprains- which go unrecorded. Conventional
immobilization methods are usually uncomfortable, heavy,
prone to odours, complicated to apply or energy intensive. Their
shape cannot be adapted as the healing process progresses,
nor are they biodegradable. As a result, they are responsible for
producing up to 150 tonnes of waste per year.
The RECAST immobilisation concept
Nölle Kunststofftechnik has therefore developed a new
immobilisation concept, called RECAST, which makes use
of variously sized preshaped splints made from biobased
and biodegradable PLA. The splints are heated to between
55 and 65 °C. The temperature of the splints is then reduced
to a minimum. The now formable plastic is molded to fit the
corresponding part of the body. This process takes about
five minutes. If corrections are necessary, the hardened
splint can simply be reheated.
“We wanted to find a way for users in medical practices
and hospitals to care for their patients more quickly, cleanly
and, above all, on a more individual basis. For patients, we
wanted to create a splint that would be significantly more
comfortable and lighter,” explains Anselm Gröning, Managing
Director of Nölle Kunststofftechnik GmbH. “At the same time,
it was important for us to use a plastic that avoids waste, is
biodegradable, affordable and non-toxic,” says Gröning.
Material development with PLA - from
disadvantage to advantage
The plastics processor worked closely with the polymer
developers at the Fraunhofer IAP in Potsdam-Golm on the
development of the optimum material. “The requirements
that the material had to meet were complex. For example,
it had to remain formable for only a half to three minutes
and then become hard and stable at body temperature.
It also had to be possible to readjust the shape several
times,” explained Helmut Remde, head of the Processing
Technology Center at the Fraunhofer IAP.
The research team decided to use PLA as a base polymer, a
bioplastic that has a major disadvantage for most applications: It
becomes soft at around 58 °C. “The low thermal softening point
of PLA is a great advantage when used as an orthopaedic splint.
This means that the product can be shaped repeatedly and
quickly by heating,” says Remde. The Fraunhofer researchers
combined PLA with suitable fillers and developed a formulation
that met all the requirements. In addition, they ensured that the
material could also be produced in industry-relevant quantities.
Biodegradable PLA reduces plastic waste
The use of PLA has another decisive benefit: it is
biodegradable. While the majority of common immobilising
solutions generate large amounts of plastic waste, which
is incinerated and disposed of in landfills, RECAST splints
can be biologically degraded in industrial composters. “In
this way, around 80 % of waste could be avoided. 20 % of the
plastic waste could also be saved through the possibility of
reuse alone,” explains Gröning. At present, however, this
composting would only work when used in doctors’ surgeries
or privately via the organic waste bin. Hospitals have their
own waste concepts that do not provide for composting.
In order to make the splint even more comfortable for patients,
RECAST products also feature a fleece padding made of PLA
and viscose, which was developed jointly with the Saxon Textile
Research Institute in Chemnitz. This, too, is biodegradable.
www.skz.de
Preformed splints made of biobased and biodegradable plastic
PLA simplify the treatment of bone fractures and protect the
environment. (Nölle Kunststofftechnik GmbH, Foto: ZENITH
Werbung und Fotografie GmbH u. Co. KG)
The PLA splint can be individually adapted for each patient (Nölle
Kunststofftechnik GmbH, Foto: ZENITH Werbung und Fotografie
GmbH u. Co. KG)
20 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Automotive
Drive Innovation
Become a Member
Join university researchers and industry members
to push the boundaries of renewable resources
and establish new processes and products.
2
CB Impacts
$2 million
in research
39 funded
projects
36 Postdocs,
undergrad & grad
students trained
49 total
Industry
Members
www.cb2.iastate.edu
See us at K 2019
October 16-23, 2019
Düsseldorf, Germany
Hall 5, Booth C07-1
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 21

Machinery
Biodegradable blown film
in West Africa
Manufacturer in Benin switches from polyethylene-based to
biodegradable products with help from Coperion
Coperion (Stuttgart, Germany) has enabled Benin
(West Africa)-based blown film manufacturer Asahel
Benin Sarl. to produce sustainable, biobased plastic
films in the future by delivering a complete compounding
system and sharing the corresponding process engineering
expertise. Before plastic bags and packaging were banned
in Benin in July of 2018, this west African manufacturer had
made its plastic films using polyethylene (PE). The new law
forced the company to completely convert its production.
Following a successful test and training phase at Coperion’s
Stuttgart test lab, Asahel Benin will produce biodegradable
compounds in its home country with the aid of a ZSK twin
screw extruder and will then further process these on its
existing blown film machinery into biodegradable bags and
packaging materials.
Importation, production, sale, and possession of
petroleum-based plastic bags and packaging has been
forbidden in Benin since 2018. Until then, Asahel Benin
had used both new PE compounds as well as recyclate for
manufacturing its films that were then used predominantly
in household products and in shopping bags for
supermarkets.
Intensive tests at Stuttgart test lab
When the new law took effect, the blown film manufacturer
had to radically alter its production. Asahel Benin turned
to the compounding experts at Coperion. From this first
contact, a cooperative partnership quickly arose, as did a
new corporate strategy thereafter. Asahel Benin ordered
a laboratory-scale compounding system to develop a
biodegradable compound formulation that could be used in
existing blown film manufacturing facilities. The lab-scale
system includes a ZSK 26 Mc18 twin screw extruder, four
highly accurate powder, pellet, and liquid feeders, as well as
a water bath, an air wipe and a strand pelletizer type SP 50.
Before the complete system could be delivered to Benin and
put into service, it was assembled and tested intensively at
Coperion’s Stuttgart location in the test lab.
Sharing process engineering expertise
Throughout the entire project, Asahel Benin could fall
back on Coperion’s comprehensive, process engineering
expertise, for both the mastery of the entire system’s
complexity as well of as the seamless interaction of
its components, and in particular relating to the twin
screw extruder’s configuration. Formulations with starch
content, for example, represent a particular challenge for
configuring the twin screws, as the melting zone in the
extrusion process must both melt polymers and plastify
non-meltable starch while adding liquid. Moreover, David
Romaric Tinkou, Development Leader of Asahel Benin
Sarl., received comprehensive training on the compounding
machine’s operation. Thus began the development of a
formulation for the necessary biopolymer.
Flexible set up
Coperion’s experts designed the compounding system
for Asahel Benin very flexibly in order to enable maximum
freedom in developing a suitable formulation. In so doing, the
system can allow materials to be added from many different
components as well as intensive melt devolatilization.
Following the die head with nozzle comes a water bath for
strand cooling, dewatering of the strand surfaces using an
air wipe, and a strand pelletizer.
David Romaric Tinkou is very satisfied with how the
project went: “It was clear quite quickly that we needed
a new business strategy to keep operating our blown
film plants here in Benin. I’m very happy that with
Coperion, I encountered experienced experts in the field
of biodegradable compounds. Coperion delivered not only
the necessary technology, but also shared the necessary
process engineering expertise with me so that we can
manufacture biodegradable compounds ourselves now in
Benin.”
Peter von Hoffmann, General Manager Business Unit
Engineering Plastics & Special Applications at Coperion,
explained: “We’re thrilled that we could support Asahel
Benin in switching over their production in order to
accomplish it more sustainably. Biodegradable compounds
from renewable raw materials unite high productiontechnical
demands with environmental sustainability.
Particularly for manufacturers of short-lived household,
industrial and agricultural products, these compounds
represent a long-term, sustainable alternative to
petroleum-based raw materials such as PE. Typical areas
of application include single-use flatware, trash bags and
trash can liners, food packaging, shopping bags, drinking
straws, and agricultural films.”
www.coperion.com
From left to right: Peter von
Hoffmann, General Manager
Business Unit Engineering Plastics
& Special Applications; Levin
Batschauer, Sales
Manager Special
Applications;
Markus Fiedler,
Senior Process
Engineer (all from
Coperion) and
David Romaric
Tinkou of Asahel
Benin Sarl., in front
of the ZSK system
at the Coperion test
lab in Stuttgart.
Photo: Coperion,
Stuttgart
22 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Materials
PHA’s:
the natural
materials
of the future
A White Paper
Polyhydroxyalkanoates or PHA’s are a series of natural
bio-benign materials that have appeared in nature for
over 3 billion years, similar to other natural materials
like wood, other cellulose based materials, proteins and
starch.
PHA’s were first discovered in 1888 and first isolated and
characterized in 1925. In the 1960’s researchers discovered
that micro-organisms produce them from sugars, starches,
cellulosic materials and vegetable oils and that the
materials were part of the metabolism in plants, animals
and humans providing energy and nutrition.
A large variety of micro-organisms (Pseudomonas
Putida, Ralstona Eutropha, a.o.) make different types of
PHA materials comprising more than 150 different building
blocks or monomers depending on the available nutrition in
their environment. However, the molecular weight of these
PHA materials occurring in nature is too low to use them for
applications where petroleum plastics are used.
During the last 20-30 years dozens of initiatives from all
over the world have been started to make PHA materials
useful for durable and structural applications as an
alternative to the chemically synthesized polymers and by
mimicking nature in a consistent way.
A large variety of suitable micro-organisms are being
used to convert many different feedstock sources, like gas,
liquid or solid waste streams. After-use value chains are
By:
Jan Ravenstijn
Founbding Member of GO!PHA
Meersen, The Netherlands
being created for several waste streams this way, resulting
in a contribution to the circular economy.
Today there are 9 different PHA material families, which
all have different properties, so they can cover a broad
range of applications for durable, structural and one-timeuse
articles.
PHA materials can substitute petroleum plastics for onetime-use
applications that often by design or improper waste
management end up in the environment (e.g. micro-beads
in cosmetic products or drinking straws). Biodegradation of
PHA materials in all environments (compost, soil, water) is
comparable to or faster than cellulose (i.e. paper).
PHA materials can partly substitute any of the traditional
fossil-based polymer families, so the accessible market for
PHA materials is very large. Depending on type and grade,
PHA materials can be used for injection molding, extrusion,
thermoforming, foam, non-wovens, fibers, 3Dprinting,
paper and fertilizer coating, glues, adhesives, as additive
for reinforcement or plasticization or as building block for
thermosets in paints and foams. Also, their use in medical
applications like sutures and wound closures is already
commercial, since the material is bioresorbable.
GO!PHA, the Global Organization for PHA is a
member-driven, non-profit initiative to accelerate
the development, commercialization and adoption
of the PHA polymers across industries and product
segments globally. GO!PHA provides a platform for
advocacy in policy and legislation, technical and
scientific knowledge development, market development
and proliferation and communication and to
facilitate joint development initiatives on matters of
common interest.
GO!PHA is co-organizing the new 4th day of the Bioplastics
Business Breakfast at K’2019 on October
20 th , 2019 (www.bioplastics-breakfast.com)
www.gopha.org
Magnetic
for Plastics
www.plasticker.com
• International Trade
in Raw Materials, Machinery & Products Free of Charge.
• Daily News
from the Industrial Sector and the Plastics Markets.
• Current Market Prices
for Plastics.
• Buyer’s Guide
for Plastics & Additives, Machinery & Equipment, Subcontractors
and Services.
• Job Market
for Specialists and Executive Staff in the Plastics Industry.
Up-to-date • Fast • Professional
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 23

Biocomposites
Biocomposites
in the automotive
industry
Potential applications and benefits
By:
Blai López Rius
Composites Department Researcher
AIMPLAS
Paterna, Valencia, Spain
What is a biocomposite?
Biocomposite materials can be defined as composite
materials in which at least one of the constituents is derived
from natural sources. This includes composite materials
made from a combination of:
• petroleum-derived polymers reinforced with natural
fibres,
• bioplastics reinforced with natural fibres, or
• bioplastics reinforced with mineral or synthetic fibres
(e.g. glass, carbon).
Note that biocomposites are not necessarily
biodegradable, as this depends on the matrix binding
the fibre reinforcement. Only if the matrix consists of a
biodegradable material – renewably-sourced or fossilbased,
both are possible – will the biocomposite be
biodegradable.
Why biocomposites?
The automotive industry will face a number of major
challenges in the coming years.
The first of these challenges is reducing greenhouse gas
emissions (e.g. CO 2
). The European Union, in conjunction
with the European Automobile Manufacturers Association,
enacted legislation aimed at reducing CO 2
emissions from
light vehicles to 95 g/km by the year 2020 (Regulation (EU)
2019/631 [1]). Studies show that 80 % of the total emissions
released from a vehicle during its lifetime are mainly due to
the vehicle’s weight. A 100 kg reduction in car weight could
provide a 0.3–0.5 l/100 km reduction in fuel consumption
and a 7.5–12.5 g/km drop in carbon dioxide emissions [2].
The second challenge is petroleum depletion, as everyone
should be aware by now. Oil resources are being consumed
100,000 times faster than nature’s ability to replace
them, whereas products derived from plants have been
underutilized. Oil reserves will decrease over the years and
the law of supply and demand will drive up the prices of
these raw materials, along with the end products derived
from this source. Therefore, as the price of oil increases,
renewable sources will become more attractive.
A final point to consider is social pressure. In recent
years, society has been calling for a change in consumer
habits with the aim of taking more responsibility for the
environment. This mentality is being transferred to the
auto industry, which is faced with the challenge of trying to
replace the current linear economic model with a circular
one. A circular economic model starts with eco-design,
Glove box - Hemp fibres and PP
which takes into account the source of the raw materials for
the items to be manufactured and how they will be reused
in a new production cycle when they reach the end of their
useful life.
Biocomposite materials are positioned to become a
potential solution for these challenges in the automotive
industry.
Biocomposites in the automotive industry
Biocomposites have a number of benefits for use
in automotive applications. Composites are generally
lightweight materials, so they reduce vehicle consumption
and greenhouse gas emissions. Compared to composites
reinforced with fibres of non-renewable origin,
biocomposites with natural fibres have excellent acoustic
and thermal properties, making them ideal for vehicle
interior parts. The use of these biobased materials
improves working conditions, as the health risks involved
in processing glass and carbon fibres are eliminated.
Moreover, biobased materials do not require the highenergy
processing of glass and carbon fibres, so less energy
is consumed to manufacture them.
However, the use of biocomposites in the automotive
industry is not new. The first Model T by Henry Ford in the
1910s was made with hemp and ran on hemp-based fuel.
Later on, in 1941, Henry Ford developed the first prototype
composite car (the so-called “Plastic car”) made with soy
resin and reinforced with hemp, sisal and wheat fibres [3].
24 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Biocomposites
And in 1957, East Germany built the Trabant, a car featuring a
unibody frame manufactured with a thermosetting phenolic
resin reinforced with cotton [4]. Despite these examples, it
was not until the mid-1990s that more intensive R&D work
was carried out on this topic.
Biocomposites now have many potential applications in
the automotive sector. Their properties make them suitable
for the manufacture of non-structural interior components,
including wood trim, seat fillers, seat backs, headliners,
interior panels, dashboards and thermoacoustic insulation.
Car manufacturers such as Ford, Mercedes Benz, Toyota,
Volkswagen and BMW are now using biocomposites in the
interior components of some of their vehicles.
However, this type of material is still under study and not
yet commonly used to make structural parts. Biocomposites
could also be used to make seat frames, load floors, pick-up
beds, floor pans, and drivetrain and steering components.
Many different biocomposites can be obtained by
combining different reinforcements and matrices. The choice
of these two components is determined by requirements in
terms of the physical and chemical properties of the final
parts and components.
In the automotive industry, common natural
reinforcements such as wood fibres can be used to obtain
wood-plastic composites (WPC), and natural fibres from
flax, hemp, jute and sisal can be used to produce natural
fibre composites (NFC). However, the most commonly
used reinforcement is flax fibre due to its good mechanical
properties (specific strength comparable to glass fibres)
and good availability. It is used for both short fibre and
continuous long fibre.
Thermoplastic and thermosetting matrices can be used
in combination with these reinforcements. A number of
thermoplastic matrix options are available: biodegradable
polyesters (e.g. PLA, PHB, PBS), natural polymers (e.g.
cellulose, natural rubber) and so-called drop-in bioplastics
with up to 100 % biobased content (e.g. bio-PE, bio-PA, bio-
PET, bio-PC, bio-PP). Many thermoplastic biopolymers are
made via the fermentation of starch and glucose, others are
for example made from bio-ethanol or isosorbide. Options
in terms of thermosetting matrices include common resins
with biobased content from natural oils and bioethanol (e.g.
bio-epoxy, bio-polyester, bio-polyurethanes).
Challenges and new developments
However, despite the many advantages of biocomposites,
serious challenges must still be faced and resolved before
the use of this type of material can become more widespread.
Current research is focused on optimizing the properties
of raw materials to obtain balanced harvests with uniform
Interior structure of a cars door - Hemp fibres and PE
properties, developing the properties of the natural fibres
used as reinforcement, improving compatibility between
the reinforcement and matrix by taking into account natural
fibres’ hydrophilic properties, reducing the flammability of
natural fibres, and enhancing biocomposite recyclability.
At the Plastics Technology Centre (AIMPLAS), different
R&D projects on biocomposites with applications in the
automotive industry have been developed and are currently
under way at both European and national level to deal
with these challenges. Examples include the completed
FIBRAGEN and BIOAVANT projects, as well as KaRMA2020
and ECOxy, two European projects currently under
development that form part of the Horizon 2020 program.
The objective is to face these challenges by supplying the
current market demand for cost-effective auto parts while
helping create a more sustainable automotive industry.
AIMPLAS is carrying out research on this topic to meet
its commitment to environmental sustainability. As a
result, companies from the sector will be able to integrate
circular economy criteria into their business models
and turn the legislative changes that affect them into
opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability and
reduce environmental impact. AIMPLAS also does research
in areas such as recycling, biodegradable materials and
products, and the use of biomass and CO 2
.
References
[1] REGULATION (EU) 2019/631 - Setting CO 2
emission performance
standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial
vehicles and repealing Regulations (EC) No 443/2009 and (EU) No
510/2011 (2019).
[2] Akampumuza, O., Wambua, P., Ahmed, A., Li, W., & Qin, X. (2016). Review
of the applications of biocomposites in the automotive industry. Polymer
Composites, 38(11), 2553-2569. doi: 10.1002/pc.23847.
[3] N.N.: Ford’s Hemp powered Hemp made Car, https://youtu.be/54vD_
cPCQM8
[4] Karner, R.: Go, Trabi Go! „Back to the future?“, bioplastics MAGAZINE,
Vol 3, Issue 02/2008
www.aimplas.es
B-pillar prototype - Hemp fibres and PP
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 25

Biocomposites
Biocomposites are a great alternat
One of the drivers for the increased demand for alternatives
to plastic is the EU plastics strategy. For the
first time in the industry the awareness is created that
something has to be changed about plastics. Consumers
and industrial customers ask for materials and products
with a lower environmental impact, reduced carbon footprint
and last but not least a possibility to minimise the share of
fossil-based plastics. The trend goes to renewable carbon.
Biobased polymers and biocomposites can offer more
sustainable materials with lower environmental footprint
and reduced carbon footprint. Reduce or avoid microplastic
emissions in the environment (if a biodegradable plastic
matrix is used). Additionally, biocomposites can offer
special properties such as higher stiffness and strength.
In combination with biobased plastics, fully biobased and
biodegradable solutions are possible. GreenPremium
prices are possible along the value chain.
The most important polymers used are: PE (decking
& construction, consumer goods), PP (automotive,
construction, consumer goods) and PVC (decking &
construction) and with smaller amounts also ABS, Epoxies,
PA, PMMA, PS, PU, TPE, TPS, TPU. Examples for biobased
polymers are bio-PE, PLA, PBS, PHAs, bio-TPE, bio-PU and
bio-Epoxies. Also, biobased PP will be soon available from
Neste and LyondellBasell, produced in Germany.
Biocomposites markets continue to grow
The table shows the production volume in different
application areas and the forecast for future markets.
The biocomposite markets continue to grow, are stable in
established markets like construction and automotive, and
show strong growth in the more recently entered markets
of consumer goods and packaging with new players
providing opportunities in innovative applications. Biggest
increase for traded biocomposite granulates for furniture,
toys, consumer goods and cases are expected, primarily
in injection moulding and 3D-printing. The nova institute
predicts that the market volume of biocomposite granulates
in Europe will more than double over the next ten years
Biocomposites in the automotive sector
The Biocomposites Conference Cologne (details see
box) organizes a focus session on biocomposites in the
automotive industry in cooperation with the AVK - Federation
of Reinforced Plastics e.V.
In the automotive sector, biocomposites are primarily used
for saving weight in car interiors. Also a lower CO 2
footprint
and good crash behaviour play a crucial role in the automotive
industry. In this area the demand is ongoing and more or
less stable (see table). Wood-Plastic Composites are mainly
used for rear shelves, trims for trunks, spare wheels as well
as for interior trims for doors. Natural Fibre Composites
have a clear focus on interior trims for high-value doors
and dashboards, that is processed either with thermoset or
thermoplastic matrix. With the dominating press moulding
technology and simultaneous back injection moulding (for
special reinforcement), extreme light-weight materials can
be realised with a thermoplastic matrix (mainly PP).
By:
Asta Partanen and Michael Carus
nova-institut
Hürth, Germany
Another potential market, which was developed recently,
are biocomposites for new electric car manufacturers. Small
new car producers are not part of the established normal
automotive value chain and they are looking for ecological
light-weight materials with low carbon footprint. Press
moulding is very suitable for small production volumes.
New markets – Consumer goods, furniture, suit
cases, toys and many more
Toys are considered as an attractive market for biobased
materials such as biocomposites as parents have a higher
willingness to pay a GreenPremium price for healthy
materials in toys. Biobased materials offer a range of
possibilities for the product differentiation through pleasant
touch or other haptic and optic features that make the
difference to standard materials. Small and medium
enterprises have been the pioneers in this field.
BioLite from the company Trifilon (Nyköping, Sweden) is a
polypropylene reinforced with 30 % hemp fibres. Hemp is one
of the strongest natural fibres, which makes BioLite products
strong, light and durable. The use of hemp fibres in BioLite
optimises the material properties for many applications – the
high-quality trolley case is just one example. The new material is
suitable for lightweight automotive construction and consumer
goods. EPIC Travelgear, a luggage manufacturer from Hovås,
Sweden uses these granulates producing exclusive, sustainable
luggage and they communicate with the carbon dioxide trapped
by the hemp in EPIC’s new PhantomBIO cabin bags.
Meanwhile big producers from the Finnish and Swedish wood
industry such as UPM and Stora Enso are entering the polymerwood
granulate markets, but also Panasonic in Japan: While
UPM has been offering its wood fibre granulates in a variety
of applications such as loudspeakers and high-quality woodplastic
composites for decking throughout Europe for several
years, Stora Enso has only been in this business since last year.
With a capacity of 15,000 t for WPC granulates, StoraEnso is one
of the largest from the start, when production of course only
starts gradually. StoraEnso offers a variety of polymers such
as fossil and recycled PP, but also biobased PE, PLA or PBS,
each in combination with wood flour or different wood fibres.
The new granulates from Stora Enso are already being used
in kitchen accessories (of the Swedish /Finnish manufacturer
of household products Orthex) and at IKEA in chairs. Finally,
there is Panasonic, which has developed a mixture of PLA and
cellulose to produce refrigerators, vacuum cleaners and other
home appliances within a few years.
High-Tech applications such as aerospace
Amorim cork composites (from Mozelos Portugal) are by far
one of the biggest volumes used in biocomposites and especially
also in high tech applications such as aerospace. Launch
systems that have used Amorim aerospace cork products
26 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Biocomposites
ive Plastics can be replaced by wood or natural fibres – with biocomposites
include the Space Shuttle, Delta, Atlas, Titan, Arianne, and many
other. To prevent the rocket from overheating aerospace cork
composites provides thermal protection to these components
as they are exposed to an air stream environment during launch.
Rigid packaging with future potential
In addition to more traditional application fields, quite a
number of consumer and household goods as well as rigid
packaging today already consist of biocomposites. Packaging
is the leading application for biobased polymers. Biobased
polymers do not differ optically from petro-based plastics. In
combination with natural fibres, they offer excellent possibilities
for Eco marketing, especially in biocosmetic cans or packaging
for biobased detergents. Different fibres make different optics.
Fibres can add accents and make the difference for the image
of the product. FKUR from Willich, Germany for example offers
Fibrolon ® granulates from wood bioplastic composites.
Another example for rigid packaging are the compounds of
Advanced Compounding from Rudolstadt, Germany that are
used for Picea ® tubes. These are including 10 % spruce side
streams from sawmills and 25 % post-industrial recycled
plastic from tube laminating waste. This was presented recently
from Hoffmann Neopac AG from Oberdiessbach, Switzerland.
In total, the tube consists of 95.8 % renewable raw materials.
The PICEA ® Wood Tube produces up to 38.9 % less CO 2
than
conventional polyethylene tubes (PE) over its entire life cycle, as
an analysis of the CO 2
footprint according to the ISO standard
shows. The tubes are used in organic cosmetics and hair care
products. www.bio-based.eu
Biocomposites (Graph: nova-institute)
PhantomBIO cabin bags are made of hemp fibre-based
biocomposite material of Trifilon. (Photo: Trifilon)
Kitchen Accessories (Photo: Orthex)
Table: Biocomposites in Europe (Source: nova-institute)
Biocomposites
in Europe
Decking, fencing
and gladding,
mainly extrusion
Automotive,
mainly
compression
moulding,
high shares of
natural fibres
such as jute,
kenaf and hemp
Technical
applications,
furniture,
consumer goods
as well as rigid
packaging,
mainly injection
moulding and
3D printing
Production
tonnes pa 2012
Production
tonnes pa 2018
Production
tonnes pa 2028
(forecast)
190,000 200,000 220,000-250,000
150,000 150,000 150,000
17,000 60,000 120,000-180,000
Total 357,000 410,000 490,000-580,000
Total figures
include traded
granulates
for injection
moulding and
extrusion
40,000 100,000 200,000-300,000
The industry for biocomposites meets in
Cologne
The full range of successful new technologies and
applications of biocomposites in the automotive
industry and construction as well as in consumer
products is the subject of the “Biocomposites
Conference Cologne”. This will take place
from 14-15 November 2019 in Cologne. The
preliminary programme is available online at:
www.biocompositescc.com/programme
As in previous years, the “Biocomposite of the Year
2019” innovation prize will be awarded again this
year. The focus will be on new developments that
came onto the market in 2018/19 or will come
onto the market in 2020. Current information
on the Innovation Award can be found at:
http://biocompositescc.com/award-application/
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 27

Biocomposites
Biocomposites – lessons learned
and new opportunities
The global market for bioplastics and biocomposites
has very impressive predicted growth rates over the
coming decade – mainly based on the increasing demand
for sustainable products, stronger policy support and
the continuous efforts of the bioplastics industry to engineer
innovative materials. Scion has developed thermoplastic
and thermoset biocomposites over the last 15 years.
These composites based on biobased fillers in compostable/biodegradable
bioplastics have grown in popularity due
to benefits such as:
• Reinforcement
• Reducing weight (lightweighting)
• Reducing overall cost
• Improving recyclability
• Optimising disintegration/biodegradation rates
• Utilising of side and waste streams
Producing biocomposites - Challenges
Compounding biobased fillers into bioplastics can be
difficult. The inherent moisture present in the fillers can
cause processing problems. During the development of
Woodforce (http://www.woodforce.com/) – an engineered
wood fibre used to produce biocomposites – Scion applied
twin-screw extrusion modelling to optimise extrusion
conditions to properly disperse fibres but minimise thermal
and mechanical damages to the fibres. The experience and
knowledge gained through processing wood fibres on laband
commercial-scale has enabled the use of a wide array
of biobased materials, including sander dust, kiwifruit hair
and skin, seashells, grape marc, bark and casein.
Recent examples
• Local feedstocks for local manufacturing
The advantages of 3D printing and the strengths of New
Zealand’s bioeconomy are a successful combination for (a)
raising awareness about reducing plastic consumption by
making bespoke pieces rather than mass-produced items
and (b) adding value to industry by-products.
The Imagin Plastics wood-filled filament is a consumer
product used for Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) 3D
printing. It is made of Ingeo polylactic acid and wood
waste from local mills to promotes the environmental need
to shift towards a sustainable bioeconomy.
• Kiwifruit hair
Sourcing local feedstock to prepare materials and products
with a ‘circular and regional story” can also be a catalyst to
solve existing industry waste problems. The New Zealand
kiwifruit industry collects about 400 tonnes of kiwifruit hair
as waste every season. It is hydrophobic, micron-size and
extremely difficult to compost. However, these features make
it appealing for biocomposite applications.
The hair collected in the dust extraction cyclones of
kiwifruit packhouses is a fine dust that can be used as
filler in 3D printing filament or injection moulded articles.
Kiwifruit hair-based 3D printing filament has successfully
been produced by Imagin Plastics, and Scion has trialled
the material in injection moulded compostable products.
28 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Biocomposites
By:
Dawn A. Smith, Marie Joo Le Guen and Marc Gaugler
Scion
Rotorua,New Zealand
• Integrated biorefinery
The above examples illustrate how local feedstocks
can be used as filler with established biopolymers, but
ultimately, Scion aims for integrated biorefineries that
utilise all of their product streams.
For example - the hemicellulose and cellulose in
wood waste can be converted to sugars and fermented
to polyhydroxyalkanotes (PHA) using microbes. The
lignin-rich residue can then be used as filler in these
PHAs [1] - leading to biocomposites that utilize of the
whole feedstock
Following Circular New Plastics Economy - producing
biocomposites from biowaste not only pushes the
perceived boundaries for the traditional plastics but
also the vision for biocomposites and is a desirable way
forward.
References
[1] Vaidya, A. A.; Collet, C.; Gaugler, M.; Lloyd-Jones, G., Integrating
softwood biorefinery lignin into polyhydroxybutyrate composites
and application in 3D printing. Materials Today Communications
2019, 19, 286-296.
www.scionresearch.com
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bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 29

Biocomposites
Biobased composites
for 3D printing
Adjustable compound properties
AAdditive manufacturing techniques are of growing interest
for various industry sectors. Not only does this
technology enable the rapid construction of three-dimensional
models, it is also possible to 3D print, for example,
replacement parts and prototypes that are able to fulfil
structural functions. Using the Fused Deposition Modelling
(FDM) technique, a specimen is built up, layer by layer, out
of a melted material – generally a thermoplastic polymer
like PLA or ABS. The mechanical properties of the 3Dprinted
specimen depend on both the material properties
and the printing settings.
Within the framework of the EU-funded project
“Bioeconomy in the non-food sector”, new compounds were
developed using different PLA-based modified polymers
and different biobased fibres and fillers. As a starting point
for the optimisation process, a PLA commonly used in
additive manufacturing (PLA 4043D) and wood fibres with
an average particle size of 40 – 70 µm were processed at
the 3N Competence Center. The resulting compounds
were processed into injection moulded tensile rods for
mechanical testing and into thermoplastic thermoplastic
wire (colloquially referred to as filament), to test their
suitability for the FDM-process, also as regards their
“oozing and warping” behaviour. Warping refers to the
deformation of the printed object; oozing describes the
leakage of polymer during the travel/pausing phases of
the extruder. The obtained results were used to further
optimize the wood fibre-reinforced compounds in terms
of mechanical properties and processability (see Fig. 1).
Various (biobased) polymers and fibres were used, including
hemp, regenerated cellulose, grass and wood fibres as well
as horticultural and agricultural residual materials (e.g.
fibres extracted from pepper or tomato plant stems).
The optimization process used to adjust the compound
properties is shown for two PLA compounds with different
wood fibre fractions by mass (see Fig 2). Fibre content and
polymer composition were varied as relevant parameters.
The composition of the polymer was determined by altering
the mixing ratios between the PLA and a biobased impact
modifier. Fig. 2 displays the mechanical tensile properties
obtained from the different compounds after injection
moulding. The results of the mechanical characterisation
can be summed up as follows:
Figure 1: Schematic view of the optimization
process for adjusted compound properties
Compounding with
spacial formulation
Feedback / adaptation
of the formulation
production of
thermoplastic wires
Check-up of the
properties
3D-printing
of selected parts
30 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Biocomposites
By:
Niels Kühn, Katharina Haag, Milan Kelch, Jörg Müssig*
Hochschule Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Cord Grashorn
IST-Ficotex, Bremen, Germany
Corinne van Noordenne
NHL Stenden, Leeuwarden, Netherlands
Marie-Luise Rottmann-Meyer, Hansjörg Wieland
3N Niedersachsen, Werlte, Germany
*: corresponding author
• No significant changes in tensile strength (35-37
MPa) were seen between the different compositions,
comparable to the references in the literature for ABS
or PP.
• Higher stiffness and lower impact properties were found
with increased fibre content. The composition can be
adapted to the needs of the 3D-printing process by
varying the polymer and the fibre fraction.
For comparison, the pure PLA-based modified polymer
compounds were also tested. These specimens reached a high
Charpy impact strength of > 80 kJ/m², but showed a higher
warping problem, when 3D-printed with the FDM process.
The same compounds were used for the production
of thermoplastic wires, to determine the printability
of the formulas and the differences in the mechanical
properties, compared to the injection moulded parts. The
FDM compounds showed potential for improvement. Both
warping and oozing was worse, compared to regular PLA, as
a result of mixing issues with the selected impact modifier,
which was required to be added to achieve flexibility in the
filled extruded wires.
Compared to the injection moulded specimens, poorer
mechanical properties were seen in the printed materials,
with strength and stiffness decreasing by about 30% and
impact strength being reduced by some 60 %. The decrease
in mechanical properties was caused by, among other
things, imperfections such as air inclusions, formed
during the additive FDM-process. Voids in form of air
inclusions can be estimated by the difference in density of
the parts. A density of between 1.25 and 1.30 g/cm³ was
found for injection moulded objects, while the density of the
3D-printed equivalents was between 1.07 and 1.12 g/cm³.
Further optimisation of the compound, especially by
adjusting the amount of impact modifier, improved the
warping and oozing behaviour during the printing process.
Oozing, in particular, is a problem in wood fibre reinforced
compounds, and it is one that also frequently occurs in
commercially available products, as the natural fibres tend
to absorb humidity from the air. u
Tensile strength in MPa
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
constant tensile strength
Tensile strength in MPa
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
Figure 2: Mechanical properties of new biobased compounds.
Tests were performed according to DIN EN ISO 527-2 (Tensile
Testing) and DIN EN ISO 179-1 (Charpy unnotched impact) from
injection moulded compounds. Polymer compound 1: 48% PLA +
52% biobased impact modifier, polymer compound 2: 34% PLA +
66% biobased impact modifier.
Young’s modulus and toughness
individually adjustable
0
0
0
10 20 30 40 50 60
Charpy impact strength a Cu
in kJ/m 2
0
10 20 30 40 50 60
Charpy impact strength a Cu
in kJ/m 2
fibre content 10 % | polymer composition 1 fibre content 10 % | polymer composition 2
fibre content 20 % | polymer composition 1 fibre content 20 % | polymer composition 2
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 31

Biocomposites
Figure 3: Comparison of the new compounds with commercially
available wood filamentswires. Shown are the Young’s moduli, the
tensile strength and the unnotched Charpy impact strength of the
new 20% wood fibre/80% polymer compound 1 and one low and
one high priced 3D-printing filamentwire
Elastic modulus in MPa
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
Tensile strength in MPa
40
30
20
10
Charpy impact strength in k J/m 2
20
15
10
5
0
0
0
Reference 1 - low price
Reference 2 - high price
20 % wood fibre 1
Reference 1 - low price
Reference 2 - high price
20 % wood fibre 1
Reference 1 - low price
Reference 2 - high price
20 % wood fibre 1
Advantages of the innovative compound
development
There are various advantages to using fibre-reinforced
biobased compounds for 3D-printing, including:
Improvement in the FDM process:
• An impact modifier of the Forbio series (company Linotech
GmbH & Co.KG, Forst, Germany) was used in combination
with PLA and 20% wood fibres increased the bendability
of the thermoplastic wire, which resulted in a lower break
tendency when using small coils;;
• The compounding systems used allows both small batch
size production as well as mass production for individual
material solutions.
Mechanical properties:
• The mechanical performance (Young’s modulus, ultimate
strain, Charpy impact strength) of the specimens is
adjustable over a broad range while the processability for
additive manufacturing remains constant.
• Equal or better mechanical properties compared with
commercially available wood containing thermoplastic
wires.
Thermal properties:
• Optimized heat distortion behaviour compared to pure PLA
could be determined.
• The processing temperatures are relatively low (180 - 190 °C),
to avoid degradation of natural fibres.
Post processing optimisation:
• In contrast to using only pure polymers, products of the
wood fibre-reinforced compounds can be sanded and
sawed after being printed.
Energy consumption:
• Lower processing temperatures during the printing
process, compared to pure polymers with comparable
mechanical properties (e.g. ABS).
Aesthetic properties:
• The printed specimens feature an attractive, natural look.
A large range of advantages could be demonstrated, but
there is still scope for optimisation. While the thermoplastic
wires produced can be printed by professional and home user
3D-printers, oozing is still a problem, compared to pure PLA.
The experiments showed a correlation between the absorption
of water in the wood fibre-reinforced thermoplastic wire and
the oozing behaviour. This behaviour can be decreased using
smaller wood fibres. Ongoing research is focusing on this
topic.
References
DIN EN ISO 527 Teil 2 1993 einschließlich Corr 1: 1994 Kunststoffe –
Bestimmung der Zugeigenschaften – Teil 2: Prüfbedingungen für Formund
Extrusionsmassen
DIN EN ISO 179 Teil 1 2010. Kunststoffe – Bestimmung der
Charpy-Schlageigenschaften – Teil 1: Nicht instrumentierte
Schlagzähigkeitsprüfung
www.hs-bremen.de | www.ist-ficotex.de |
www.nhlstenden.com | www.3-n.info
Acknowledgement
The authors acknowledge the funding agencies for the possibility to work on
the shown topics within the cross-border project „Bioeconomy in the non-food
sector“ (http://www.bioeco-edr.eu), funded within the programme INTERREG
V A-Germany – Netherlands by the European Fond for Regional development
(EFRE) co-financed by the land Lower-Saxony, the Dutch ministry of
economics and the Dutch provinces Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslân, Gelderland,
Groningen, Noord-Brabant und Overijssel.
32 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Biocomposites
Natural fibres
How to enable their application for
structural composite parts
T
he production of conventional reinforcement materials
for structural composites requires large
amounts of energy resulting in a high environmental
impact. A promising approach to overcome this problem
lies in the application of natural fibres. At ITA and PuK, such
an approach is currently investigated.
Reinforcement fabrics for mechanically highly stressed
composite parts are usually made of conventional
reinforcement fibre materials such as glass, carbon or
aramid. The production of these materials requires a
high amount of energy and therefore leads to high CO 2
emissions when using fossil fuels. A promising approach
to reducing the environmental impact lies in the use of
renewable resources. Such resources can be natural fibres,
which require significantly less energy in their production.
Compared to glass fibre reinforced plastics (GFRP),
natural fibre reinforced plastics (NFRP) can save up to 40
% energy and 30 % CO 2
emissions in their production. Due
to their low density, they are highly suitable as reinforcing
materials in thermoplastic or thermoset fibre composites.
NFRP are already used on a large scale for non-structural
components with low requirements in terms of mechanical
properties (EU 2015: approx. 120.000 t). However, they
are currently rarely used for structural applications. This
is mainly due to the fact that the mechanical potential of
the fibres has not been fully exploited yet. Especially the
twisting of the fibres during the spinning of yarns reduces
the intrinsic mechanical properties of the natural fibres and
lowers the fibre volume content and impregnation behavior
of the reinforcement fabrics. In addition, some properties,
such as thermal stability and moisture absorbtion, reduce
their potential for industrial application aswell.
Experiments on a laboratory scale at ITA have shown
that NFRP reinforced with fully oriented flax fibres show
comparable specific mechanical properties to GFRP. The
challenge lies in transfering these results to an industrial
scale. At ITA and PuK, a novel approach based on the direct
processing of untwisted flax slivers to produce non-crimp
fabrics (NCF) is investigated. Due to the saved spinning
process, the fibres can be fully aligned, which increases
the mechanical properties of the composite material and
at the same time reduces production costs. However, the
finite length of the natural fibres proves to be problematic.
The slivers show a limited cohesion, which makes feeding
at conventional NCF production systems, especially at high
production speeds, difficult.
In order to solve this issue, consolidation and transport
mechanisms for untwisted flax slivers were investigated at
ITA. Based on the results, a novel feeding and weft insertion
device was developed and integrated into a warp knitting
machine with multiaxial weft insertion. The cohesion of
the slivers during the transport is ensured using a false
twist mechanism. The slivers are temporarily twisted
in particularly critical sections of the feeding line. The
cohesion of the slivers is thus increased and allows high
production speeds. With the modified technology, flax noncrimp
fabrics (NCF) with fully oriented layers (e.g. ±45°) can
be produced. Compared to NCF made from flax yarns, the
new fabrics show a significantly higher homogeneity of fibre
distribution without gaps at comparable area weights (see
Figure 1).
The extent to which the mechanical properties of NFRP
can be improved using the new NCF is currently being
investigated at PuK. In addition to composite testing
(tensile, bending and impact strength), investigations are
carried out with regard to the compaction, permeability and
resin flow behaviours of the new fabrics. The results will be
benchmarked against currently available materials.
It is assumed that the mechanical properties will be
significantly improved due to higher fibre orientation and
fibre volume content. In addition, the untwisted fibers
will presumably allow better drapability and much faster
impregnation than conventional fabrics. The latter would
significantly reduce production times in component
manufacture. If proof can be provided, the project results
are to be transferred to industry.
www.ita.rwth-aachen.de | www.puk.tu-clausthal.de
Acknowledgments
The IGF-project 19400 N (HyPer-NFK) of the Forschungskoratorium
Textil e.V., Berlin is financed
through the AiF from funds of the Federal Ministry
of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) based on a
decision by the German Bundestag.
Figure 2: Unprocessed flax sliver and flax non-crimp fabric
By:
Carsten Uthemann, Research Associate
Alexander Janßen, Head of Division Staple Fibre Technologies
ITA - Institut für Textiltechnik, RWTH Aachen University
Aachen (Germany)
Alexej Kusmin, Research Associate
Leif Steuernagel, Head of Division Renewable Materials
PuK, Clausthal University of Technology
Clausthal-Zellerfeld (Germany)
Figure 1: Comparison of non-crimp fabrics produced from flax
yarns (top) and flax slivers (bottom)
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 33

Biocomposites
Automotive
Porsche launches cars
with biocomposites
Automaker Porsche is leveraging the benefits of organic
materials in automotive manufacturing applications.
The new 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport features
body parts made of natural-fiber composite materials developed
in the Application Center for Wood Fiber Research
HOFZET, which is part of the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood
Research, Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut WKI, together with the
Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites IfBB of Hannover
University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
Registration statistics indicate that new cars are
progressively becoming heavier, due for example to improved
safety functions and more electronic equipment. This
weight gain also means higher levels of fuel consumption,
aspects contrary to the general goal of reducing CO 2
emissions. Weight is also an important factor for e-cars,
since they require larger and thus heavier batteries in order
to maximize range, a decisive sales criterium. Accordingly,
new developments in lightweight design are an absolute
prerequisite for truly efficient e-cars. According to a
study by business consultants at McKinsey, the share of
lightweight parts in automobiles will have to rise from 30 to
70 % by 2030 to compensate for the vehicle weight increase
resulting from electric drives and motors.
Until now the favored solution here has been lightweight
steels and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics. But this
solution also has its disadvantages: First of all, it entails
substantial challenges in machining, repairs and recycling.
Secondly, manufacturing these materials is highly energyintensive,
subtracting from the positive environmental
aspect of weight reduction.
Good complement to carbon fibers
Researchers at Fraunhofer WKI thus posed the question
of whether or not other fibrous materials could be used to
reduce component weight, only using carbon fibers in those
places where they represent a structural advantage. They
investigated various readily available ecological materials
in terms of their technical properties, availability and costefficiency,
since a feasible solution for industry must have
positive technical, ecological and economic impacts.
Natural-fiber-reinforced plastics turned out to be the
answer. As components in organic composites, vegetable
fibers are a sustainable alternative for lightweight vehicle
bodies. The biogenic component improves the ecological
impact of industrial high-performance composite materials
during manufacturing, use and disposal.
Economically speaking, the use of renewable raw
materials is beneficial because natural flax, hemp, wood
and jute fibers are less expensive than carbon fibers and
require less energy to manufacture. Thus the advantages
of weight reduction don’t come with a prohibitive price tag.
And there are additional advantages in industrial
processing and with applications in the vehicle: The naturally
grown structure of organic composites gives materials acoustic
damping properties and reduces splintering, which is
important in the event of a collision.
Porsche starts series production
These arguments were convincing enough to Porsche.
Joining forces with Porsche Motorsport, scientists at
Fraunhofer WKI first tested organic materials for series
readiness under extreme conditions on a Porsche Cayman
GT4 Clubsport using the mobile development laboratory of the
German “Four Motors” racing team.
“The third generation of the ‘Bioconcept-Car’ has been on
the race track since 2015. The tests combine the advantage
of extreme stress with a vehicle that is also street-legal after
modifications. The partnership with Porsche AG also enables
development under the realistic conditions of an automobile
manufacturer,” says Ole Hansen, project manager at the
Fraunhofer WKI Application Center for Wood Fiber Research
HOFZET. “We’ve been able to continuously improve the
material properties over the last four years.”
The German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture
BMEL recognized the potential benefits of natural fibers from
the very beginning and today still accompanies the project
as a strategic partner. The BMEL promotes the development
of biogenic lightweight components in the funding program
“Renewable Resources” with the central coordinating agency
for renewable resources, Fachagentur Nachwachsende
Rohstoffe e.V. FNR.
The years of experience with the ‘Bioconcept-Car’ were
integrated in material development for the parts of the new
718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, the first car in series production
to feature body parts made of a natural-fiber composite
material. The driver and passenger doors as well as the
rear wing are made using a mixture of organic fibers. And
the Cayman is a real lightweight, weighing in at only 1320
kilograms. A factor here is the 60 % weight saving resulting
from the use of organic composite materials instead of steel
in the doors.
The composite material consists of a thermoset polymer
matrix system reinforced with organic fibers. An organic fiber
mesh is used because the raw materials are readily available,
it exhibits high tensile strength, and is particularly fine,
homogenous and drapable, easily fitting part shapes. The ease
with which it can be produced to precise dimensions facilitate
machining and quality assurance, even in combination with
other conventionally manufactured components.
Basis for high-volume production
These aspects are an important prerequisite for highvolume
production. Fraunhofer WKI also considered other
factors in its investigations, including concepts for end-of- life
recycling or reuse and scale-up approaches for parts that are
to be produced in greater quantities.
34 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Biocomposites
“After extensive testing under extreme conditions on
the race track we continued to evaluate our parts, which
ultimately led to the conclusion that these ecologically
beneficial organic materials fulfill the criteria for
volume production,” Ole Hansen adds.
Smudo, front-man of the popular German rap group
“Fantastische Vier” and permanent pilot of the Four
Motors ‘Bioconcept-Car’, has
tested its practical viability, as
has a special passenger who
enjoyed a test drive on the
Nürburgring race course
last August: German
Federal Minister for Food
and Agriculture, Julia
Klöckner. MT
January / February
01 | 2013
Cover-Story
Bioconcept Car | 10
www.wki.fraunhofer.de
bioplastics MAGAZINE Vol. 8 ISSN 1862-5258
Highlights
Automotive | 10
Foam | 26
Basics
PTT | 44
... is read in 91 countries
Smudo in
bioplastics MAGAZINE 01/2013
bioplastics MAGAZINE [01/19] Vol. 14 35

Biocomposites
Biobased surfboards
Most modern surfboards are a sandwich-like construction:
a polyurethane foam core – known as a
blank – coated with a fibre-reinforced composite.
The reinforcements are usually glass, but they can also be
carbon or plant fibres, like hemp and flax.
“There is a huge paradox between the idea we have of
surfing and the materials we are using,” explains Pierre
Pomiers from the French company Notox. “Used to massive
greenwashing, surfers get more and more sceptical when
they hear or read about environmental approaches: all the
more when the only goal is to serve marketing operations,”
says Notox’ website [1]. Pierre: “Most of the boards today
are using dangerous material, for the health of the person
manufacturing, but also for the environment, because we
don’t know how to recycle materials like polyurethane, fibre
glass and polyester resin.”
In 2006, Pomiers, who used to work in robotics,
founded a startup, whose goal was to improve surfboard
manufacturing. Now around 90 % of the boards they
produce are based on recycled EPS (expanded polystyrene)
foam, renewable resources such as flax fibre and cork, and
epoxy resins – for the composite – that are partly biobased
(see e.g. [2]).
They use recycled EPS foam blanks, Pomiers says,
because there aren’t any decent biobased alternatives. A
simplified life-cycle assessment (LCA) – cradle to grave –
that the company uses, finds no real difference between
biobased options and recyclable EPS, he claims. This is
mainly because many of the biobased versions are not
recyclable.
Indeed, the development of biobased blanks is something
the surf industry seems to have struggled with. A few years
ago, there was hype around the idea of growing surfboard
blanks from mushrooms, but it never took off. One
Californian company that managed to create a mushroombased
surfboard switched to recycled EPS foam when they
realised mushroom boards were going to be difficult to
mass produce.
In 2013, two companies – Synbra and Tecniq – announced
that they had developed “the world’s first certified 100%
biodegradable and 99 % biobased surfboard foam”, but it
has yet to come to market. Tecniq’s Managing Director, Rob
Falken, says that they “are putting the finishing touches
on the technology prior to commercial launch”, which he
thinks will be in 2020, but adds that he “cannot publicly
speak about the tech... at this time”.
According to Pomiers using flax and cork increases the
sustainability of surfboard production because the waste
off-cuts are non-toxic and can be recycled, for example
to produce housing insulation. His company claims that
making one of its surfboards produces a kilogramme of
waste, 75 % of which can be recycled, while more common
manufacturing processes result in around six kilogrammes
of waste that is hard, if not impossible, to reuse.
Like most surfboards, however, these boards cannot be
recycled. Once the composite has set, you cannot extract
and process the different materials. But there is a solution
on the horizon.
According to Jordi Oliva from RConcept, their partlybiobased
epoxy resins have around half the CO 2
footprint
of petroleum-based resins. And they use a hardener that
makes them recyclable.
“We can dissolve the composite and split the matrix from
the reinforcements,” Oliva explains. “It is a pretty easy
process: you put the composite inside an acid solution, with
a low PH, around three, and the matrix starts dissolving and
once you rinse the reinforcement with water you can reuse
it.”
Angela Daniela La Rosa, an expert in composite materials
at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology,
believes that such recycling systems could “work very well
for sports equipment”. She says that end-of-life has always
been the weak point of epoxy-based composites. “They
can be ground and reused as powder,” she explains, “but
you cannot separate the components.” She adds that the
powder does not have a high value – it is often just used as
a filler for other products.
When La Rosa tested hemp and carbon composites
produced using a novel epoxy hardener that can be
Photo: Notox
36 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Biocomposites
By:
Michael Allen*
dissolved in a heated acid solution, she was able to recover
what appeared to be good quality, clean fibres. Although she
didn’t conduct detailed tests on the properties of the fibres,
under a scanning electron microscope they looked similar
to the original fibres.
The epoxy resin isn’t recoverable, but La Rosa explains
that it is possible to extract a usable plastic from the acid
solution, once the composite has dissolved. [3]
A LCA of a recyclable composite reinforced with 300
grammes of carbon fibre showed that recycling the fibre
would recover 523 Megajoules of energy. This saving comes
from avoiding the energy costs of making new carbon fibre
for the next product. La Rosa says that this is significant
because producing such a carbon fibre composite requires
600 Megajoules of energy. “You recover almost all the
energy consumed in the production,” she explains. La Rosa
hasn’t run a LCA of a recyclable hemp fibre composite.
Pomiers doesn’t think, however, that this form of recycling
is a viable solution. “The problem is who will collect the
products for disassembling them and separating the resin
and fibre,” he says. “If a board breaks in Paris, who will
send the board back to us? Nobody.” Instead he is working
on another solution: 3D-printed boards.
For the last few years Pomiers has been developing
3D-printed surfboards from bioplastics, produced from
cellulose. These surfboards, which he estimates will be
available in two to three years, will not use any reinforcing
fibres, instead the mechanical properties of the board will
be tuned by their 3D-printed, internal honeycomb-like
structure.
In theory, as these boards will be 100% thermoplastic,
once finished with they could be recycled like other plastic
products. They could even be melted down and fed back into
a 3D-printer to make another surfboard.
http://www.notox.fr
[1] http://www.notox.fr/en/2012/05/02/notox-yes-but-why-the-movie/
[2] N.N.: Sicomin and NOTOX Develop Bio-Resin for Surfboards, https://
netcomposites.com/news/sicomin-and-notox-develop-bio-resin-forsurfboards/
[3] La Rosa, et al; (2016), Recycling treatment of carbon fibre/epoxy
composites: Materials recovery and characterization and environmental
impacts through life cycle assessment. Composites Part B: Engineering.
104. 10.1016/j.compositesb.2016.08.015.
* Source: Youris.com
edited by Michael Thielen
Michael Allen is a A British freelance journalist covering a
wide range of science subjects, with an increasing focus
on topics around sustainability, climate change and the
bioeconomy.
14 –15 NOVEMBER 2019, MATERNUSHAUS, COLOGNE, GERMANY
The Biocomposites Conference Cologne is the world’s leading conference on
biocomposites and presents latest developments, trends and market opportunities.
Don’t miss the chance to meet key players, extend your professional network and
showcase your own innovations, right in the heart of Europe.
The conference at a glance:
• More than 250 participants and 30 exhibitors expected
• Innovative raw materials for biocomposites – Wood, natural fibres and polymers
• Market opportunities for biocomposites in consumer goods (such as music instruments,
casing and cases, furniture, tables, toys, combs and trays) as well as rigid packaging
• Latest development in technology and strategic market positioning
• Trends in biocomposite granulates for injection moulding, extrusion and 3D printing
• Latest developments in construction and automotive
Conference Manager
Dominik Vogt
Phone: +49(0)2233-48-1449
dominik.vogt@nova-institut.de
Organiser:
Sponsor Innovation
Award:
VOTE FOR
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“Biocomposite
of the Year 2019”!
www.nova-institute.eu
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www.biocompositescc.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 37

Biocomposites
Since the beginning of March 2019, the German Plastics
Center SKZ, in cooperation with Kunststofftechnik
Paderborn (KTP), has been researching possibilities for
improving the filling behaviour of natural fibre-filled melts by
adding foaming agents in the injection moulding process in a
two-year project.
The density of the natural fibres is approx. 1 g/cm³. In
contrast, mineral fillers typically have a density of more than
2 g/cm³. Due to the lower density of the filler, natural fibre-filled
plastics, such as wood polymer composites (WPC), are ideally
suited for use as lightweight construction materials with high
rigidity. Injection molding of WPC materials with fill levels of
more than 40 % by weight often leads to problems such as
the formation of flow anomalies or segregation during the
filling process. These phenomena have a considerable impact
on component quality and also make it difficult to predict
the filling of the molded part and the resulting component
properties. The two research institutes SKZ and KTP want to
counteract this problem by adding blowing agents and thus
develop innovative solutions for the use of natural fibres in
injection moulding. Based on the results of the precursor
project, in which WPC has already been successfully used
as core material for sandwich injection moulding, the filling
behavior of natural fiber-filled melts is now to be optimized.
The addition of blowing agents can significantly reduce the
material viscosity of the WPC during the filling process. This
effect is to be used to significantly improve the flow behavior
by specifically adapting the WPC formulation and the blowing
agent addition. The question of the optimum wall thickness
for foamed, natural fiber-filled injection molded components
will also be clarified.
In the cooperation of the two research centres, experimental
investigations with different WPC formulations using
chemical and physical blowing agents will be carried out on
an injection mould to be developed. In order to gain a deeper
understanding of the processes during the injection moulding
process of foamed WPC, a comprehensive rheological
characterisation of the materials used is also planned. The
knowledge gained with regard to the foaming of WPC will
finally be transferred and applied to the 2K sandwich injection
moulding process. The successful completion of the project
opens up a wide range of possibilities for the use of WPC in
previously inaccessible areas of application, for example as a
lightweight construction material.
The IGF project 20365 N of the Forschungsvereinigung
FSKZ e. V. is funded by the AiF within the framework of the
Programme for the Promotion of Industrial Community
Research (IGF) of the Federal Ministry of Economics and
Energy on the basis of a resolution of the German Bundestag.
Companies interested in the project are welcome to contact
SKZ.
www.skz.de
Improved
filling
characteristics
of natural
fiber-filled
melts
38 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Biocomposites
Biosourced composites for
aerospace applications using
bamboo fibres
T
he French companies Expleo, Arkema, Cobratex, Specific
Polymers, Cirimat, Compositadour, Lisa Aeronautics
and Mécano ID have come together in Paris,
France, late last year to design new biosourced technical
composites based on long bamboo fibres. Known as BAMCO
(Bamboo long fibre reinforced biobased Matrix Composite),
this innovation will eventually reduce the environmental footprint
of aircraft, as well as delivering benefits that extend well
beyond the aerospace industry.
Controlling its environmental impact is an increasing
concern for industry. In aerospace, research is focusing
specifically on the design of new materials. Some polymer
composites, including the glass/phenolic composites
currently used, will soon be impacted by the European
REACh regulation. As a result, there is an urgent need to
develop equally effective alternative solutions.
For the last four years, Expleo and Cirimat have been working
closely together on the concept of a biocomposite created
using continuous bamboo fibre to reinforce a biosourced
thermoplastic matrix. Already validated in the laboratory, this
concept must now be validated on the industrial scale.
The FUI BAMCO collaborative project aims to respond
specifically to this challenge by developing new biocomposites
created from long bamboo fibres. Although there are already
other solutions available that use flax or hemp fibres, these
biocomposites are completely new and unprecedented
materials that could beneficially replace glass/phenolic
composites as a result of their lightness (reducing overall
weight, and therefore fuel consumption), their thermal
resistance and the mechanical properties in terms of strength
and impact/vibration absorption. The cultivation of bamboo
also delivers an effective response to a series of ecological
imperatives: rapid growth with low water consumption, low soil
usage and the absence of any need for fertilisers or pesticides.
In aerospace, BAMCO composites could be used in cabin
interiors, in cover panels and fuselage cladding panels, and
even in the onboard galleys used to prepare and store in-flight
meals on aircraft. They could also have applications in the
manufacture of finished components for use in the marine and
leisure sports markets.
Certified by the Aerospace Valley competitiveness cluster,
and approved by the Direction Générale des Entreprises
(DGE) for inclusion in the FUI 24 single interministerial fund
earmarked to provide finance for competitiveness cluster
projects, the BAMCO project is supported by the French
regions of Occitanie Pyrénées-Méditerranée and Normandie,
as well as by Bpifrance. It draws on the expertise of eight
industry stakeholders, company and research laboratory
consortium members.
The BAMCO project is supported by Expleo, the world-class
partner in engineering, quality and digital solutions, which
has developed this innovation. With its in-depth experience
of materials engineering and aerospace industry expertise,
Expleo is involved in designing the prototype components.
It also provides the governance structure for this extensive
project, with its important implications for tomorrow’s industry.
Arkema and Specific Polymers have responsibility for
the formulation and application of the biosourced polymers
(presumably e.g. Arkema’s biobased polyamides - MT) used
for the composite matrices.
Cobratex will research and propose candidate species of
bamboo, some of which are grown in France. In responding
to the constraints involved in using the full range of matrices
and composite processes, Cobratex will optimise its own
conversion process, as well as its own innovative reinforcement
technologies. The company will also be responsible for the
upscaling of the techniques used to apply the technical
reinforcement solutions and semi-finished products developed
directly by Cirimat.
The research laboratories Cirimat and Compositadour are
involved in using the biocomposites in the laboratory, and
on an industrial scale respectively. The Cirimat contribution
focuses on the design and laboratory-scale production of
continuous bamboo fibre composites using thermoplastic and
thermosetting matrices.
Mécano ID is responsible for conducting the vibration
absorption tests and modelling biocomposite behaviour.
Lastly, plane maker Lisa Aeronautics will incorporate a
prototype component in its future aircraft.
The BAMCO entered its operational phase end of 2018
with the launch of development work. The first prototype
components are scheduled for 2021. MT
www.expleogroup.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 39

Biocomposites
Strategic
partnership
to boost
natural fiber
reinforced
biopolymers
Spectalite, located in Heidelberg, Germany with its
manufacturing unit in Quzhou, Zhejiang, PR China,
is a global supplier of different natural fiber reinforced
material compounds and sheets for applications
in the automotive, personal care, houseware, agriculture
and gardening industry. Spectalite is manufacturing durable
grades with traditional thermoplastics (Spectadur) as
well as biodegradable and biobased materials (Spectabio).
These are available as compounds and sheets. All grades
are either reinforced with mechanically extracted, performance
bamboo fibers, rice husk, wheat straw/husk or other
natural fibers; they are available for injection, extrusion,
thermoforming and press molding processes.
Evegreen, located in Mislinja, Slovenia, is a supplier
of biodegradable products across different industries.
Evegreen recently launched a series of biodegradable plant
pots in soil targeting different gardening centers and chains
all over Europe. Seeing a great demand in their natural fiber
reinforced, biodegradable products, the company is now
scaling up to meet industrial production using Spectalite
materials.
Spectalite and Evegreen decided to enter into a
strategic co-operation to boost biodegradable applications
substituting single-use traditional plastic parts. Joint
European operations are planned to be set-up in Slovenia,
the center of Europe. Both companies will jointly invest
into materials R&D, application development, material
compounding and part molding. Initial focus will be
gardening, agricultural and hydroponics applications. Both
companies won international awards for their solutions.
Traditional, non-biodegradable thermoplastics are
widely used in gardening and agricultural applications to
increase crop yield and to ensure food security. Singleuse
applications are including flower pots, plant pots,
root trainers, etc. Hydroponics is a fast-rising sector in
the agricultural industry with most of the hydroponic
reservoirs currently being built of single-use plastic pots;
thousands and thousands of additional non-biodegradable
thermoplastic containers are polluting the environment
every day, from an industry that wants to be eco-friendly,
clean and sustainable.
The substitution of non-biodegradable plastics with
biodegradable polymers in these applications promises
to effectively reduce the constantly rising non-degradable
plastics accumulation in the environment. The use of
biodegradable polymers and their products in the gardening,
agricultural and hydroponics industry is still very limited;
inadequate properties, difficult processability, limited raw
material supply, new supply chains, lack of understanding
and experience and especially high material costs of
biopolymers are still restricting the use of biodegradable
materials.
Spectalite and Evegreen´s fiber reinforcements in
carefully designed material formulations do not only
improve the mechanical performance of the final part, they
also help to adjust the speed of biodegradation to customer
expectations. Finally, the reinforcements decrease the
material price significantly compared to similar materials
that are made out of biodegradable polymers. Only when
gardening products, like plant or hydroponic pots, come
with a really attractive price, end customers will accept ecofriendly
solutions on a mainstream scale. MT
www.bioplasticpot.com | www.spectalite.eu
40 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Biocomposites
PLA based
WPC
Biocomposites of PLA and Wood-
Thailand’s new material
Biocomposites are considered new materials in Thailand’s
industry and markets. Thailand has been working
with both plastics and wood but until now they are
completely different sectors of the industry and market.
Several products are made from plastic whereas wood is
generally used for furniture.
Different sorts of wood are grown in Thailand, e.g. teak,
rosewood, mahogany and parawood, to name just a few.
This wood is used for making high value furniture while
the residues are discarded as waste of no value. Now this
wood waste is being ground into Wood flour and added to
mouldings, e.g. for floorings. Wood floorings are considered
high value products because they still retain the look of
wood.
Wood plastic composites are now entering the home
and furniture markets in Thailand. As of yet, they are a
composite of plastic, mainly PVC with wood powder. Popular
applications of these plastic and wood composites are door
frames, floor and wall decorations, but also kitchen ware.
These composites look like wood and are thus considered
novel products.
Biocomposites of wood and biobased plastics are
practically unknown until today. Because of the local
production of PLA in Thailand, the plastic industry is now
developing new products using these environmentally
friendly bioplastics. With abundant supplies of wood
powder from varieties of wood, the biocomposites with
PLA and wood open up a new market. The big advantage
is, that both PLA and wood are from renewable agricultural
resources. Wood powder by itself has no commercial value.
On the other hand, PLA is still produced in small quantities,
the cost is still high. By adding low cost wood powder to
the PLA the cost can be reduced, creating aesthetic and
environmentally friendly products.
Global Biopolymers (Bangkok, Thailand) has been
developing such biocomposites of wood and PLA. Initial
applications can be found in different injection molded and
extruded products. Among the products made from these
PLA/wood composites are cutlery and home decoratives.
Global Biopolymer is using wood powder from teak,
rosewood, parawood for the production of its biocomposites.
This wood powder made from waste from the furniture
industry. The waste is being milled into powder, compounded
with PLA in a compounding and pelletizing line. Other sorts
of wood as well as cellulose are under development. Among
them are bamboo, rice husk and pineapple fiber. MT
www.globalbiopolymers.com
Cutlery made from Teak+PLA ; Rosewood+PLA;
Parawood+PLA
Pellets of wood + PLA for injection/extrusion molding
Home decoratives made from Teak+PLA, Rosewood+PLA
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 41

PRESENTS
The Bioplastics Award will be presented
during the 14 th European Bioplastics Conference
December 03-04, 2019, Berlin, Germany
2019
THE FOURTEENTH ANNUAL GLOBAL AWARD FOR
DEVELOPERS, MANUFACTURERS AND USERS OF
BIOBASED AND/OR BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS.
Call for proposals
Enter your own product, service or development,
or nominate your favourite example from
another organisation
Please let us know until August 31 st
1. What the product, service or
development is and does
2. Why you think this product,
service or development should win an award
3. What your (or the proposed) company
or organisation does
Your entry should not exceed 500 words (approx. 1 page) and
may also be supported with photographs, samples, marketing
brochures and/or technical documentation (cannot be sent
back). The 5 nominees must be prepared to provide a 30 second
videoclip and come to Berlin on December 3 rd , 2019.
An entry form can be found at
www.bioplasticsmagazine.com/en/events/award/bio-award19.pdf
supported by
42 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Materials
Coated paper cups made
home-compostable
By:
Chinnawat Srirojpinyo
Marketing Technical Service Manager
PTT MCC Biochem Company
Bangkok, Thailand
Paper cups are one of the most popular single use food
contact application and they are always mistreated when
disposed. Most people do not know that there are polymer
liners inside these cups and these cups end up in paper bins or
compost sites which causes problems in waste management.
PTT MCC Biochem Company Limited has introduced BioPBS,
the only biobased polybutylene succinate (PBS) to the market
in 2016. BioPBS is a renewably based and compostable plastic
material that will also biodegrade at ambient conditions. Like
LDPE, it is flexible with a heat resistance of up to 100°C (HDT B).
The heat resistance is very important for storage and logistics as it
can prevent products from being deformed at high temperatures
during transport and storage. This uniqueness makes BioPBS
the most suitable compostable polymer for coating application.
Currently, BioPBS FZ79AC, the industrial compostable grade,
is widely used in cup stock coating. With its balance on adhesion
and melt strength, FZ79AC can run on commercial LDPE lines
up to 500 m/min without any adjustment on the machine. The
paper coated with FZ79AC (both 1-side and 2-side coating)
is repulpable and can this be recycled to new paper (tested by
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, USA and PTS Heidenau,
Germany in Europe). Although this grade can biodegrade at
ambient condition, it cannot biodegrade fast enough to meet the
strict requirement of Home Compostable.
Aiming to be more environmentally friendly and to meet
the requirements of a circular economy, PTTMCC have been
developing new home compostable grades for paper coating for
hot beverages. With this new grade, BioPBS-coated paper cups
can fulfil all end-of-life options. If consumers drink and dispose
cups inside the stores, stores can collect and send them to
compost sites or paper mills for recycle its fiber into new paper.
The remaining BioPBS liners can then be sent to compost sites
later. If consumers take away their cups and dispose them in
regular trash bins, or – at home - these cups can biodegrade as
the material is home compostable. The last option is to be sent to
incineration to generate energy.
This idea was submitted to NextGen Cup Challenge and
PTTMCC was one of the top 12 winners from 480 participants
in the Challenge. This grade has been successfully tested in
commercial coating lines and cup forming lines and complies
to the European food contact regulation EU 10/2011. Currently,
PTTMCC are testing the disintegration and expected to be
completed soon.
Other than coated paper cups, BioPBS can provide home
compostable solutions for flexible packaging. Home compostable
flexible packaging has been introduced to market using BioPBS
FD92PM as sealant layer with combination of cellulose film or
paper.
www.pttmcc.com
Biodegradation (%)
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0
-10
15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165
Time (days)
Cellulose BioPBS FZ71/FZ91 (50/50) coated on paper (20/320)
Renewably sourced
Virgin feedstock
PAPER
Paper coating / Cup forming
PAPER CUP
Product and Service
PE Cup
FZ79AC Cup
Dev Grade
0
Month
RECYCLE
fiber into new paper
1
Month
Consumer and User
2
Month
3
Month
INDUSTRIAL
Composting
60°C / 6 months
4
Month
Biomass
HOME
Composting
30°C / 1 year
INCINERATION
LEAKAGE
5
Month
Energy
Open landfill
6
Month
On testing
process
On testing
process
On testing
process
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 43

Basics
Compostable Plastics &
Home Composting -
Food for thought!
By:
Ramani Narayan
University Distinguished Professor
Michigan State University, USA
Certified, verifiable compostable plastics is the “enabling
technology” to efficiently and efficaciously divert
food and other organic wastes from landfills &
open dumps (mismanaged wastes in the emerging economy
countries) to environmentally responsible end-of-life
solutions like composting. Compostable defines boundary
conditions under which complete biodegradation (microbial
utilization) needs to be validated using ASTM/ISO International
Standards. ASTM D6400 & D6868 is used for USA-
BPI certifications. EN 13432, ISO 18606 are specifications
for compostable packaging used in European certifications,
and ISO 17088 is a specification standard for compostable
plastics used in Asia. AS 4736 and 5810 is used in Australia.
The fundamental requirements are the same in all
these standards – 90%+ biodegradation as measured by the
evolved carbon dioxide from microbial metabolism in 180
days or less; 90 % of the product passes through a 2 mm
sieve after 12 weeks in active composting vessels, and show
no eco or phyto toxicity as per the standards.
The Composting Process
Composting is a process in which microorganisms break
down organic carbon substrates and produce carbon
dioxide, water, heat, and a relatively stable organic product
called humus. Composting proceeds through three phases:
1) the mesophilic, or moderate-temperature phase, which
lasts for a couple of days, 2) the thermophilic, or hightemperature
phase, which can last from a few days to
several months, and finally, 3) a several-month cooling and
maturation phase – see figure 1 for compost temperaturetime
profile.
Different communities of microorganisms predominate
during the various composting phases. They utilize
the substrates’ carbon as food/fuel for its life process.
Mesophilic microorganisms biologically oxidize accessible
carbon substrates to carbon dioxide (CO 2
) inside the cell.
This is a highly exothermic process and the heat generated
causes the temperature of the compost to rise rapidly.
As the temperature rises above 40°C, the mesophilic
microorganisms become less competitive and are replaced
by thermophiles. During the thermophilic phase, the
higher temperatures accelerate the breakdown of proteins,
fats, and complex carbohydrates like cellulose and
hemicellulose, the major structural molecules in plants.
Temperatures of 55°C and above destroy human or plant
pathogens, ensuing a safer product. The U.S. EPA, and
National Organics Standards Board (NOSB) mandate that
compost must achieve a minimum temperature of at least
131ºF (55°C) and remain there for a minimum of 3 days for
safety reasons. However, temperatures over 65°C kill many
forms of microbes and limit the rate of decomposition,
so aeration and mixing keep process temperatures below
this temperature. As supply of the high-energy carbon
compounds depletes, compost temperature gradually
decreases and mesophilic microorganisms take over for the
Figure 1. Compost pile temperature as a function of time in days
140
130
120
110
Temperature (°F)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
Arrows indicate
turning events
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130
Days
44 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Basics
final phase of “curing” or maturation of the organic matter.
Figure 2 shows the growth of bacteria vs temperature
regime.
Therefore, whether composting is done at home, in
a residential/community backyard, or in an industrial
facility, the process must ensure a succession of microbial
communities (mesophiles -- thermophiles -- mesophiles)
and corresponding temperature regimes to operate. This
ensures a safe and quality compost product and process.
Most industrial composting systems operate within this
regime and process parameters. Best practices for home
or backyard composting teach operating the composting
process similarly with the correct mix of feedstocks,
humidity, aeration, and temperature.
Home Composting
There is currently no international standard specifying
conditions for home composting of biodegradable plastics.
However, there are several national standards, such as
the Australian norm AS 5810 “Biodegradable plastics –
biodegradable plastics suitable for home composting”. TÜV
Austria developed the OK compost – home certification
scheme, requiring at least 90 % degradation in 12 months
at ambient temperature. The French standard NF T 51-
800 “Plastics — Specifications for plastics suitable for
home composting” specifies the same requirements for
certification. Italy has a national standard for composting at
ambient temperature, UNI 11183:2006.
These standards assess the biodegradability of the test
plastics in a controlled laboratory protocol using the same
or similar test matrix used in EN 13432 operating at ambient
temperatures (20 30°C) for a one-year period. It is possible
and very likely that homeowners do not follow the correct
protocol and allow dissipation of heat resulting in much
lower temperatures. They may choose not to use the proper
mix of feedstocks (C/N ratio), aeration, moisture content,
and the pile could have pockets of anaerobic activity. The
process could operate for 2 months, 6 months or one year.
Such uncontrolled, poorly managed operations are not
representative of an acceptable “composting process”.
The certification of home compostability using any of the
above-mentioned standards does not guarantee complete
biodegradability in each uncontrolled, poorly managed
home composting operations.
Therefore, it is imperative to clearly define and
characterize home composting with respect to the compost
matrix, time, temperature, moisture, and other operating
parameters. ASTM committee D20.96 initiated a new
work item on developing standards in the residential/
home composting space. The first one is “Standard
practice for testing compostable plastics in residential or
home composting. Given the wide variation of operating
parameters possible, three residential/home composting
best practices representing two extremes and one middle
set of conditions will be included. The parameters will be
identified based on learnings from meta-analysis of the
literature papers and operating sites.
Example for a (hopefully) properly managed home (backyard)
compost as practised by your Editor:
“This year” in compartment #1 organic waste such as kitchen
residues, and yard-clippings are collected. The organic matter
from the previous year is “maturing” in compartment #2.
The mature compost (humus) from the year before that (from
compartment #3) is being spread out in the garden.
Then, with the beginning of a new garden-year, the collected
organic matter in #1 and #2 will be turned upside down, #3 is now
empty. The fresh organic waste will now be collected in #3.
#1 from last year can “mature”, and the humus from #2 can now
be spread out in the garden. And so on …
The times for turning the heaps and changing compartments can
vary. It could well be two or more times per year, depending e.g. on
climate conditions (MT)
Figure 2: Composting regime
Composting regime
thermophiles
Growth rate of bacteria
psychrophiles
mesophiles
hyperthermophiles
-10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110
Temperature (°C)
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 45

new
series
BIOPLASTIC
patents
U.S. Patent 10,173,353 (January 8, 2019) “Biocomposite
And/Or Biomaterial With Sunflower Seed Shells/Husks”,
Ulrich Wendeln, Ulrich Meyer; (SPC Sunflower Plastic
Compound GMBH, (Garrel, DE)
Ref: WO 2013/072146
The use of sunflower seed shells/husks as a biocomposite
filler for thermoplastics is taught. Thermoplastics shown to
be suitable for use in biocomposites with sunflower seed
shells/husks are polyethylene, polypropylene, polylactic
acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene,
PVC and polystyrene which accommodate the
preferred processing temperature of up to 200 – 230 C. The
desired properties of the composite based sunflower seed
shells and husks are influenced by the control of the water
content, grain size and fat content of the processed shells
and husks. Typical for the biocomposite will be a shell/husk
size of 0.01 – 0.5mm.
The sunflower seed husks/shells can compete with woodplastic
composites based on wood flour, kenaf, jute or flax.
Use of the sunflower seed husks/shells may offer a lower
cost base for the thermoplastic reinforcement component.
This section highlights recently granted patents
that are relevant to the specific theme/focus of
the Bioplastics Magazine issue. The information
offered is intended to acquaint the reader with
a sampling of know-how being developed to
enable growth of the bioplastics markets.
U.S. Patent 10,137,596 (November 27, 2018) “Flexible
High-Density Fiberboard and Method for Manufacturing
The Same” Hanas Dahy, Jan Knippers; (Universität Stuttgart
Institut Fur Tragkonstruktionen Und Konstruktives
Entwerfen), (Stuttgart, DE)
Ref: WO2016005026
This invention teaches a flexible high density fibreboard
made from 80 – 90 % straw fiber and a vinyl acetateethylene-vinyl
ester copolymer (thermoplastic elastomer).
The straw fiber is prepared to a length of 0.5 – 5.0 mm prior
to mixing with the thermoplastic elastomer. Other additives
can be incorporated to enhance flame retardancy and
coloration. A variety of straw fibers are shown to be suitable
for this invention, eg wheat, corn, rice, oat, barley and rye.
Rice straw fibers are preferred because of the natural high
silica content(up to 20 %) which offers a degree of flame
retardant performance.
The fibreboard possesses good tensile strength and
modulus. In addition the system exhibits recycle capability as
well as aerobic compostability. The fibreboard taught offers
an environmentally friendly alternative to formaldehyde and
isocyanate based systems.
Applications taught are for furniture, partitioning walls,
anti-slip/anti-shock flooring and under layers for tile
flooring.
46 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/19] Vol. 14

U.S. Patent 10,273,353 (April 30, 2019) “Method And
System For Predicting Biocomposite Formulations And
Processing Considerations Based On Product To Be Formed
From Biocomposite Material”, James Henry, Satyanarayan
Panigrahl, Radhey Lal Kushwaha, (CNH Industrial Canada
Ltd), (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada)
Ref: WO2015/114448
This patent teaches a system and method for predicting
the formulation, processing method and processing
parameters for designing and making biocomposite
materials. The processing parameters include screw speed,
barrel temperature, die/mold temperature, back pressure,
injection pressure and holding pressure. The predictive
properties include mechanical properties (strength, impact
and modulus), thermal properties and electrical properties.
The predictive attributes of this invention are based on finite
element analysis and artificial neural networks.
The biocomposite predictive capability includes both
polymer matrices and renewable reinforcements; one or
both of which may be renewable. The predictive basis of this
invention improves the efficiency of the product design and
prototyping phase and can be used to optimize the cost of
the final biocomposite material early in the development
stage.
The invention teaches applicability to various thermal
processing techniques, eg extrusion, injection molding,
thermoforming and blow molding.
U.S. Patent 10,239,992 (March 26, 2019) “Carbon Black
Modified Polyesters”, Scott B. King, Brandon M. Kobilka,
Joseph Kuczynski, Jason T. Wertz, (International Business
Machines Corporation), (Amonk, NY United States)
The production of polyester composite materials that
contain covalently bonded carbon black particles is taught.
The carbon black particles have surface functional groups,
eg hydroxyl, that enable grafting of a polyester and/or
initiate ring opening of a monomer to form a polyester
such a polylactic acid(from its dimer form; 3,6-dimethyl-
1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione through the process of reactive
extrusion). The carbon black that is taught can have
other reactive functional groups such as carboxylic acids.
Grafting and/or reactive extrusion can render greater
homogeneity and distribution of the carbon black which
can lower the requisite level of the carbon black needed
for achieving the desired properties, eg color, electrical
property performance. The polylactic acid matrix grafted to
the carbon black allows for the potential of carbon black
color concentrates useful for blending at the extruder.
The covalently bound carbon black also reduces the
amounts of free carbon black that become problematic
in regrind processes often used to improve material use
efficiency.
U.S. Patent 10,266,646 (April 23, 2019) “Bio-Based
Copolyester Or Copolyethylene Terephthalate”, Sanjay
Mheta, (Auriga Polymers Inc), (Charlotte, NC United States)
Ref: WO2016/140901
This patent teaches a bio-copolyester comprising 92
– 99 mole % bioPET made using conventional polyester
technology where the ethylene glycol and terephthalic
acid constitutents are both bio-derived(renewable in
character). The remaining 1 – 8 mole % are selected from
bio-derived diacids, eg succinic acid, 2,5-furandicarboxylic
acid and/or bio- derived diols, eg bio-diethylene glycol,
bio-cyclohexanedimethanol and/or bio-based branching
agents, eg bio-trimethylol propane, bio-pentaerythritol.
The selection of the 1- 8 mole % content is based on the
attributes of the molded article and the process for making
the molded article. It is taught that both the rheological
control and crystallization rate is key for the blow molding
process and the articles made.
U.S. Patent 10,316,139 (June 11, 2019) “Aliphatic-Aromatic
Biodegradable Polyester”, Catia Bastioli, Giampietro
Borsotti, Luigi Capuzzi, Roberto Vallero ( Novamont S.P.A.)
(Novara Italy)
Ref: WO2009/135921
Aliphatic-aromatic biodegradable polyesters obtained
from aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, polyfunctional aromatic
acids of renewable origin, particularly 2,5-furandicarboxylic
acid and diols are taught. As an example, the polyester is
comprised of 40 – 70 mole % 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid,
30 – 60 mole % of a renewable based aliphatic diacid such
as adipic acid or sebacic acid with the renewable diol
being 1,4-butanediol. The properties of the standalone
polyester are tailored by selection of the FDCA content and
the aliphatic diacid content as well as the type of aliphatic
diacid; adipic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, suberic and
brasslylic. Further property performance enhancements
are taught through blends with other polymers such as
polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanaote, starch and cellulose
as well as organic fillers.
The materials taught are suitable for films, fiber,
thermoforms, injection molding and blow molding.
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/19] Vol. 14 47

Natural Rubber © -Institut.eu | 2018
Starch-based Polymers
Lignin-based Polymers
Cellulose-based Polymers
©
PBAT
PET-like
PU
APC
PTT
PLA
PU
PA
PTF
PHA
-Institut.eu | 2017
PMMA
HDMA
DN5
PVC
Isosorbide
1,3 Propanediol
Caprolactam
UPR
PP
Propylene
Vinyl Chloride
Ethylene
Sorbitol
Lysine
MPG
Epoxy resins
Epichlorohydrin
EPDM
Ethanol
Glucose
PE
MEG
Terephthalic
acid
Isobutanol
PET
p-Xylene
Starch Saccharose
Fructose
Lignocellulose
Natural Rubber
Plant oils
Hemicellulose
Glycerol
PU
Fatty acids
NOPs
Polyols
PU
PU
LCDA
THF
PBT
1,4-Butanediol
Succinic acid
3-HP
5-HMF/
5-CMF
Aniline
Furfural
PA
SBR
Acrylic acid
2,5-FDCA/
FDME
PU
PFA
PU
PTF
ABS
PHA
Full study available at www.bio-based.eu/reports
Full study available at www.bio-based.eu/reports
PEF
PBS(X)
©
-Institut.eu | 2017
Full study available at www.bio-based.eu/markets
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7 th
Bio-based Polymers & Building Blocks
The best market reports available
Commercialisation updates on
bio-based building blocks
7 th 1
Data Data for for
2018 2018
UPDATE
2019
UPDATE
2019
Bio-based Building Blocks
Bio-based Building Blocks
and Polymers – Global Capacities
and Polymers – Global Capacities
and Trends 2018-2023
and Trends 2017-2022
Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) as chemical
feedstock for polymers – technologies,
polymers, developers and producers
Succinic acid: New bio-based
building block with a huge market
and environmental potential?
Million Tonnes
6
5
4
3
2
1
2011
Bio-based polymers:
Evolution of worldwide production capacities from 2011 to 2022
Lactic
acid
Adipic
acid
Methyl
Metacrylate
Itaconic
acid
Furfuryl
alcohol
Levulinic
acid
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Dedicated
Drop-in
Smart Drop-in
Superabsorbent
Polymers
Pharmaceutical/Cosmetic
Acidic ingredient for denture cleaner/toothpaste
Antidote
Calcium-succinate is anticarcinogenic
Efferescent tablets
Intermediate for perfumes
Pharmaceutical intermediates (sedatives,
antiphlegm/-phogistics, antibacterial, disinfectant)
Preservative for toiletries
Removes fish odour
Used in the preparation of vitamin A
Food
Bread-softening agent
Flavour-enhancer
Flavouring agent and acidic seasoning
in beverages/food
Microencapsulation of flavouring oils
Preservative (chicken, dog food)
Protein gelatinisation and in dry gelatine
desserts/cake flavourings
Used in synthesis of modified starch
Succinic
Acid
Industrial
De-icer
Engineering plastics and epoxy curing
agents/hardeners
Herbicides, fungicides, regulators of plantgrowth
Intermediate for lacquers + photographic chemicals
Plasticizer (replaces phtalates, adipic acid)
Polymers
Solvents, lubricants
Surface cleaning agent
(metal-/electronic-/semiconductor-industry)
Other
Anodizing Aluminium
Chemical metal plating, electroplating baths
Coatings, inks, pigments (powder/radiation-curable
coating, resins for water-based paint,
dye intermediate, photocurable ink, toners)
Fabric finish, dyeing aid for fibres
Part of antismut-treatment for barley seeds
Preservative for cut flowers
Soil-chelating agent
Authors:
Raj Authors: Chinthapalli, Raj Chinthapalli, Dr. Pia Skoczinski, Michael Carus, Michael Wolfgang Carus, Wolfgang Baltus, Baltus,
Doris Doris de de Guzman, Harald Harald Käb, Käb, Achim Achim Raschka, Jan Jan Ravenstijn,
April 2018
2019
This and other reports on the bio-based economy are available at
This www.bio-based.eu/reports
and other on the bio-based economy are available at
www.bio-based.eu/reports
Authors: Achim Raschka, Dr. Pia Skoczinski, Jan Ravenstijn and
Michael Carus
nova-Institut GmbH, Germany
February 2019
This and other reports on the bio-based economy are available at
www.bio-based.eu/reports
Authors: Raj Chinthapalli, Dr. Pia Skoczinski, Achim Raschka,
Michael Carus, nova-Institut GmbH, Germany
Update March 2019
This and other reports on the bio-based economy are available
at www.bio-based.eu/reports
Standards and labels for
bio-based products
Bio-based polymers, a revolutionary change
Comprehensive trend report on PHA, PLA, PUR/TPU, PA
and polymers based on FDCA and SA: Latest developments,
producers, drivers and lessons learnt
million t/a
Selected bio-based building blocks: Evolution of worldwide
production capacities from 2011 to 2021
3,5
actual data
forecast
3
2,5
Bio-based polymers, a
revolutionary change
2
1,5
Jan Ravenstijn 2017
1
0,5
Picture: Gehr Kunststoffwerk
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
2021
L-LA
Epichlorohydrin
MEG
Ethylene
Sebacic
acid
1,3-PDO
MPG
Lactide
E-mail:
j.ravenstijn@kpnmail.nl
Succinic
acid
1,4-BDO
2,5-FDCA
D-LA
11-Aminoundecanoic acid
DDDA
Adipic
acid
Mobile: +31.6.2247.8593
Author: Doris de Guzman, Tecnon OrbiChem, United Kingdom
July 2017
This and other reports on the bio-based economy are available at
www.bio-based.eu/reports
Authors: Lara Dammer, Michael Carus and Dr. Asta Partanen
nova-Institut GmbH, Germany
May 2017
This and other reports on the bio-based economy are available at
www.bio-based.eu/reports
Author: Jan Ravenstijn, Jan Ravenstijn Consulting, the Netherlands
April 2017
This and other reports on the bio-based economy are available at
www.bio-based.eu/reports
Policies impacting bio-based
plastics market development
and plastic bags legislation in Europe
Asian markets for bio-based chemical
building blocks and polymers
Market study on the consumption
of biodegradable and compostable
plastic products in Europe
2015 and 2020
Share of Asian production capacity on global production by polymer in 2016
100%
A comprehensive market research report including
consumption figures by polymer and application types
as well as by geography, plus analyses of key players,
relevant policies and legislation and a special feature on
biodegradation and composting standards and labels
80%
60%
Bestsellers
40%
20%
0%
PBS(X)
APC –
cyclic
PA
PET
PTT
PBAT
Starch
PHA
PLA
PE
Blends
Disposable
tableware
Biowaste
bags
Carrier
bags
Rigid
packaging
Flexible
packaging
Authors: Dirk Carrez, Clever Consult, Belgium
Jim Philp, OECD, France
Dr. Harald Kaeb, narocon Innovation Consulting, Germany
Lara Dammer & Michael Carus, nova-Institute, Germany
March 2017
This and other reports on the bio-based economy are available at
www.bio-based.eu/reports
Author: Wolfgang Baltus, Wobalt Expedition Consultancy, Thailand
This and other reports on the bio-based economy are available at
www.bio-based.eu/reports
Authors: Harald Kaeb (narocon, lead), Florence Aeschelmann,
Lara Dammer, Michael Carus (nova-Institute)
April 2016
The full market study (more than 300 slides, 3,500€) is available at
bio-based.eu/top-downloads.
www.bio-based.eu/reports
1
48 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/19] Vol. 14

Brand owners
Brand-Owner’s
perspective
on bioplastics and how to
unleash its full potential
ALDI U.S., headquartered in Batavia, Illinois, USA,
announced earlier this year a series of commitments it has
made to help combat the global plastics crisis. By 2025,
100 % of ALDI U.S. packaging, including plastic packaging,
will be reusable, recyclable or compostable. ALDI will also
reduce packaging material across its entire range by at least
15 %. ALDI U.S. has the ability to influence how its products
are sourced, produced and brought to shelves because more
than 90 % of its range is ALDI U.S.-exclusive.
“ALDI U.S. has never offered single-use plastic shopping
bags. And while we’re pleased that we’ve helped keep billions
of plastic grocery bags out of landfills and oceans, we want to
continue to do more,” said Jason Hart, CEO of ALDI U.S.
Aldi-Süd and Aldi-Nord, in Germany where Aldi was founded
by the Albrecht family in 1961, announced in June that the
company will abolish free fruit and vegetable bags. From now
on, these so-called knot bags will only be available made from
renewable raw materials and customers will pay 1 Euro-cent
per bag in all branches of the two German discounters. The
companies will also be offering reusable nets from autumn
2019. MT
https://corporate.aldi.us/en/corporate-responsibility
https://unternehmen.aldi-sued.de/de/verantwortung
‘Basics‘ book
on bioplastics
110 pages full
color, paperback
Bioplastics
ISBN 978-3-
9814981-1-0
Biokunststoffe
2. überarbeitete
Auflage
ISBN 978-3-
9814981-2-7
This book, created and published by Polymedia Publisher,
maker of bioplastics MAGAZINE is vailable in English and
German language (German in the second, revised edition).
The book is intended to offer a rapid and uncomplicated
introduction into the subject of bioplastics, and 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, and lay readers. It gives
an introduction to plastics and bioplastics, explains which
renewable resources can be used to produce bioplastics,
what types of bioplastic 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.
An extensive index allows the reader to find specific aspects
quickly, and is complemented by a comprehensive literature
list and a guide to sources of additional information on the
Internet.
The author Michael Thielen is editor and publisher
bioplastics MAGAZINE. He is a qualified machinery design
engineer with a degree in plastics technology from the RWTH
University in Aachen. He has written several books on the
subject of blow-moulding technology and disseminated his
knowledge of plastics in numerous presentations, seminars,
guest lectures and teaching assignments.
Aldi Store in Simi Valley, California (Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com)
Founded by the Albrecht family, the first ALDI store opened in
1961 in Germany, making ALDI the first discounter in the world.
Headquartered in Batavia, Illinois, ALDI U.S. now has more than 1,900
stores across 36 states, employs over 25,000 people and has been
steadily growing since opening its first US store in Iowa in 1976.
ALDI is present in about 20 countries arount the world.
www.aldi.com
Order now for € 18.65 or US-$ 25.00
(+ VAT where applicable, plus shipping and handling,
ask for details) order at www.bioplasticsmagazine.de/
books, by phone +49 2161 6884463 or by e-mail
books@bioplasticsmagazine.com
Or subscribe and get it as a free gift
(see page 57 for details, outside Germany only)
bioplastics MAGAZINE [01/19] Vol. 14 49

Basics
Glossary 4.3 last update issue 01/2019
In bioplastics MAGAZINE again and again
the same expressions appear that some of our readers
might not (yet) be familiar with. This glossary shall help
with these terms and shall help avoid repeated explanations
such as PLA (Polylactide) 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 non-renewable (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.
1 st Generation feedstock | Carbohydrate rich
plants such as corn or sugar cane that can
also be used as food or animal feed are called
food crops or 1 st generation feedstock. Bred
my mankind over centuries for highest energy
efficiency, currently, 1 st generation feedstock
is the most efficient feedstock for the production
of bioplastics as it requires the least
amount of land to grow and produce the highest
yields. [bM 04/09]
2 nd Generation feedstock | refers to feedstock
not suitable for food or feed. It can be either
non-food crops (e.g. cellulose) or waste materials
from 1 st generation feedstock (e.g.
waste vegetable oil). [bM 06/11]
3 rd Generation feedstock | This term currently
relates to biomass from algae, which – having
a higher growth yield than 1 st and 2 nd generation
feedstock – were given their own category.
It also relates to bioplastics from waste
streams such as CO 2
or methane [bM 02/16]
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]
Since this Glossary will not be printed
in each issue you can download a pdf version
from our website (bit.ly/OunBB0)
bioplastics MAGAZINE is grateful to European Bioplastics for the permission to use parts of their Glossary.
Version 4.0 was revised using EuBP’s latest version (Jan 2015).
[*: bM ... refers to more comprehensive article previously published in bioplastics MAGAZINE)
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]
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 (radio carbon 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
third party institutions. For the property
biobased such labels are in place by certifiers
→DIN CERTCO and →Vinçotte who both base
their certifications on the technical specification
as described in [4,5]
A certification and 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 | 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 bio-based 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, due to the fact that is 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 warmingpotential
[1,2,15]
50 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Basics
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
through 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
Cellophane | Clear film on the basis of →cellulose
[bM 01/10]
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 (multisugar)
[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]
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 the 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.
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. In order
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 | 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 glykol made from bio-ethanol
(from e.g. sugar cane). Developments to
make terephthalic acid from renewable resources
are under way. 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 pants (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 | proteins that catalyze chemical
reactions
Enzyme-mediated plastics | are no →bioplastics.
Instead, a conventional non-biodegradable
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 non-biodegradable
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, 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.
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 | 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.
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 51

Basics
Gelatine | Translucent brittle solid substance,
colorless or slightly yellow, nearly tasteless
and odorless, 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 is 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 → green
house gases.
Glucose | Monosaccharide (or simple sugar).
G. is the most important carbohydrate (sugar)
in biology. G. 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 water
resistant and weather proof 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 weather proof, 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 0.01 percent of the
global agricultural area of 5 billion hectares.
It is not yet foreseeable to what extent an increased
use of food residues, non-food crops
or cellulosic biomass (see also →1 st /2 nd /3 rd
generation feedstock) in bioplastics production
might lead to an even further reduced
land use in the future [bM 04/09, 01/14]
LCA | 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, ecobalance or cradle-tograve
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 main
land-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, a number of standardisation
projects are in progress at ISO and ASTM
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
size, such as bacteria, funghi or yeast.
Molecule | 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 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. Oxodegradable
or oxo-fragmentable 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. baby bottles or CDs. Criticized for its
BPA (→ Bisphenol-A) content.
PCL | Polycaprolactone, a synthetic (fossil
based), 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
bio-ethanol (sugar cane) and (until now fossil)
terephthalic acid [bM 04/14]
PGA | Polyglycolic acid or Polyglycolide is a biodegradable,
thermoplastic polymer and the
simplest linear, aliphatic polyester. Besides
ist 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 there are also bacteria
that hold intracellular reserves in for of
of polyhydroxy alkanoates. Here the microorganisms
store a particularly high level of
52 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Basics
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 PHSs 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 similarly to PET
produced 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 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 resource
efficient 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 → Vinçotte. 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 name for the sugar-family.
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 finshed products
Sorbitol | Sugar alcohol, obtained by reduction
of glucose changing the aldehyde group
to an additional hydroxyl group. S. 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 polymerchains
in 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 → amylose and →
amylopectin known. [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 butanic 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.
Sustainable | 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. The Brundtland Commission
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).
Sustainable sourcing | of renewable feedstock
for biobased plastics is a prerequisite
for more sustainable products. 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 Bon-
Sucro, are an appropriate tool to ensure the
sustainable sourcing of biomass for all applications
around the globe.
Sustainability | as defined by European Bioplastics,
has three dimensions: economic, social
and environmental. This has been known
as “the triple bottom line of sustainability”.
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. Sustainability
is about making products useful to
markets and, at the same time, having societal
benefits and lower environmental impact
than the alternatives currently available. 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.
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)
Vinçotte | → TÜV Austria Belgium
WPC | Wood Plastic Composite. Composite
materials made of wood fiber/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
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 53

Suppliers Guide
1. Raw Materials
AGRANA Starch
Bioplastics
Conrathstraße 7
A-3950 Gmuend, Austria
bioplastics.starch@agrana.com
www.agrana.com
Xinjiang Blue Ridge Tunhe
Polyester Co., Ltd.
No. 316, South Beijing Rd. Changji,
Xinjiang, 831100, P.R.China
Tel.: +86 994 2716865
Mob: +86 18699400676
maxirong@lanshantunhe.com
http://www.lanshantunhe.com
PBAT & PBS resin supplier
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
39 mm
Simply contact:
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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 present 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
www.bioplasticsmagazine.com
Sample Charge:
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= 234,00 € per entry/per issue
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bookable for one year (6 issues) and
extends automatically if it’s not canceled
three month before expiry.
www.facebook.com
www.issuu.com
www.twitter.com
www.youtube.com
BASF SE
Ludwigshafen, Germany
Tel: +49 621 60-99951
martin.bussmann@basf.com
www.ecovio.com
Gianeco S.r.l.
Via Magenta 57 10128 Torino - Italy
Tel.+390119370420
info@gianeco.com
www.gianeco.com
PTT MCC Biochem Co., Ltd.
info@pttmcc.com / www.pttmcc.com
Tel: +66(0) 2 140-3563
MCPP Germany GmbH
+49 (0) 152-018 920 51
frank.steinbrecher@mcpp-europe.com
MCPP France SAS
+33 (0) 6 07 22 25 32
fabien.resweber@mcpp-europe.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
Tel: +86 351-8689356
Fax: +86 351-8689718
www.jinhuizhaolong.com
ecoworldsales@jinhuigroup.com
Jincheng, Lin‘an, Hangzhou,
Zhejiang 311300, P.R. China
China contact: Grace Jin
mobile: 0086 135 7578 9843
Grace@xinfupharm.comEurope
contact(Belgium): Susan Zhang
mobile: 0032 478 991619
zxh0612@hotmail.com
www.xinfupharm.com
1.1 bio based monomers
1.2 compounds
Cardia Bioplastics
Suite 6, 205-211 Forster Rd
Mt. Waverley, VIC, 3149 Australia
Tel. +61 3 85666800
info@cardiabioplastics.com
www.cardiabioplastics.com
API S.p.A.
Via Dante Alighieri, 27
36065 Mussolente (VI), Italy
Telephone +39 0424 579711
www.apiplastic.com
www.apinatbio.com
BIO-FED
Branch of AKRO-PLASTIC GmbH
BioCampus Cologne
Nattermannallee 1
50829 Cologne, Germany
Tel.: +49 221 88 88 94-00
info@bio-fed.com
www.bio-fed.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
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
GRAFE-Group
Waldecker Straße 21,
99444 Blankenhain, Germany
Tel. +49 36459 45 0
www.grafe.com
Green Dot Bioplastics
226 Broadway | PO Box #142
Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845, USA
Tel.: +1 620-273-8919
info@greendotholdings.com
www.greendotpure.com
NUREL Engineering Polymers
Ctra. Barcelona, km 329
50016 Zaragoza, Spain
Tel: +34 976 465 579
inzea@samca.com
www.inzea-biopolymers.com
Sukano AG
Chaltenbodenstraße 23
CH-8834 Schindellegi
Tel. +41 44 787 57 77
Fax +41 44 787 57 78
www.sukano.com
54 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

Suppliers Guide
Natureplast – Biopolynov
11 rue François Arago
14123 IFS
Tel: +33 (0)2 31 83 50 87
www.natureplast.eu
TECNARO GmbH
Bustadt 40
D-74360 Ilsfeld. Germany
Tel: +49 (0)7062/97687-0
www.tecnaro.de
1.3 PLA
Total Corbion PLA bv
Arkelsedijk 46, P.O. Box 21
4200 AA Gorinchem
The Netherlands
Tel.: +31 183 695 695
Fax.: +31 183 695 604
www.total-corbion.com
pla@total-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
www.kompuestos.com
1.5 PHA
Bio-on S.p.A.
Via Santa Margherita al Colle 10/3
40136 Bologna - ITALY
Tel.: +39 051 392336
info@bio-on.it
www.bio-on.it
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
GRAFE-Group
Waldecker Straße 21,
99444 Blankenhain, Germany
Tel. +49 36459 45 0
www.grafe.com
Albrecht Dinkelaker
Polymer and Product Development
Blumenweg 2
79669 Zell im Wiesental, Germany
Tel.:+49 (0) 7625 91 84 58
info@polyfea2.de
www.caprowax-p.eu
Treffert GmbH & Co. KG
In der Weide 17
55411 Bingen am Rhein; Germany
+49 6721 403
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
GRAFE-Group
Waldecker Straße 21,
99444 Blankenhain, Germany
Tel. +49 36459 45 0
www.grafe.com
3. Semi finished products
3.1 films
4. Bioplastics products
Bio-on S.p.A.
Via Santa Margherita al Colle 10/3
40136 Bologna - ITALY
Tel.: +39 051 392336
info@bio-on.it
www.bio-on.it
Bio4Pack GmbH
D-48419 Rheine, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 5975 955 94 57
info@bio4pack.com
www.bio4pack.com
BeoPlast Besgen GmbH
Bioplastics injection moulding
Industriestraße 64
D-40764 Langenfeld, Germany
Tel. +49 2173 84840-0
info@beoplast.de
www.beoplast.de
INDOCHINE C, M, Y , K BIO C , M, Y, K PLASTIQUES
45, 0,90, 0
10, 0, 80,0
(ICBP) C, M, Y, KSDN BHD
C, M, Y, K
50, 0 ,0, 0
0, 0, 0, 0
12, Jalan i-Park SAC 3
Senai Airport City
81400 Senai, Johor, Malaysia
Tel. +60 7 5959 159
marketing@icbp.com.my
www.icbp.com.my
Minima Technology Co., Ltd.
Esmy Huang, COO
No.33. Yichang E. Rd., Taipin City,
Taichung County
411, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Tel. +886(4)2277 6888
Fax +883(4)2277 6989
Mobil +886(0)982-829988
esmy@minima-tech.com
Skype esmy325
www.minima.com
Natur-Tec ® - Northern Technologies
4201 Woodland Road
Circle Pines, MN 55014 USA
Tel. +1 763.404.8700
Fax +1 763.225.6645
info@natur-tec.com
www.natur-tec.com
NOVAMONT S.p.A.
Via Fauser , 8
28100 Novara - ITALIA
Fax +39.0321.699.601
Tel. +39.0321.699.611
www.novamont.com
6. Equipment
6.1 Machinery & Molds
Buss AG
Hohenrainstrasse 10
4133 Pratteln / Switzerland
Tel.: +41 61 825 66 00
Fax: +41 61 825 68 58
info@busscorp.com
www.busscorp.com
6.2 Degradability Analyzer
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
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
Uhde Inventa-Fischer GmbH
Holzhauser Strasse 157–159
D-13509 Berlin
Tel. +49 30 43 567 5
Fax +49 30 43 567 699
sales.de@uhde-inventa-fischer.com
Uhde Inventa-Fischer AG
Via Innovativa 31, CH-7013 Domat/Ems
Tel. +41 81 632 63 11
Fax +41 81 632 74 03
sales.ch@uhde-inventa-fischer.com
www.uhde-inventa-fischer.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 55

Suppliers Guide
9. Services
10.2 Universities
10.3 Other Institutions
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
9. Services (continued)
Bioplastics Consulting
Tel. +49 2161 664864
info@polymediaconsult.com
10. Institutions
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
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
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
Green Serendipity
Caroli Buitenhuis
IJburglaan 836
1087 EM Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel.: +31 6-24216733
www.greenseredipity.nl
nova-Institut GmbH
Chemiepark Knapsack
Industriestrasse 300
50354 Huerth, Germany
Tel.: +49(0)2233-48-14 40
E-Mail: contact@nova-institut.de
www.biobased.eu
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
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/
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56 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

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bioplastics MAGAZINE Vol. 14 ISSN 1862-5258
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Microplastics | 56
Mind the right terms | 54
Captured CO 2 vs. biobased | 48
Highlights
Toys | 10
Injection Moulding | 30
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16.10.2019 - 23.10.2019 - Duesseldorf, Germany
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Bioplastics Business Breakfast K‘2019
16.10.2019 - 19.10.2019 - Duesseldorf, Germany
http://www.bioplastics-breakfast.com
SPC Engage:London
23.10.2019 - 24.10.2019 - London, Great Britain
https://sustainablepackaging.org/events/spc-engage-london/
8th Biocomposites Conference Cologne
14.11.2019 - 15.11.2019 - Cologne, Germany
www.biocompositescc.com
Frontiers in Polymer Chemistry and Biopolymers
18.11.2019 - 19.11.2019 - Rome, Italy
https://www.longdom.com/polymerchemistry
4th European Chemistry Partnering
27.02.2020 - Frankfurt, Germany
https://european-chemistry-partnering.com/
or
Plastics beyond Petroleum-BioMass & Recycling
12.05.2020 - 13.05.2020 - New York City Area, USA
http://innoplastsolutions.com/conference.html
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bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14 57

Companies in this issue
Company Editorial Advert Company Editorial Advert Company Editorial Advert
3N Niedersachsen 30
Floreon 8
Neste Corporation 6, 26
ADBio Composites 8
Adidas 17
Advanced Compounding 27
Agrana Starch Bioplastics 54
AIMPLAS 24
Aldia 7
Aldia 49
American Chemical Society 6
American Cork Society 26
API 54
Arkema 8, 39
Asahel Benin 22
Auriga Polymers 46
BASF 7 54
BeoPlast Besgen 55
Bio4Pack 55
Bio-Fed Branch of Akro-Plastic 54
Bio-on 7, 18 55
Biotec 55
BMEL 34
BMW 25
Bolt Threads 17
Boulder Clean 17
BPI 56
Braskem 8, 13
Buss 55
Caprowachs, Albrecht Dinkelaker 55
Carbiolice 8
Cardia Bioplastics 54
Center for Bioplastics & Biocomposites 7 21
Cirimat 39
CNH Industrial Canada 46
Cobratex 39
Cofresco 6
Committee on Climate Change 6
Compositadours 39
Composites Europe 29
Coperion 22
Costco Wholesale 17
Cove 1, 10
Dr. Heinz Gupta Verlag 56
DSM 8
Earnst & Young 7
Epic Travelgear 26
Erema 13 55
Ervnu 17
European Bioplastics 11, 56
Evegreen 40
Expleo 39
Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe 34
FKuR 8, 27 2, 54
Ford 24
Four Motors 34
Fraunhofer IAP 20
Fraunhofer UMSICHT 56
Fraunhofer WKI 34
GCR Group 8
Gianeco 54
Global Biopolymers 8 58
Global Biopolymers 41 54
GO!PHA 23
Grafe 54, 55
Green Dot Bioplastics 54
Green Serendipity 56
Green Serendipity 8
Hoffmann Neopac 27
Hoschule Bremen 30
Ikea 26
IKT, Univ. Stuttgart 8, 46
Indochine Bio Plastiques 55
Inst. F. Bioplastics & Biocomposites 35 56
Institut f. Kunststofftechnik, Stuttgart 56
International Business Machines 46
Iowa State Univ. 7
IST-Ficotex 30
ITA Inst. F. Textiltechnik RWTH Aachen 33
JinHui Zhaolong 54
Kaneka 55
Kartell 7
Kautex Maschinenbau 13
Kingfa 54
Kompuestos 6 55
Kunststofftechnik Padeborn 38
Lactips 8
Leistritz 8
Lisa Aeronautics 39
LyondellBasell 6, 26
MAIP 8
Mécano ID 39
Melitta 6
Mercedes-Benz 25
Michigan State University 6, 44 56
Microtec 54
Minima Technology 55
Mitsui Chemicals 5
Mitubishi Chemical 8
Mold-Masters Europe 8
narocon 8 56
Naturally Iowa 15
Natureplast-Biopolynov 55
Natur-Tec 55
Neste 8
NHL Stenden 30
Nölle Kunststofftechnik 20
North Dakota State Univ. 7
Norwegian Univ. of Sc. & Tech. 36
Notox 36
nova-Institute 8, 26 31, 48, 56
Novamont 5,47 55, 60
Nurel 54
Orthex 26
Panasonic 26
plasticker 23
polymediaconsult 56
Porsche 34
PTS 42
PTTMCC 42 54
PUK Clausthal Univ. of Tech. 33
Quintessential Capital Management 7
Rconcept 36
Ricone 8
Saida 55
Scion 28
SKZ 20, 38
SPC Sunflower Plastic Compound 46
Specific Polymers 39
Spectalite 40
StoraEnso 26
Sukano 8 54
Sustainable Packaging Coalition 35
Synbra 36
Taghleef Industries 4
Tecnaro 8 55
Tecniq 36
TianAn Biopolymer 55
Total Corbion PLA 8 55
Totally Green Bottles & Caps 15
Toyota 25
Treffert 55
Trifilon 26
Uhde Inventa-Fischer 19, 55
Unilever 7, 18
Univ. of Georgia 7
Univ. Stuttgart (IKT) 46 56
UPM 26
Vegware 18
VivaTech 5
Volkswagen 25
Washington State Univ. 7
Western Michigan univ. 42
Xinjiang Blue Ridge Tunhe Polyester 54
Yield10 Bioscience 6
Zeijiang Hisun Biomaterials 55
Zhejiang Hangzhou Xinfu Pharm. 54
Issue
Editorial Planner
Month
Publ.
Date
edit/ad/
Deadline
2019
05/2019 Sep/Oct 07.10.19 06.09.19 Fiber / Textile /
Nonwoven
Edit. Focus 1 Edit. Focus 2 Basics
Barrier materials
Land use for bioplastics
(update)
Trade-Fair
Specials
K'2019 Preview
Subject to changes
06/2019 Nov/Dec 02.12.19 01.11.19 Films/Flexibles/
Bags
Consumer & office
electronics
Multilayer films
K'2019 Review
58 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/19] Vol. 14

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