Issue 03/2019

May / June 

03 | 2019 

bioplastics MAGAZINE Vol. 14 ISSN 1862-5258 

Basics 

Microplastics | 56 

Mind the right terms | 54 

Captured CO 2 

vs. biobased | 48 

Highlights 

Toys | 10 

Injection Moulding | 30 

Cover Story 

bio-PE truck ride-on 

... is read in 92 countries

PLAY WITH PLASTICS! 

Sustainable – Safe – Sophisticated 

The world we live in is unique, exciting and full of surprises. Children discover 

their world in a fun way by playing with toys, which generate curiosity and 

stimulate the imagination while having to withstand countless adventures. 

Our bioplastics combine sustainability with trend-setting material 

properties that help to reduce CO2 emissions. 

With FKuR bioplastics you will get high-quality toys that meet 

your needs exactly and that children will enjoy for a long time.

Editorial 

dear 

readers 

The hottest bioplastics news to break these past two months was surely the publication 

in April of a study from the University of Plymouth. Taken up and amplified by numerous 

journalists - including the yellow press – in addition to receiving TV coverage and drawing 

the attention of many serious publications, it has certainly roiled the bioplastics debate. The 

study appeared under the title “Environmental Degradation of Biodegradable, Degradable 

and Conventional Plastic Carrier Bags in the Sea, Soil and Open-Air Over a Three-Year 

Period“, and sparked blaring headlines, including “‘Biodegradable plastic bags survive 

three years in soil and sea”. 

Five bags were examined: oxo-degradable bags, one fossil-based non-biodegradable 

polyethylene bag, one bag marketed as – but not proven to be - biodegradable, and only 

one product certified compostable according to the European Norm 13432. 

While only the certified compostable bag sample had completely disappeared 

after three months in the marine environment, the utterly crucial point to emphasize 

here is that even certified compostable bio-waste bags have not been developed to 

degrade in the soil or in a marine environment. These certified bags are designed 

to degrade under industrial composting conditions. Whenever ‘biodegradability’ or 

‘compostability’ is claimed, the conditions (environment, temperature etc) must be 

given. And – neither biodegradability nor compostability is meant to be a solution 

to littering. Littering, and subsequently also marine pollution can only be solved by 

changing people’s behaviour, not by any kind of material. As this topic could easily fill 

many pages, we are planning to give it the necessary space in one of the upcoming 

issues of bioplastics MAGAZINE. Until then, links to a number of salient comments can 

be found at www.bioplasticsmagazine.de/201903. 

Other highlight topics in this issue are Injection moulding and Toys. Following the very 

successful 1st bio!TOY conference in Nuremberg in March with about 90 delegates, we are 

happy to share the articles the event generated in this issue. 

In the Basics section 3 topics are covered. We first take a closer look at Microplastics, then 

discuss the question:Can products made from captured/recycled CO 2 

be called Biobased? 

Finally, we explain once and for all the difference between Biodegradable - compostable - 

oxo-degradable plastics. 

Just days before this issue went to print, we hosted the third edition of our bio!PAC 

conference on biobased packaging in Düsseldorf, which was a very successful event in every 

respect. And we are already focussing on the next big event this year: The K-Show in October 

in Düsseldorf, Germany with our 4th Bioplastics Business Breakfast. The call for papers is 

open. We are looking forward to your contributions. 

We hope to see you at the K-Show this autumn, or perhaps elsewhere even earlier, and 

until then, enjoy the summer - and of course, have a great time reading bioplastics MAGAZINE. 

Sincerely yours 

EcoComunicazione.it 

WWW.MATERBI.COM 

r1_05.2017 

05/05/17 11:39 


Basics 



Captured CO 2 vs. biobased | 48 

Highlights 

Toys | 10 


May / June 

Cover Story 



... is read in 92 countries 

Follow us on twitter! 

www.twitter.com/bioplasticsmag 

Like us on Facebook! 

www.facebook.com/bioplasticsmagazine 

Michael Thielen 

bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/19] Vol. 14 3

Content 

Imprint 

May / June 03|2019 

3 Editorial 

5 News 

8 Events 

42 Application News 

50 Patents 

52 Brand Owner 

53 10 years ago 

54 Basics 

58 Suppliers Guide 

62 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: 3.500 copies 

Toys 

10 Biobased toys a perfect win-win 

13 Binabo and other sustainable toys 

14 Relaunch of coean safe beach toys 

16 Baby Toys - safe and sustainable 

18 Danish bio toys - a success story 

20 Bioplastic items for kids 

22 Consumer Attitudes 

25 Toymakers find many paths to sustainability 

26 Cooler than wood. Better than plastic. 

Cover Story 

28 You never forget your first car 

Injection Moulding 

30 Optimize PLA for injection moulding 

32 Single use cutlery & food containers 

34 Injection Moulding Handbook 

36 Injection Molding PLA 

Applications 

40 Cosmetic tubes from bio-PE 

44 This spoon dies the rext ! 

Materials 

46 Pack it in feathers 

47 Novel biobased barrier film 

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, 

scanned, photographed and/or stored 

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 

mt@bioplasticsmagazine.com. 

The fact that product names may not be 

identified in our editorial as trade marks 

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 

Ferbedo 

Follow us on twitter: 

http://twitter.com/bioplasticsmag 

Like us on Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/bioplasticsmagazine

daily upated news at 


News 

DIN CERTCO 

cooperates with Scion 

from New Zealand 

Kaneka Americas 

Holding, to create new 

biopolymers division 

DIN CERTCO (Berlin, Germany) is now starting a 

new cooperation with Scion (Rotorua, New Zealand) 

for the testing of compostable products. 

Oliver Ehlert (product manager, compostable 

products, DIN CERTCO) said: “With the acknowledgment 

of our new testing partner Scion we strengthen our 

position in Australia and New Zealand. We can offer 

our customers a faster service for laboratory testing 

with local partners around the globe.” 

Florian Graichen (science leader biopolymers and 

chemicals, Scion) said: “DIN CERTCO is a key partner 

for Scion in our role to lead the transition of New 

Zealand to a circular bioeconomy. Scion is helping 

to solve the new challenges that arise through the 

transition into a new economy focused on sustainable 

design and renewable resources. The ability to design, 

manufacture, test and certify compostable products 

and materials are crucial for the success and future 

growth of New Zealand’s packaging and plastics 

related businesses.” 

For certifications, according to the AS 4736 and 

AS 5810 standards in the Australia and New Zealand 

(Australasia) markets, DIN CERTCO already cooperates 

with the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) 

and the certification system there. 

Scion covers the full scope of laboratory tests for 

industrial compostable products and home compostable 

products and can perform the laboratory testing for 

the certification of compostable products according 

to all relevant national and international standards: 

ASTM D 6400, EN 13432, EN 14995, ISO 17088, ISO 18606, 

AS 4736, AS 5810, NF T 51-800. MT 

www.dincertco.de/en | www.scionresearch.com 

Kaneka Americas Holding, Inc. headquartered in 

Houston, Texas, recently announced the creation of a new 

biopolymers division, for the sale of Kaneka’s plant-based 

degradable plastic PHBH compounds in the United States. 

The new division will also be located in Houston. 

Kaneka's PHBH is a plant-based product that offers both 

flexibility and heat resistance. It is produced via a novel biofermentation 

process which uses renewable plant oils as 

feedstock. Kaneka's products are not only biobased and 

compostable in aerobic, anaerobic or marine environments, 

they are also strongly resistant to heat and can act as a 

barrier to water vapour. 

Stable under everyday conditions of use, given the right 

conditions, under either anaerobic, aerobic or marine 

conditions in the natural environment, the products will 

begin to biodegrade. 

PHBH has been granted Food Contact Approval by the 

FDA and is suitable for all food packaging products. PHBH 

can be formed into many products such as cups, cutlery, 

food trays, plates etc. 

Kaneka has been producing PHBH since 2011 and 

is currently expanding its facilities in Takasago, Japan. 

Kaneka hopes to find an alternative solution to the current 

single-use plastic products as the company recognizes the 

need to bring to market a plant-based product that will 

help reduce the ocean and 

landfill pollution. Currently, 

it is estimated that about 8 

Million tonnes of plastic end 

up in the marine environment 

every year, which has created 

a massive environmental issue 

in the oceans of the world. MT 

www.kaneka.com/kaneka-americas 

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/news20190320 

PHA water bottle coming soon (20 March 2019) 

It may sound like California Dreamin' but a new bottle, manufactured and 

marketed in California under the brand name Cove, is the first bottle of water 

made entirely of biodegradable material, say its makers. 

The material the bottle is made of is PHA, which will break down into CO 2 

, 

water, and organic waste. This will happen in compost or a landfill, and even 

in the ocean. 

PHA, or polyhydroxyalkanoate, is an FDA-approved, naturally occurring 

biopolymer. It’s biodegradable, compostable, produces zero toxic waste, and 

breaks down into CO 2 

, water, and organic waste. 


News 

daily upated news at 


Arkema selects Singapore as new 

Rilsan production site 

In early May, Arkema, headquartered in Colombes, 

France, announced the location of its planned new worldscale 

plant for the production of the monomer of PA11 - 

11-Aminoundecanoic acid, derived 

from castor oil - and its Rilsan ® 

polyamide 11 resins. 

The company has chosen Jurong 

Island in Singapore to set up its new 

bio-sourced polyamide production 

site, because of the advantages 

the location offers in terms of 

infrastructure, logistics, industrial 

integration and operational 

excellence, as well as optimization 

of the carbon footprint of the 

planned business. 

Plans for the new plant, which will double global production 

capacities, were announced in July 2017, in response to 

strong demand from Asia for high-performance bio-sourced 

lightweighting solutions. Rilsan polyamide 11 is derived from 

castor oil and so is the 100% bio-sourced polyamide approved 

for many of the most demanding applications, in particular 

in the electronics, 3D printing, oil and gas extraction, and 

automotive markets, as a substitute to metal. 

“This major investment bolsters 

our global presence in biosourced 

materials while bringing 

us significantly closer to our 

customers in Asia Singapore’s 

industrial and innovation-friendly 

environment is, we believe, a key 

asset for our project, " commented 

Erwoan Pezron, global group 

President for Arkema’s technical 

polymers business line. 

This project is part of the Group’s 

exceptional investments of in total 

some 500 million Euros earmarked for the 2018-2021 period. 

Construction is scheduled to be completed by late 2021 MT 

www.arkema.com 

From cigars to PLA-films ERRATUM (Issue 02/2019) 

Founded at the end of the 19th century as cigar 

manufactory the company shifted from cigars to plastics 

film packaging in the 1970s and became arbo Plastic, a 

Swiss pioneer company to offer first-class quality films. 

2016, after many years of successfully producing 

specialty Barex barrier plastic films, Barex resin was no 

longer manufactured by the supplier. These circumstances 

forced arbo Plastic to carefully evaluate and rethink 

their future business orientation. The aim is to convert 

to modern, environmentally friendly, sustainable and 

compostable materials. 

2018 arbo Plastic took up the challenge by stepping into 

the future. The right moment to recognise the signs of the 

times. An enormous amount of new materials needed to be 

tested, the best qualities had to be found and the market 

has to be conquered anew. An inspiring task for a visionary 

like the owner and CEO Ursula Friederich and her team. 

The company recognized that PLA is the material of choice 

which meets the needs of a rapidly growing market. 

With their comprehensive experience in the field of film 

extrusion, mainly in the 80 µm and higher range, arbo 

Plastic are best prepared for an intensive exchange of 

knowledge and the repositioning of the company. With 

uncomplicated flexibility, speed, precision and reliability 

the Swiss offer personal support and development of 

individual solutions for specific customer requirements, 

even for small quantities: arbo Plastic stands for Swiss 

quality. MT www.arboplastic.ch 

Heat Resistant and 

home compostable 

PLA resins 

In the last issue bioplastics MAGAZINE published an 

article about Kompuestos' "Heat Resistant and home 

compostable PLA resins". We sincerely apologize for 

an error that occured in this article. The production 

capacity is 170,000 tonnes, not 17,000 tonnes. 

The paragraph should red correctly: 

Kompuestos is a Spanish company founded in 1986 in 

Palau Solità i Plegamans near Barcelona. Over the past 

three decades, Kompuestos has acquired an in-depth 

knowledge of the market and has positioned itself as 

oneof the main international suppliers of a large variety 

of masterbatches, all of which are intended to meet the 

needs of very diverse markets in the plastics industry, 

among which the packaging sector. With a production 

capacity of over 170,000 tonnes per year and growing, 

Kompuestos has established itself as one of the leading 

companies in the sector, while still seeking to expand its 

business MT 

www.kompuestos.com 

6 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/19] Vol. 14

News 

DowDuPont Inc. selling out on sustainability? 

During a May 2 conference call, DowDuPont said it is moving six units into a new non-core segment as it considers options, 

including divestment. 

Incoming company CEO Marc Doyle who will take over from ED Breen as DuPont’s CEO said the non-core units are photovoltaic 

and advanced materials, biomaterials – including corn-derived Sorona textiles - clean technologies, sustainable solutions, the 

Hemlock Semiconductor Group joint venture and the DuPont Teijin Films joint venture. 

Questions were raised, as four of the six operations be considered for divestment involve environmentally-oriented products. 

DowDuPont CEO Ed Breen, who will be chairman of DuPont, responding by explaining that “they are more volatile assets than 

I would want in my portfolio.” 

The businesses totalled $2B in revenues and generated about $500 million of operating earnings last year, said Doyle. 

Previously, in November 2018, Breen had sold off DowDuPont’s cellulosic ethanol business, which converts the inedible parts 

of the corn plant into motor fuel, including a $200 million Iowa biorefinery that opened in 2015. The DuPont cellulosic ethanol 

plant in the town of Nevada, in Iowa, USA was sold to the US subsidiary of German biofuels company's Verbio. 

Verbio plans to start construction to transition the plant from ethanol to renewable natural gas in the spring, with commercial 

production of renewable transportation fuel ready to go by summer 2020. 

DowDuPont, the company that resulted following the merger of equals in August 2017, is currently in the process of breaking 

up into three independent publicly traded companies, with Dow being dedicated to commodity chemical production, DuPont to 

specialty chemical production, and Corteva to agricultural chemicals. Dow, the Materials Science division, was successfully 

spun off on April; the Agriculture and Speciality divisions will be split up in June 2019. MT 

www.dow-dupont.com 

BASF and Lactips partner to market 

water-soluble, biodegradable film 

BASF and Lactips announced in mid-May that 

both companies have signed an exclusive contract to 

market Lactips’ water-soluble, 100% biobased and fully 

biodegradable material prepared from natural ingredients. 

This long-term partnership supports BASF’s strategy to 

leverage sustainable solutions to drive business growth. 

BASF and Lactips will bring 

in their respective expertise 

to offer this innovative 

technology to the home care 

as well as industrial and 

institutional (I&I) market. 

While Lactips focuses on 

the development of the film 

material technology based 

on technical casein obtained 

from excess of milk protein 

production, BASF will bring 

in its expertise in network and supply chain to market the 

product. The solution of Lactips aims on the replacement 

of polyvinyl alcohol films in home care and I&I applications, 

such as dishwasher tabs. 

“Sustainability plays a major role in all of BASF’s business 

processes,” said Robert Parker, Director, New Business 

Development at Care Chemicals, BASF. “Lactips’ solution 

for films for dishwasher tabs supplements our existing 

portfolio of sustainable offerings. It allows us to provide our 

customers with a broad portfolio of bio-degradable products 

for the home care industry.” 

“Lactips is proud to have its technology marketed by a 

leading global partner with a strong network,” said Marie- 

Hélène Gramatikoff, CEO Lactips. “We will benefit from 

BASF’s experience and latest 

developments in the home 

care industry.” 

Lactips offers the 

first water-soluble, fully 

biodegradable plasticfree 

plastic. Created in 

2014 by Marie-Hélène 

Gramatikoff, plastics and 

business strategy specialist, 

and Frédéric Prochazka, 

researcher at Saint-Etienne 

University, Lactips designs, develops and markets a watersoluble, 

biodegradable plastic-free plastic material based 

on milk protein. This new material is also food contact 

approved, edible and aligned with the sustainable ambitions 

of the food processing sector. In the middle term, Lactips 

plans to build a 2,500 m² plant to expand production to 3,000 

tonnes a year and up. MT 

www.lactips.com | www.basf.com 


Events 

Anandi Eco+ Compostable sanitary 

pads from India win again 

Sustainable fibres from Finland and home compostable coffee capsules 

from Germany are the runner-up winners of the innovation award 

F 

or the 12 th year in a row, the innovation award “Biobased 

Material of the Year” has been granted to the 

young, innovative biobased chemicals and materials 

industry by nova-Institute (Hürth, Germany). 

As usual for this award the three winners were chosen 

by the expert audience at the “12 th International Conference 

on Bio-based Materials” (Cologne, Germany 15/16 May) 

from six previously selected nominees. With more than 270 

participants and 30 exhibitors, the conference established 

itself further as one of the world’s most important meeting 

places for the leaders of the bioeconomy. 

Organizer Michael Carus, nova-Institute, was enthusiastic 

about the overwhelming response: “The most important 

pioneers of the global bioeconomy met in Cologne and 

exchanged views on the strong dynamics of the industry. 

Previous hopefuls of the biobased chemistry are weakening 

and others are making amazing breakthroughs!” 

The winners in detail: 

First place: Aakar Innovations Pvt. Ltd. (India): 

Anandi Eco+ – 100% Compostable Sanitary Pads 

Anandi Eco+ is the first and only Govt. of India Lab certified 

compostable sanitary pad. (cf. comprehensive reports 

in bioplastics MAGAZINE issues 03/2018 and 06/2018). In a 

compost environment, at least 90% of the pad are biodegraded 

within 180 days. Under other conditions in nature it takes 

longer respectively. The pads can be disposed easily in the 

backyard mud pit of any rural household to avoid polluting the 

environment and create bio-manure for agriculture. Aakar 

also uses local resources like starch, jute, bagasse, banana 

fibre and water hyacinth to produce their sanitary pads to 

reduce cost and utilizes agricultural plant waste materials. 

Anandi Eco+ pads do not use any harmful chemicals like 

superabsorbent polymers (SAP) and convert into manure 

post disposal, which can be further utilised. This way, the 

pads contribute to environmental protection and increased 

resource reuse. It also follows the American Standard ASTM 

D6400 & European Standard EN 13432. Aakar contributes to 

12 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 

through their work. Decentralised production is carried out by 

women in India and soon also in various African countries on 

the basis of regional raw materials. 

Second place: Spinnova Oy (Finland): 

Spinnova – Sustainable Textile Fibre 

Spinnova is a sustainable fibre company from Finland that 

develops ecological breakthrough technology for manufacturing 

cellulose-based textile fibre. Spinnova’s patented technology 

does without harmful chemicals and creates no waste or side 

streams, making the fibre and the production method probably 

the most sustainable in the world. The biggest difference to 

other man-made cellulosic fibres is that no chemical dissolution 

takes place throughout the whole process. Spinnova’s raw 

material commitment is to only use FSC certified wood or waste 

stream-based cellulose. Spinnova’s objective is to globally 

commercialize the fibre products in collaboration with major 

textile brands. The properties and prices of the new cellulose 

fibres are based on cotton. 

Third place: Golden Compound GmbH (DE): 

HOMEcap – Home Compostable Coffee Capsules 

HOMEcap is the world’s first and only home compostable 

coffee capsule successfully introduced in the market that is 

‘OK compost HOME’ certified and made with natural fibres 

of the sunflower seed hull. The biodegradation in home 

compost avoids considerable waste streams. The capsule 

was successfully launched on the market in the spring of 

this year. It is made from a unique compound comprising 

PTTMCCs PBS and PBSA mixed with sunflower seed shells 

and inorganic fillers 

The nova-Institute would like to acknowledge InfraServ 

GmbH & Co. Knapsack KG (DE) for sponsoring the renowned 

innovation award “Bio-based Material of the Year 2019”. MT 

Jaydeep Mandal (Aakar Innovations) 

with Anandi Eco + and the award 

www.bio-based-conference.com 

www.aakarinnovations.com 

www.spinnova.com 

www.golden-compound.com 


Call for papers now open! 

organized by 

16. - 19.10.2019 

Messe Düsseldorf, Germany 

BIOPLASTICS 

BUSINESS 

BREAKFAST 

B 3 

Bioplastics in 

Packaging 

PLA, an Innovative 

Bioplastic 

Bioplastics in 

Durable Applications 

PHA, Opportunities 

& Challenges 

www.bioplastics-breakfast.com 

At the World‘s biggest trade show on plastics and rubber: 

K‘2019 in Düsseldorf 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. 

Media Partner: 


Toys 

By: 

Biobased toys - 

Harald Kaeb 

narocon 

Berlin, Germany 

The intense debate on plastics, their deficiencies and 

drawbacks when it comes to sustainability and circularity, 

is centred around packaging. However, the discussion 

is not limited to this biggest sector of consumption. In 

this article, Harald Kaeb, inventor and co-organiser of the first 

bio!TOY conference examines the options for a wider use of 

renewable raw materials and biobased plastics in the toy sector. 

He also analyses the supply chain practices in the sector, 

exploring how it could become an emerging market and outlet 

for biobased polymers. The ideas and findings discussed in 

this article were the basis for the bio!TOY conference concept. 

Looking back at the event - the first encounter between the toy 

sector and the biobased plastics industry – the feedback from 

participants confirms that, as a concept, this was a success. 

Moreover, it offered scope for opening the door for collaborative 

development, hopefully based on strategic considerations. 

The toy sector - a user analysis 

Five years ago, a UNEP report was published examining the 

role and use of plastics in different sectors, including the toy 

industry [1]. The report revealed that “toy manufacturers have 

the highest plastic intensity in the consumer goods sector, at 

48 tonnes of CO 2 

equivalents per USD1 million revenue, due to 

their use of plastic in products (incl. packaging). As a result, 

they have the highest value at risk at 3.9% of annual revenue. 

This would wipe out the profits of several companies if they had 

to pay the full cost of environmental damage caused by plastic. 

That is a finding that should make the chief financial officer sit 

up and take note”. In other words: The toy industry ranks #1 

due to its heavy use of plastics, with famous toy brands shown 

to be indifferent to environmental issues, and, more so than 

any other consumer sector, to have no thought for the financial 

consequences of this irresponsible behaviour. Any awareness 

of the fact that, if these external costs were internalised, their 

economic model and financial stability would be at risk, seems 

lacking. Such disregard for environmental responsibility can 

be fatal to an industry’s image. 

This obliviousness to environmental concerns, while at the 

same time continuing to be a heavy (ab)user, will become even 

more risky with the increasing visibility of climate change and 

the public outrage this has awakened. Children and young 

people have taken to the streets to call for strict and powerful 

action, as they see climate change as the biggest threat to their 

future. In a survey conducted among almost 11,000 people aged 

15-30, climate change ranked as the number one concern [2]. 

Toy makers who respond to issues by reviewing the materials 

they use in the light of sustainability performance criteria, 

Figure 1 Total natural capital cost and 

intensity of selected sectors Source [1] 

18,000 

23% 

4% 

TOTAL NATURAL CAPITAL COST ( $m) 

16,000 

14,000 

12,000 

10,000 

8,000 

6,000 

4,000 

2,000 

12% 

10% 

9% 9% 

8% 

6% 6% 5% 

4% 3% 2% 

1% 1% 1% 

1% 

3% 

2% 

1% 

PERCENTAGE OF REVENUE AT RISK 

0 

FOOD 

SOFT DRINKS 

NON-DURABLE HOUSEHOLD GOODS 

AUTOMOBILES 

FURNITURE 

RETAIL 

DURABLE HOUSEHOLD GOODS 

FOOTWEAR 

CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES 

TOYS 

PERSONAL PRODUCTS 

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS 

ATHLETIC GOODS 

RESTAURANTS 

TOBACCO 

MEDICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS 

0% 

TOTAL NATURAL CAPITAL COST 

PERCENTAGE OF REVENUE AT RISK 

10 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/19] Vol. 14 

Corresponds approximately to over 80 million tonnes of plastic. Trucost calculations derived from, but not limited to, World Bank [7]; 

PlasticsEurope [8]; Eurostat [9], and the US EPA [10] datasets (full set of references and methodologies available in appendices 3 

and 4 of this report).

Toys 

A perfect win win? An analysis of the supply side 

and user sector 

i.e. longevity, circularity and greenhouse gas emissions, will 

benefit from a growing green consumerism. Failure to find 

an adequate response may put the whole business at risk - 

as climate change will surely trigger measures to internalise 

such costs, e.g. through CO 2 

tariffs. Pioneers like the famous 

toy brand LEGO, with its clear commitment to making the 

transition to sustainable materials, will push others to take 

action. The bio!TOY conference showed how many brands 

and players from the toy industry are already searching for 

solutions. The sector is ready for development partnerships. 

The biobased industry - supply side analysis 

For a long time, the plastics market remained almost 

untouched by issues such as pollution and over-consumption. 

Single-use food service packaging and many other shortlife 

plastic products abounded. As public and legal concerns 

mounted, the food service packaging sector increasingly turned 

to biodegradable and compostable plastics and is by far the 

biggest application segment for this type of plastic today. The 

study “Consumption of biodegradable plastics in Europe 2015 / 

2020” [3] revealed that around 80% of the sales were bags and 

serviceware like drinking cups or cutlery. Now, however, service 

packaging is being hit by new regulations: products made from 

biodegradable plastics are currently not exempt from recently 

PRIORITIES FOR THE EU 

Priorities for the EU Source: [2] 

1 

2 

3 

4 

For young people, the main priorities for EU action 

in the 10 years to come are: 

PROTECTING THE 

ENVIRONMENT & 

CLIMATE CHANGE 

67% 1 

Women 

71% 

15-19 yo 

70% 

IMPROVING 

EDUCATION & TRAINING, 

including the free movement 

of students, apprentices or pupils 

56% 2 

Men 

63% 

25-30 yo 

64% 

… who stayed abroad 

61% 

…those 

still studying 

72% 

FIGHTING POVERTY , 

… involved in volunteering 

ECONOMIC & 

60% 

SOCIAL INEQUALITIES 

56% 3 

BOOSTING EMPLOYMENT 

AND TACKLING 

UNEMPLOYMENT 

49% 4 

adopted EU legislation on the reduction of certain single use 

plastics items in the environment, which is a threat to the 

bioplastics industry as a whole. With bans and reduction targets 

almost everywhere around the globe, the biggest market for 

biodegradable plastics is up for discussion. Future growth 

perspectives now rely on how biodegradability will be treated 

under the new legislation – and whether such products will be 

exempt from reduction measures [4]. 

Biobased plastics are facing other challenges as well. The 

EU Circular Economy policy and its related plastic strategy rank 

recyclability and the uptake of recycled materials as priority 

number #1 amongst the envisaged measures. The perspectives 

of biobased and biodegradable polymers in its #1 market - 

packaging - will strongly depend on whether full compatibility 

with existing (!) recycling schemes is achieved or not. Products 

which are hard to recycle, and where recycled content is hard 

to realise will be also reviewed, and changes in design or 

materials are likely to occur. As a consequence, the biobased 

plastics industry needs to review and re-position itself according 

to these heavy-weighing, global drivers (#NewPlasticEconomy). 

One element which biodegradable or non-biodegradable 

plastic products have in common is the renewable or biobased 

content, which usually results in a low carbon polymer profile. 

Young people most likely to 

see this as a priority are… 

Young people most likely to see 

this as a priority are those… 

… living in small towns 

52% 

… who have a negative 

opinion about the EU 

56% 

1 In 11 countries more than two thirds of young people believe environment and climate change should be a priority: Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Portugal, Sweden, 

Belgium, Czechia, Ireland and Spain 

2 In 17 countries more than half young people believe that education and training should be a priority at EU level. Netherlands, Hungary, Portugal, Germany, Bulgaria, France, UK, Ireland, 

Luxembourg, Austria, Spain, Romania, Latvia, Greece, Denmark, Czechia, Belgium 

3 In 20 countries half of young people or more believe that fighting poverty economic and social inequalities should be a priority at EU level. Portugal, Germany, Luxembourg, Greece, 

Belgium, Austria, Cyprus, France, Denmark, Spain, Latvia, Hungary, Estonia, Ireland, Bulgaria, Netherlands, UK, Croatia, Malta, Slovenia 

4 In 15 countries, half or more of young people believe that boosting employment and tackling unemployment should be a priority at EU level. Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Croatia, 

Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Hungary, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland 


Toys 

Greenhouse gas emissions 

KgCO 2 

e per kg of product 

10 

Greenhouse 8 

gas emissions 

KgCO 2 

e per kg of product 

10 

6 

4 

8 

2 

6 

0 

4 

Bio-based polymers 

Fossil-based polymers 

Fossil-based polymers 

-2 

2 

-4 

Bio-based polymers 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 

-2 

Depletion of fossil resources 

-4 

megajoules (10 6 joules) per kg of product 

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 

Fossil-based polymers include: 

polypropylene (PP), 

high-density polyethylene (HDPE), 

low-density polyethylene (LDPE), 

polyethylene terapthalate (PET), 

polystyrene Fossil-based (PS), polymers include: 

polycarbonate polypropylene (PC). (PP), 

high-density polyethylene (HDPE), 

low-density polyethylene (LDPE), 

Source: polyethylene JRC, 2017 (upper terapthalate panel); (PET), WEF et al., 2016 (lower panel). 

polystyrene (PS), 

Selling “bioplastics” 

polycarbonate 

on climate 

(PC). 

change contributions rather 

than biodegradability is not a complete novelty in this industry, 

but has hardly Source: been JRC, a 2017 game (upper changer panel); WEF in sales et al., 2016 discussions (lower panel). in 

the past. Now, as climate change becomes a number one topic 

everywhere from politics to the nursery, new opportunities are 

opening up for biobased plastics. 

The biobased plastics industry cannot just deliver on CO 2 

reduction targets. Looking at toys, and how these are made, it 

is becoming evident that a combination of functionalities and 

design characteristics are needed to make a fun and functional 

toy. The wide spectrum of biobased polymers - polyolefins, PET, 

polyesters, PAs, (T)PUs or TPEs, and compounds made thereof 

- allow for a wide use of applications, ranging from fiberbased 

toys and fillers, soft or hard surfaces, puppets, figures, 

games or building blocks and many, many more. Biobased 

CO 2 

-saving polymers can partly or completely replace the 

conventional plastics used for toys in many applications. The 

bio!TOY conference has shown that even the initial portfolio 

is spectacular, and that there are almost no limits to the 

opportunities for to explore partners. 

Fusion & Conclusion 

For the biobased industry, the development of the toy 

application sector holds many opportunities and overall, good 

perspectives. Development will be widespread, driven by the 

need for so many different toy functionalities, as toy makers 

embrace the low carbon and GHG emission profile of biobased 

plastics. The toy sector offers a perfect place for storytelling 

and for winning over future consumers who are now still in the 

nursery - in all segments of plastic use. A partnership between 

the biobased industry and the world’s toy makers presents the 

opportunity needed to develop sustainable and safe products 

and solutions against future threats. And to win parents and 

grandparents today and tomorrow. 

All in all, this was the basic idea behind the bio!TOY conference. 

All those who attended and participated in the conference 

agreed that it had successfully distilled this vision into a practical 

platform for knowledge exchange and partnering. This first 

meeting between the biobased industry and the toy industry was 

an important initial step to support and promote transitions in 

Bio-based polymers include: 

bio-based polylactic acid (PLA), 

bio-based polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), 

bio-based polyethylene (PE). 

Bio-based polymers include: 

bio-based polylactic acid (PLA), 

bio-based polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), 

bio-based polyethylene (PE). 

Depletion of fossil resources 

megajoules (10 6 joules) per kg of product 

Source: JRC, 2017 [upper panel]; WEF et 

al., 2016 [lower panel]. (in: EU ENV Agency 

27 Aug 2018 [5]) 

both industries. Participants were calling for more and we are 

ready to serve them. 

[1]: Valuing Plastics: The Business Case for Measuring, Managing and 

Disclosing Plastic Use in the Consumer Goods Industry, (pdf at tinyurl.com/ 

valuingplastics) 

[2]: http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/survey/ 

getsurveydetail/instruments/flash/surveyky/2224 or tinyurl.com/surveyyoung-people 

[3]: Kaeb, H.: Market study on the consumption of biodegradable and 

compostable plastic products in Europe 2015 and 2020, (editor nova institute, 

April 2016), tinyurl.com/study-consumption 

[4]: N.N.: Single-use plastics directive fails to acknowledge potential of 

biodegradable plastics; (European Bioplastics) tinyurl.com/single-usedirective 

[5]: N.N.: The circular economy and the bioeconomy, Partners in sustainability, 

https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/circular-economy-andbioeconomy?mc_cid=d946509efd&mc_eid=5bc8123860 

or tinyurl.com/eea-circular 

www.narocon.de | www.bio-toy.info 

The first bio!TOY conference organized by bioplastics MAGAZINE 

together with Harald Kaeb (narocon) took place on 27 and 

28 March 2019 in Nuremberg, Germany. The event, which 

covered topics ranging from technical and ecological issues 

to practical examples in the market attracted 90 delegates 

from major players from the entire value chain around the 

world, including brands such as Lego, Mattel, Playmobil, 

Habermaaß, Ravensburger and Zapf Creation. Companies that 

already offer toys made of bioplastics, such as Zoë B, eKoala, 

Lego, Bioserie, BioBlo, and TicToys shared their experience. 

Speakers and exhibitors from the bioplastics industry included 

DuPont, Braskem, Hexpol, Neste, and Total-Corbion, as well as 

compounders such as Greendot Bioplastics, Tecnaro and FKuR. 

The participants agreed that there is great development potential. 

The conference with exhibition was also much welcomed as a 

platform for dialogue and cooperation. 

Read also the post-bio!TOY press release at tinyurl.com/biotoy-press 

Harald Kaeb, Michael Thielen 


Toys 

Binabo and other sustainable toys 

A success-story 

www.tictoys.de 

TicToys is a toy manufacturer based in Leipzig, Germany. 

Founded in 2011 by Matthias Meister and Tony Ramenda, 

the company has since grown from what was simply 

a fun idea into a serious player in the international toy market 

- and a pioneer in the use of bioplastics to produce toys. 

From the very start, TicToys has adhered to its founding principles: 

1. Create toys that foster movement and active play 

2. Promote creative and open-ended play by simple design 

3. Use high quality materials and processing 

technologies 

4. Only use all natural and renewable materials 

5. Produce gender-neutral toys 

6. All toys are to be locally „Made in Germany“ 

The result is a brand with a promises to deliver “Die neue 

Spielzeugkultur“ (“The new way to play“). 

Holding to these core tenets has meant that is has not 

always been easy to participate in today’s fast-changing and 

highly competitive toy market. In particular, the fourth on 

the list – the company’s determination to use “all natural 

and renewable materials“ - presented a major challenge, 

when it came to broadening the product range. 

Although the company originally produced only wooden 

toys, TicToys first came into the contact with bioplastics 

during the development of its Tualoop” outdoor game. The 

ame is played with two sticks that are used to catch and 

throw a ring – the Tualoop – in various ways. 

During the product development, the rings were initially 

made from wood. However, this soon proved to be the wrong 

choice, both due to the rigidity of the material and its high 

cost. In search of an alternative, TicToys stumbled across 

the possibility of using a bioplastic material and, after 

researching the subject, decided in favour of Arboblend ® 

compounds. This advanced biomaterial from Tecnaro 

(Ilsfeld, Germany) consists of a blend of different biobased 

plastics and wood fibres and is therefore one hundred 

percent natural. 

Many trials and tests with different compounds followed, 

with as result a fantastic game – Tualoop was released 

in 2013 – that pioneered the use of bioplastics in the toy 

industry. 

From the very beginning, Tony and Matthias believed in 

manufacturing their toys from renewable raw materials - 

from the product to the packaging. “Our intention has always 

been to encourage sustainable consumer behaviour in this 

area as well,” the two explained, who have since brought their 

sixth toy creation to market, named Binabo. 

“This was by far our most difficult project. We spent five 

years working on a single perfect toy construction element 

made from bioplastic. The flexible components, which 

differ only in colour, can be assembled as desired and allow 

unlimited combination options.” 

Binabo is also manufactured from a special Arboblend 

grade. The material is flexible, extremely stable, free of toxins 

and suitable for indoor and outdoor use. 

The idea for the Binabo originated from the project to 

create a ball that can be juggled barefoot - just as has been 

a tradition in Myanmar for 1500 years. The local pastime - 

called Chinlone, - is a combination of sport and dance and 

is played with a ball traditionally woven from rattan. However, 

the bioplastic “Made in Germany” can be used for more than 

just for making the Chinlone ball. 

“The elements can be simply clicked together to create an 

infinite number of movement games: Throwing discs, catching 

cups, cones or even a basketball basket are possible. The 

colorful chips invite you to construct the most daring figures 

and shapes,” explained Tony. 

In the end, it almost doesn’t matter what comes out of it. 

“It’s about being creative. This is something that nowadays, 

children are all too often denied. That’s why we hadn’t originally 

planned to include any building instructions.” Children 

are more creative than many adults suspect and therefore 

do not ask for instructions. However, many parents ask for 

instructions, because they do not have enough confidence in 

their children’s creativity. 

Today, the two entrepreneurs export their toys from the 

plant in Leipzig to all over the world. However, they still buy 

cardboard boxes for the packaging from ”nearby” Chemnitz. 

“Regionality has always been part of our philosophy,” said 

Mattias. “Production steps that cannot be implemented 

regionally at least remain in Germany,” he concluded. MT 

Tualoop (Photo: TicToys) 

Levi playing with Binabo during bio!TOY 2019 

(Photo: Oliver Reinhardt) 


Toys 

Relaunch of 

ocean-safe 

beach toys 

About 350 million tonnes of plastic is produced 

globally every year with approximately 25 % of it 

used in packaging, most of which is designed for single 

use. (The average North American throws away about 100 

kg of plastic each year.) An estimated 32 % of all packaging 

leaks out of the system, leading to both land and ocean pollution. 

As a result, more than 8 million tonnes of plastic trash 

winds up in the oceans annually, adding to the estimated 150 

million tonnes that’s currently in the marine environments. 

Of even greater consequence is that fact that much of this 

debris breaks down over time into tiny particles smaller than 

5 mm. These microplastics are found in marine habitats 

everywhere on earth, and they don’t biodegrade. According to 

5 Gyres, a non-profit fighting global plastic pollution, the 2017 

United Nations Clean Seas Campaign estimated that there are 

51 trillion microplastic particles in the ocean today—500 times 

more than the number of stars in our galaxy. Unfortunately 

for the ocean’s ecosystem, marine animals, and even humans 

who consume seafood, these marine plastics persist and have 

the potential to cause real harm. 

So how do we start turning the corner toward products 

that are useful without continuing to destroy our oceans? 

In 2011, Valerie Lecoeur, founder of Zoë b Organic (Winston 

Salem, North Carolina, USA), decided to tackle the problem 

right where she found it every summer–on the beach, in the 

hands of her kids (cf. bM 02/2011). As a mother of three young 

children, it sickened her to see the number of stray shovels 

and orphaned, plastic beach-bucket handles washed up on 

the shore. So, she decided to use the technology available at 

the time to make smarter beach toys that are safer for both 

kids and the environment. 

compounds 

are designed to meet established 

certification standards for biodegradation 

into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass–thus avoiding the 

generation of microplastics and providing the ideal material 

for beach toys that accidentally get washed out to sea. 

Today Valerie and Zoë b 

Organic are grateful to be 

partnering with DuPont to 

relaunch her Ocean-Safe 

Beach Toys in the U.S. this 

summer. While technology 

continues to evolve, Valerie 

remains steadfast in her 

mission: “Bioplastics may 

not be the solution for 

replacing all plastics, but 

those that biodegrade in 

marine environments are 

the perfect replacement 

for every beach toy on the 

planet.” MT 

http://www.zoeborganic.com 

ISSN 1862-5258 

bioplastics MAGAZINE Vol. 9 

Highlights 

Fibers & Textiles | 12 

Toys | 36 

September / October 05 | 2014 


Beach toys by Zoë b 

made from PHA, p. 44 

Cover-Story 

bioplastics MAGAZINE 

05/2014 

In 2011, Zoë b Organic launched the world’s first 

biodegradable beach toys using Mirel, a polyhydroxyalkanoate 

(PHA) bioplastic made from corn sugars which meets 

established standards for biodegradation in marine 

environments. Manufactured in the USA, the toys were sold 

online and also picked up by Pottery Barn Kids, among other 

retailers. However, disruptions and unfavorable economics in 

the product’s supply caused Zoë b Organic to ultimately stop 

selling its beach toys. 

In 2017, Alterra Plastics, a compounding company operating 

out of Seymour, Indiana (USA), focused on the emerging need 

for plant-based and biodegradable materials and re-initiated 

the development of PHA-based thermoplastic compounds. 

In collaboration with DuPont BioMaterials, a new family of 

compounds was developed. TerraBio ® is a PHA-based resin 

that incorporates Nuvolve Engineered PolySaccharides to 

enhance mechanical properties and the overall aesthetics of 

derived injection-molded products. With building blocks that 

are all plant-based and inherently biodegradable, these new 


Automotive 

ORDER 

NOW! 

BOOK 

STORE 

www.bioplasticsmagazine.com/en/books 

email: books@bioplasticsmagazine.com 

phone: +49 2161 6884463 


Toys 

Baby toys – 

safe and 

sustainable 

Simple, down to earth designs 

made from the safest of 

biomaterials may be the classic 

playthings of tomorrow 

The Bioserie brand was created at the end of 2009 as an 

initiative of bioplastic enthusiasts eager to use these 

exciting new materials to make durable consumer 

products. While the first products were phone accessories, 

the self-funded Hong-Kong-based venture soon turned to 

developing and selling toys. The founders, who are also 

parents, wanted to use their know-how to bring to families 

useful basics made entirely of biomaterials, that were 

smart, fun to play with, and convenient for day-to-day use. 

The company decided first to focus on baby toys: logically 

speaking, babies are the ones at greater risk when 

exposed to traditional plastics. Concern is mounting, both 

among medical experts in the pediatrics field and the general 

public, about the lack of (sufficient) screening for the 

use of harmful chemicals in the toy industry. Since Bioserie 

has been committed from the start to using only non-petrochemical 

components, they are firmly convinced that they 

can answer the needs of the most worried and demanding 

clients of the sector: parents of babies and infants. 

From idea to product 

Building a new product line that works, with only limited 

means at their disposal, the brand’s founders have had to 

be resourceful. 

First, that meant taking into account the limitations of the 

material they are working with, which is mostly PLA based. 

The costs of the PLA compound are significantly higher 

than that of conventional commodity plastics. Injection 

moulding cycle times are longer, and it is necessary 

to use moulds of very high quality. The material is 

fairly rigid and prone to breaking if not managed 

properly. 


Toys 

Therefore, design ideas had to be screened with all these 

factors in mind to determine the shapes that could be used; 

and the team had to anticipate potential pain points during 

assembly or fitting to minimize later trial and error testing 

processes. 

Of course, they also had to take into account the price 

limit that would be acceptable for consumers. They have 

therefore positioned their offering at prices comparable to 

toys made from natural materials, such as wood, natural 

rubber or eco-fabrics. 

They knew from the start that they would not be able to 

compete with regular plastics: their objective was to make 

no compromises on their value proposition and refuse to 

use any petrochemical additives. 

Both by necessity, but also because they believe that 

quality is better than quantity, Bioserie’s owners decided to 

build a line focused on the basic needs of babies, with six 

different types of products: 

• Stage 1 (babies aged 0-3 months): Two simple toys for 

babies to teethe on and to help them grasp (Star Teether 

and Interlocking Disks, both available in two colors); 

• Stage 2 (babies aged 3-6 months): Two rattles which 

encourage observation skills and the discovery of the 

cause and effect relationship (one round shaped rattle 

and one dumbbell shaped rattle), 

• Stage 3 (babies aged 6-12 months): Two types of 

stackers which are about matching and learning shapes, 

sizes, and improving gross motor skills. Bioserie has 

obtained a patent for the design of its Shape Sorting and 

Stacking Cube, and their 2-in-1 Stacker has proved to be 

one of their most popular items over the past year. 

The progressive concept of the product line is 

communicated by different colors on the packaging sides 

for each developmental stage. 

The importance of teamwork 

To get to this point, the brand has been fortunate in being 

able to gather together a team of motivated and talented 

people to support them. The brand owners have worked 

with Batug Koprulu, an industrial designer, to formalize 

their design ideas and transform sketches into a 3D 

reality. They have had the support of Dominic Mak, who is 

a renowned biomaterials scientist, as well as endorsement 

from leading figures in the toy and nursery industry, such as 

Pamela Marcus, who created the now famous Lifefactory 

brand, and Jeff Cornelison, who worked for a long time for 

Kids II. 

Making 100 % biobased toys is no easy game, as 

Bioserie discovered, and far more is needed than scientific 

knowledge alone. Dedication and enthusiasm is required 

from everyone involved in the chain to make it work: the 

people with the idea and the people who actually help turn 

these ideas into real and effective products. 

And the process is one of constant fine-tuning. The first 

toy test run was in 2015, a patent process in 2016 was 

initiated and since 2017, the company has been creating 

its own compound, as a means to increase supply chain 

reliability and facilitate scaling up scenarios. Compounding 

now takes place at the injection moulding facilities. 

By: 

Stephanie Triau 

Bioserie 

The Bioserie team now feels that they have a 

CPLA compound that delivers what they wanted: no 

petrochemicals, high temperature resistance, a better melt 

flow vs. other compounds they have used, consistency of 

results across all the different geometries used, good 

quality touch and feel results. 

That said, they’re always on the lookout for potential new 

additives that could enhance the product or make the job 

easier or better and are frequently in conversations with 

players in the field. 

From the product to the consumer 

Yes, we’re at a time when the biobased materials trend 

is going mainstream. 85% of consumers have stated they 

are committed to buying more sustainable products; policy 

makers and big brands have also implemented strong 

initiatives in this direction. 

However, from Bioserie’s perspective, the key selling point 

for what they do is chemical safety: over 70% of consumers 

actually prioritize health and safety over environmental 

concerns. 

To communicate their difference vs. other materials 

clearly to customers, Bioserie is proud to have received two 

exclusive certifications. Their toys are the first and only to be 

100 % biobased certified by the USDA (ASTM D6866: no fossil 

carbon), and to have obtained MADESAFE’s certification 

(MADESAFE is a growing third party certification in the US 

which focuses on non-food products and thoroughly screens 

each and every chemical used to ensure that they are not 

dangerous for human health nor for our environment). 

According to Bioserie, biobased products like theirs 

should be considered to be “new luxury products”. In 

other words, products customers can trade up for in their 

particular category, i.e spend more on them and waive the 

price concern). Bioserie focusses and delivers on the three 

key points that influence the decision process: they have 

technical differences (good design), they deliver health and 

environmental benefits (a functional performance), and they 

allow their buyers them to do their bit for the environment 

(we all like to support a good cause, and these toys don’t 

use anything that can’t grow again). 

www.bioserie.com 


Toys 

By: 

Johnny Koch Hansen 

Sales Manager 

Dantoy 

Hobro, Denmark 

dantoy (Hobro, Denmark) 

has been developing and 

manufacturing quality toys in 

Denmark for more than 50 years. In 

that time, the company has grown into one of the 

biggest manufacturers of plastic toys in the Nordic countries. 

In February 2018, dantoy launched its new line of BIO 

products, which has gained much more attention than 

initially anticipated. Today, more than 15% of all dantoy’s 

products are made from bio materials, a development 

clearly contributing to this toy company’s healthy 

sales figures. Located in the middle of Jutland 

in Denmark and employing some 50 employees, 

most of whom have been with the company 

for more than 10 years, dantoy’s production 

facilities span an area of 15,000 m 2 . In addition, 

dantoy employs a number of affiliated colleagues 

who assemble the products at home or at sheltered 

workshops. All this says something about dantoy’s 

DNA, and the company culture dantoy is known 

for. 

There is nothing strange about dantoy’s 

decision to introduce its new bio line last year. 

It is simply a part of the company’s DNA. Ten 

years ago, the company’s first products certified 

with the Nordic Swan, the official ecolabel of the 

Nordic Countries, appeared on the market. 

Dantoy’s much-loved scooter, a 

product familiar to almost every 

child in Denmark, was 

the first to bear the 

label. Today, more 

than 98 % of all 

dantoy’s core products 

have earned certification and carry 

the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and more are on 

the way. Dantoy chose to have its products certified 

because it was the best way to show the customers that 

children can use all these products without any concerns. 

Plastic toys licensed for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel must 

Danish bio-toys 

a success story 

Products made from sugarcane are a 

natural development for the Danish 

toy manufacturer dantoy 

comply with the 

world’s strictest 

requirements for 

plastic contents, going far 

beyond the Danish law. For instance, products 

bearing the Nordic Swan Ecolabel may not contain harmful 

substances such as phthalates, perfume, BPA or endocrinedisruptive 

substances. All this says much about the high 

standard to which dantoy’s products are manufactured. The 

world’s first toys to be licensed for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel 

were from dantoy. The company received their first licence 

for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel as early as in 2010. 

The bio product line started with an idea. Like 

any other dantoy product, the new line needed 

to comply with the company’s strategy and 

goals to develop high-quality toys with an 

environmental focus. There was 

no doubt that dantoy wanted to 

create a bio line but achieving the 

quality required to meet dantoy’s 

high standards proved to be a challenge. 

After a few years of struggle and cooperation with 

the different raw material suppliers, dantoy found 

a raw material good enough for their new bio line: 

Braskem’s Green PE, supplied by FKuR. For now, dantoy 

is happy to produce its high-quality products in the new bio 


Toys 

material, but the company continues to further develop and 

improve its bio products on an ongoing basis. At the moment, 

dantoy has only one raw material at its disposal to make the 

bio products, while it uses more than twenty different raw 

materials for its other products. For example, it is currently 

not possible to produce the scooter from bio material, 

although this remains a long-term goal for the future. 

The newest member to join the dantoy family of products 

is its Tiny line: bio products especially developed for babies. 

Dantoy is the first in the world to make baby products in bio 

material, certified with the Nordic Swan. All dantoy products 

stand for both high quality and care for the environmental, 

so customers can choose between bio or conventional. One 

of the company’s goals is to broaden the knowledge of its 

products in all its 50 different markets. 

In addition to using biobased plastic raw materials for 

the bio and Tiny lines, dantoy tries to minimise the impact 

of its operations on the environment. The company has 

therefore implemented eco-friendly processes to manage 

the consumption of energy, water and raw materials and to 

prevent the possibility of accidental releases or emissions via 

the manufacturing process. 

It is important for dantoy to be the best, and to produce 

the best toys possible, so that children around the world can 

play safely every day, while they develop their motor skills, 

learning skills, social skills etc. This is what drives dantoy 

forward and also the main reason the company chose to 

certify its products with the Nordic Ecolabel 10 years ago. 

It’s also why it has now chosen to produce the new Tiny line. 

www.dantoy.dk 

14 –15 NOVEMBER 2019, MATERNUSHAUS, COLOGNE, GERMANY 

The BIOCOMPOSITES CONFERENCE COLOGNE is the world‘s largest conference 

and exhibition on the topic. This conference offers you the unique opportunity to gain a 

comprehensive overview of the world of biocomposites in Cologne. 

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 

the Innovation Award 

“Bio-based Material 

of the Year 2019”! 

www.nova-institute.eu 

www.coperion.com 

www.biocompositescc.com 


Toys 

Bioplastic 

items for kids… 

a real bet 

Speaking at the inaugural bio!TOY Conference was a 

major event for eKoala, said Beatrice Radaelli, cofounder 

of the company. bioplastics MAGAZINE talked 

to her about what it took to start a bioplastics toy company. 

bM: Why was the bio!TOY such a special event for you? 

Beatrice: Speaking at bio!TOY was a great opportunity for 

us to think and finally to talk about what we have done and 

the results we have achieved so far. 

bM: How did it all start? 

Beatrice: After we started our 

project, and officially founded the 

company in 2014, we spent more 

than two years doing research 

and development work. As a first 

result, we could officially launch 

the first eKoala line of products 

at the end of 2016. 

bM: What challenges did you 

face and how did you master 

them? 

Beatrice: One of the most 

difficult issues was finding 

the right material to obtain 

a good and stable product. 

We were looking for a material 

that was suitable for injection moulding made using 

the highest possible percentage of raw materials from 

renewable resources. In addition, the material had to be 

biodegradable as we felt that to gain the full advantages of 

using a bioplastic, this should be both renewably sourced 

and biodegradable. 

bM: Who were your partners? 

Beatrice: After contacting quite a few bioplastic 

manufacturers around the world, we finally discovered 

Mater-bi. The fact that the material is made by an Italian 

company also allowed us to label our products ‘100 % Made 

in Italy.’ 

bM: And then you could “hit the road” and start production? 

Beatrice: After finally deciding in favour of MaterBi, it 

still took a while to produce our item number 1. It was a 

mixture of happiness, pride and relief when we held it in 

our hands for the first time. Item number 1 is still on our 

desk, reminding us every day of all the hard work we did 

to get to it. 

eKaboom 


Toys 

Beatrice Radaelli and her brother Daniele Radaelli 

Interview with Beatrice Radaelli (Interview: Caroli Buitenhuis, 

Green Serendipity) 

bM: How was the market entry? 

Beatrice: The following two years (2017-2018) were 

needed to test the products with the customers. It was a 

hard start. People are not always aware of what bioplastic 

really is and the commonly used term “bioplastic” does 

not really help to identify a material that is different from 

traditional plastic. That’s one of the reasons why accurate 

and clear communication is really important when dealing 

with bioplastic products. 

bM: How are sales today? 

Beatrice: In the years since, we have built up and 

strengthened the distribution in Italy. Our products are 

available in more than 300 shops all around Italy today. But 

we also worked to spread our distribution internationally. 

We now have customers in Germany, Scandinavia and 

the Baltics, Poland and other Eastern countries. We are 

discussing possible collaborations with distributors in the 

USA and in China. 

bM: Your first line consisted of baby food and teething 

products, What came then? 

Beatrice: Each year, we invest in the development of 

new products to broaden the portfolio. After introducing 

our basic line, last year we launched the first eKoala toy. 

eKaboom is a multifunctional stacking toy, that can also 

serve as a percussion instrument. Currently we are working 

on two new toys for 2019. 

bM: Are you satisfied? 

Beatrice: The numbers are not very high yet, but we 

keep on working to increase our areas of distribution. It’s 

really hard work, especially for a tiny company like ours. 

Somebody at the bioToy! conference said the bioplastics 

have not made him rich…nor us, either. 

bM: Some final words? 

Beatrice: But we truly believe in what we are doing and 

we are still enthusiastic about that. We will keep on working 

and studying because we strongly believe it’s high time to 

make a change and we know we are on the right path. MT 

www.ekoala.eu 

We STARCH 

your bioplastics. 

AGENACOMP ® 

BIOPLASTIC 

COMPOUNDS 

AGENACOMP resins are suitable for films of less than 15 µm. 

Regional & GMO-free – made from our starch. 

Sustainable – up to 50 % renewable ressources. 

Home-compostable – no microplastic residues. 

bioplastics.starch@agrana.com 

AGRANA.COM 

THE NATURAL UPGRADE 


Toys 

Consumer 

attitudes 

and bioplastics for Eco-babies & 

Bio-parenting 

By: 

Clara Blasco, Design & Trend Researcher at Consumer Insights 

Ana Ibáñez, Bioplastic Researcher at Innovative Materials & Manufacturing 

Paco Varela, European Project Manager at R&D Department 

María Costa, R&D Director 

AIJU, Technological Institute for children’s products and leisure 

Ibi, Spain. 

Environmental protection is a challenge that cannot be 

faced by political and economic means alone. As society 

at large awakens to this task, the children’s products 

sector must have the commitment to contribute by incorporating 

environmental values in toy production and consumption. 

Companies have the responsibility to create innovative strategies 

to enhance sustainability. In this respect, the owners of 

companies in the children’s products industry are key stakeholders 

in implementing and accelerating the biobased economy. 

Understanding parents’ requirements and attitudes and 

implementing research into biobased plastics are two ways to 

face this new reality. 

AIJU, the Technological Institute for Children’s Products 

and Leisure — a European research institution which aims to 

boost research, development and technological innovation in 

children’s products — have a long history of work on issues of 

sustainability. Among other competences, AIJU has expertise 

in studies with children and families as users and consumers 

as well as research into new plastic materials to be applied in 

the children’s sector. 

New parents, new values 

The term sustainability means protecting the environment 

and its natural resources in order to maintain an ecological 

balance. In this respect, society is acquiring greater awareness 

of issues related to the environment that are, now more than 

ever before, influencing the purchasing decisions of today’s 

new parents — the millennials. 

Millennials are the generation of people who reached young 

adulthood in the early twenty-first century, and as parents they 

have new values and preferences. Families are aware of social 

challenges: society has undergone the so-called fourth wave of 

feminism, parents are demanding effective work-life balance 

policies, and they are also promoting equality and denouncing 

gender stereotypes. Beyond these issues, society has been 

becoming more activist. On the other hand, new parents are 

aware of environmental challenges such as climate change 

and plastic pollution. There is also an increasing concern 

about air pollution. Parents want to keep their children safe 

by using products that help create a healthier environment for 

their babies. It is also relevant that many new parents want to 

protect children from consumerism. They have a new concept 

of consumption which is defined by welcoming practices that 

reduce consumerism and the rise of use of second-hand 

articles and renting activities. 

Although each new parenting style understands 

sustainability differently, a sensitivity towards this concept 

is common to all of them. Whereas some parents only look 

for essential products that are respectful to people and the 

planet — products they can justify purchasing — other profiles 

understand that a product is sustainable when is adaptable for 

different ages and the product has a long life. There are other 

kinds of parents who seek products with an eco concept that 

is linked with quality, exclusivity, and luxury, whereas others 

will buy eco products if they offer the healthiest option in the 

market. 

The understanding of social changes, together with an 

awareness of governmental policies and the campaigns being 

initiated by large companies across several sectors, highlights 

the need for an in-depth reflexion in the children’s sector. 

Sustainability approaches for the toy industry 

Sustainability can be approached in several ways — not 

only by introducing eco-friendly materials, but by employing 

manufacturing processes, carrying out campaigns, or 

designing play proposals that are in harmony with improving 

people’s lives and the health of our planet. The text below 

lays out a series of measures and practices that companies 

targeting the children’s market can apply to their strategic 

definition, product development, and marketing strategies in 

order to achieve a meaningful and respectful impact. 

New and old materials that make the difference 

Toy companies have at their disposal a range of materials 

that are environmentally friendly, and are perceived as such 

by consumers. If a single material can be named as iconic, 


Toys 

Figure 1. From left to right: BIOROT, FLEXIROT, ROTELEC and 

NATURBIOFITOPLAG demonstrators of the mentioned biobased projects. 

it is most certainly that of wood. Nevertheless, not just any 

wood will be accepted. Nowadays, society is highly informed, 

so parents will look for toys made with wood from forests 

with an FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification — the 

well-known seal that guarantees the correct management 

of forest resources. There are other interesting options, such 

as cardboard. Toys made of recycled cardboard are readily 

perceived as being eco, as society is generally aware of this 

material and understands how it can be given a second use. 

Regarding cork, the use of this material is seen in several 

toy categories — not just in building blocks to stack, but in 

more technically complex proposals, such as building bricks, 

construction games, board games, vehicles, ride-ons and 

sensory toys for toddlers. For years now, bamboo has been 

used to manufacture sustainable toys. Companies such as 

Hape or Janod introduced it to offer a distinctive solution for 

new products. 

Organic fabric, especially organic cotton, is the most widely 

known eco-friendly fabric. At present, its use has extended 

beyond children’s clothes and textiles and it is now used in 

childcare products — one example is the Kikadu play gym. 

It is even possible to find it in products that are not in actual 

contact with children, such as children’s mobiles. This shows 

that organic fabrics are not only valued for being good for 

humans, but for being good for the planet too. Furthermore, 

toys made from natural rubber have been well received by 

parents — those with children aged up to 3 years have the 

greatest number of products available, a wide range of articles 

— including bath toys, rattles, teethers, and sensory toys — 

have been designed for this target. The reason behind it being 

well received by parents is partly motivated by the unified 

communication strategy (conducted by the companies that 

use it) of its origin and its environmental benefits. 

Among all these possibilities, there are also interesting 

opportunities for the plastic toy industry. Nowadays, the 

bioplastics industry is becoming more present in the children’s 

sector, from toys to childcare products. Making products with 

recycled plastic is one of the options which prove the potential 

of a new era of plastics. One example is the Ocean Bound 

Plastic Tide Pool Set by Green toys, which is made with recycled 

plastic that has been collected from global communities that 

lack waste-collection infrastructure. Another is the Bugaboo 

stroller brand, which uses recycled PET plastic to manufacture 

the fabrics of the Bugaboo Fox. 

Another alternative is biocomposite plastics, and it is 

possible to find toys made from a combination of natural fibres, 

or wood flour mixed with recycled, biodegradable, or biobased 

plastics, such as the Dump truck by Luke’s toy factory, which 

is made from recycled organic fibres (sawdust from furniture 

factories) and recycled plastic. 

Among these alternatives, the toy industry is beginning to 

opt for biobased plastics — plastics made from plant-based 

materials — which may be non-biodegradable, biodegradable, 

or compostable. Both well-established and new companies 

are introducing toys with these materials in their product 

portfolio — such as Dantoy, who have launched a brand-new 

“I’m green” line of bioplastic products made from at least 

90% sugarcane. We also encounter brands such as eKoala or 

BiOBUDDi, who are building their entire brands — and their 

value proposition — on sustainable values. 

Research projects about bioplastics in the toy 

industry 

In this context, the Technological Institute for Children’s 

Products and Leisure (AIJU) in Spain has, over the past 

ten years, been studying the possibility of incorporating 

biodegradable materials in the manufacture of toys and other 

consumer products by means of injection (BIOTOYS Project, 

2008), rotational moulding (BIOROT project, 2011, ROTELEC 

2013 or FLEXIROT, 2018) or blowing (NATURBIOFITOPLAG) 

(Figure 1). In these projects, the traditional material is replaced 

by biobased material. 

Another noteworthy example was the LIFE MASTALMOND 

project (2011–2014) (Figure 2), in which the objective was the 

development of new masterbatches, or colour concentrates, 

based on biodegradable thermoplastics (PLA, PHB, starchbased 

polymer), containing a natural waste product — almond 

shells. This filler provides lightness while maintaining adequate 

hardness and rigidity levels according to industrial standards 

and is easily processed, which makes it especially interesting 

in the field of non-structural compound materials from an 

economic point of view, in addition to its low environmental 

impact. 


Toys 

According to the latest market data compiled by European 

Bioplastics in cooperation with the research consultancy nova- 

Institute, global bioplastics production capacity is set to increase 

from around 2.11 million tonnes in 2018 to approximately 2.62 

million tonnes in 2023. Furthermore, it is a fact that bioplastics 

are being used in an increasing number of markets, from 

packaging, catering products, consumer electronics, toys, the 

automotive industry, agriculture/horticulture, to textiles and a 

number of other industries. Despite these positive prospects, 

the high cost and difficulty of achieving certain mechanical or 

thermal properties with currently existing biobased materials 

are some drawbacks that have arisen. 

Currently, AIJU is working on two projects related to 

biodegradable materials. The first, the B-PLAS project, whose 

objective is to achieve an automated treatment plant that 

enables food waste, WWT (Waste Water Treatment) sludge, 

and other organic waste to be cheaply and efficiently converted 

into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a biodegradable plastic of 

biological origin, useful for packaging, one-use articles, toys, 

among other uses. The second, Becoming Green, aims to 

develop and improve some properties (thermal or mechanical) 

of biobased plastics to adapt them to the quality and safety 

requirements of consumer products, toys, and the household 

sector. 

The power of the play proposal: sustainable topics 

The TrendGallery at the Spielwarenmesse Toy Fair is a 

platform which presents the latest toy trends with new toys 

and know-how for the industry. In 2018, it announced the new 

trend Explore Nature, which continues to be important. This 

trend is about encouraging children to discover nature and its 

inhabitants for themselves and experience and investigate the 

world with all their senses. 

Children learn about the adult world through play. Themes 

such as fruits, vegetables, gardening, and the observation 

and exploration of the environment are great for this. Parents 

really perceive them as perfect ways to instil good values 

related to sustainability. It is also possible to raise awareness 

by introducing topics related to recycling. Toy recycling trucks 

have been seen before, but now the theme is being used in 

board games, dolls, ride-ons and other toy categories as well. 

Gentle manufacturing processes: do it and 

communicate it 

Beyond positively valuing sustainable products, new parents 

seek companies which are consistent in all their actions — not 

only by introducing eco-friendly materials and themes, but 

also the manufacturing process involved, which is obviously 

a relevant aspect when analysing whether a toy company is 

offering sustainable alternatives for the children’s sector. 

One possibility is to employ eco-friendly processes. This 

means using manufacturing processes that are sustainable 

or respectful to the environment, renewable energy sources, 

meeting safety standards, having environmental certifications, 

or creating healthy work environments. 

Moreover, it is possible to reinforce the concept of 

sustainability by communicating the social value which the toy 

brings to the market. This means taking into consideration not 

only the “made in”, but also the “made by”, which is crucial. 

Some companies are deciding to manufacture in countries 

and areas where they can actually have a positive impact on 

the community, helping specific people in need. These actions 

are also perceived as sustainable. 

Children’s companies should communicate these good 

practices to the final consumer. Those which are most 

conscious of this aspect are involved in designing specific 

self-explanatory icons and graphics to be included in their 

packaging, introducing sustainable values in their claims, and 

creating sustainable manifestos or environmental campaigns 

supporting reforestation or endangered species by donations 

to NGOs and non-profit organisations. 

Conclusion 

There are several ways to implement changes and strategies 

into children’s products and marketing campaigns in order 

to be able to achieve improvements in the sustainability of 

businesses in the children’s sector. In this sense, toys are a 

powerful tool to educate the society of the future by opting for 

materials and processes that are more respectful of people 

and the environment, and, moreover, by generating play 

proposals related to helping children acquire an ecological 

vision of the world. 

Today’s new parents — millennials that are becoming 

mums and dads — are more aware of their contradictions as 

consumers and feel the need to act. They seek to bring up their 

children with sustainable products in multiple areas — such 

as fashion, food, and toys — more so now than ever before. The 

eco concept in toys will grow in importance for many years! 

www.aiju.info 

Figure 2. Ride-on toy 

(top) and furniture 

(bottom) performed with 

MASTALMOND biobased 

masterbatches. 


Toys 

Toymakers find many paths to 

sustainability 

Toys are one of the most 

competitive consumer 

markets. Parents have a 

myriad of choices from hundreds 

of manufacturers. In the past decade 

several toy companies have distinguished themselves in 

a crowded marketplace by offering toys made with materials 

created to lighten their environmental impact. 

Successful companies convey specific value propositions 

for their products that allow consumers to understand 

how these products can help contribute to a more 

sustainable world. 

Green Dot Bioplastics (Emporia, Kansas, USA) is proud to 

have worked with award winning toymakers, creating 100% 

plant-based biocomposites for plastic toys. And, they have 

helped to make toys designed to biodegrade when their 

useful life has ended. “We’re also excited to be working with 

companies seeking to make toys that consumers already 

know and love more sustainable by reducing non-renewable 

resources used in its production,” says Kevin Ireland, 

Communications Manager at Green Dot Bioplastics. “We 

think that all of these strategies are beneficial, and believe 

that consumers will respond positively when presented with 

a clear and accurate value proposition. It’s not enough to 

simply say a product is ‘greener,’ brand owners must tell 

consumers how toys are more sustainable and why this 

matters.” 

Understanding material properties and the environmental 

advantages of bioplastic materials is a crucial first step 

for both product development and marketing. 

Bioplastics made from plant-based materials 

decrease dependence on fossil resources, and 

can lower GHG emissions. Biodegradable 

bioplastics can serve as an integral role in 

a closed loop system, where 

feedstocks are returned 

to nature after their 

useful life has ended. In 

addition, bioplastics are free 

from toxic plasticizers 

that parents seek to 

avoid, like petroleumbased 

phthalates and 

bisphenol A. 

Not all of these features may be beneficial 

to all consumers. For instance, a biodegradable toy 

may not be compelling if industrial composting is not 

available or if the composting facilities are not willing to 

take biodegradable plastics. Environmental claims do not 

equate to environmental benefits if consumers are not able 

parts. 

to take advantage of them. 

While some companies have focused on 

creating toys that are made completely 

from renewable plant-based materials, 

or are completely biodegradable, others 

focus on making their products more 

sustainable incrementally – adding 

renewable materials like plant-based 

fibers and starches to petroleum-based 

plastics. These fillers and fibers can 

decrease non-renewable petroleumbased 

feedstocks by more than half, and 

can imbue a more natural aesthetic to plastic 

This incremental approach can also make a compelling 

value proposition for consumers. Substituting fibers, 

starches, or plant-based polymers for fossil-based 

feedstocks can have significant environmental advantages. 

For instance, according to the United States Environmental 

Protection Agency, reducing petroleum-based feedstocks 

by just 10 % can save 280 million barrels of oil a year, 

reducing CO 2 

emissions equivalent to the sequestration of 

100 hectares (250 acres) of forest. 

Toymakers continue to be on the vanguard of creating safer, 

more sustainable plastics. “At Green Dot we are committed 

to serving their needs with plastics that are designed to 

decrease the use of petroleum-based feedstocks, increase 

the use of plant-based feedstocks, encourage the use 

of reclaimed and recycled feedstocks, and enhance the 

performance of biodegradable feedstocks,” Kevin adds.MT 

www.greendotbioplastics.com 


Toys 

Cooler than wood. 

Better than plastic. 

How an inconspicuous building brick from 

Austria has set out to conquer the world. 

The story of Bioblo started in summer 2014 when plastics 

expert Hannes Frech had a random encounter with 

marketing man Stefan Friedrich in the small town of Tulln, 

Lower Austria. Stefan, who was really looking for a suitable 

material to bring his idea of a brick-based furniture system 

to life, was immediately fascinated by the 12 by 2.4 by 0.8 cm 

building brick that Hannes pulled from a drawer during their 

very first meeting. 

Hannes Frech, who was – and still is to this day – heading 

the technical laboratory of the Institute of Natural Materials 

Technology within the Department of Agrobiotechnology at IFA 

Tulln, had constructed the then-unnamed brick for his daughter 

a couple of years prior to the encounter. Little did he know that 

the very same brick would embark on such a successful and 

far-reaching journey. 

In September 2014, Bioblo was born – not yet as a company, 

but as a brand. The two men added a third one to the core team: 

Dietmar Kreil, who Stefan Friedrich had come to know as one of 

Austria’s finest art directors during their common employment 

at Viennese advertising agencies DDB Tribal and Jung von Matt. 

Stefan came up with the Bioblo name, Dietmar designed the 

logo, and the very first boxes were sold for Christmas via the 

company’s webshop. 

Broadening the horizon 

The early customers’ feedback being 

overwhelmingly positive, Bioblo soon extended 

their reach into kindergartens and schools, 

a channel that is not only interesting in itself 

but also as a multiplier for B2C sales. The 

rationale behind this is that kids 

tend to recommend the toys 

they like in kindergarten to 

their parents at home. Early 

distribution partners in this 

field included the Austrian 

companies Schmiderer & 

Schendl, Höller Spiel and 

Lipura. Shortly after the 

official foundation of the company 

“Bioblo Spielwaren GmbH” in May 2015 

another important partnership was formed 

when European distribution rights were 

signed over to “Wiener 

Spielkartenfabrik 

Ferdinand Piatnik & 

Söhne”, a traditional Viennese 

manufacturer of playing cards, board games and puzzles, and a 

long-standing player in the toy market. Together, an expansion 

plan was developed that consequently brought Bioblo to France, 

Germany, Canada, the UK, Poland, Hungary and many other 

markets. 

Form follows function. Material follows Form. 

So what is special about Bioblo? The company’s unofficial 

slogan “Cooler than wood. Better than plastic.” actually 

describes it quite well: The unique honeycomb structure that 

seems to appeal to children more than the usual wooden blocks 

can only be accomplished by means of injection moulding, 

which in turn requires a mouldable material. This is where Bio- 

Fasal, the highly sophisticated wood and plastics composite 

behind Bioblo, enters the stage. The composite, which has 

been developed by the above-named institution over a period 

of almost 20 years, combines the best characteristics of “both 

worlds”: On the one hand, the sustainability, look and feel of 

wood; on the other hand, the durability and processability of 

plastics. Add to that the ecological benefits of bioplastics over 

fossil-based plastics, and you have already gathered more 

than enough selling points in a world that is increasingly 

environment-minded. 

Success comes with awards – and 

vice versa 

Bioblo soon discovered the relevance 

of certificates and awards to the 

quality-minded parents. This is why 

the bricks were tested extensively 

to document the absolute absence 

of heavy metals, bisphenol A, BPA, 

plasticisers and other potentially harmful 

substances. As a result of these efforts, 

Bioblo was the very first toy brand to be 

awarded the Austrian “Umweltzeichen” as well as 

the German “Blauer Engel” certificate, which last 

year celebrated its 40 th anniversary making it THE 

oldest and one of the World’s most trusted ecolabels. 


Toys 

Toys 

Process PLA 

with Improved 

Molecular Weight 

Retention 

LOWER MELT 

TEMPERATURE 

REDUCED ENERGY 

CONSUMPTION 

Pinch, zoom, swipe – or build? 

In case you ever asked yourself how we can prevent our 

children from spending their entire days pinching, zooming 

and swiping on their smartphones, Bioblos might be just the 

answer. Building with their own two hands not only drives 

away our kids’ boredom but actively promotes their handeye 

and hand-hand coordination. It enhances their physical 

and mechanical understanding, trains their concentration 

and improves their patience, stamina and ability to deal with 

frustration (for example when the cat knocks everything over). 

Not surprisingly, building with friends, classmates, parents 

or siblings is even more fun – and it promotes team spirit 

and communication skills beyond the scope of WhatsApp and 

Facebook. MT 

FREE 

white paper on 

the advantages 

of processing PLA 

using Continuous 

Mixing technology. 

Request your 

copy today. 

HIGHER FILL 

LEVELS 

www.bioblo.com 

The FARREL POMINI Continuous Mixing 

technology is proven to process PLA at 

lower melt temperatures than twin screw 

extruders. These lower melt temperatures 

translate into improved molecular weight 

retention, reduced energy consumption and 

higher throughput rates when compared to 

other PLA processing techniques. 

If you are interested in improving your PLA processing, 

contact a FARREL POMINI representative today or visit 

farrel-pomini.com/contact to request a copy of our free 

white paper on PLA production and the advantages of 

Continuous Mixing technology. 

farrel-pomini.com | +1 203 736.5500 | 

Visit us in Hall 9 Stand A24 


Cover Story 

You never 

forget your 

first car 

Especially not your first 

eco-friendly car! 

By: 

Erik Petraschek 

Owner 

Ferbedo Kinderfahrzeuge 

Fürth, Germany 

The bioplastic ride-on truck made by Fürth, Germanybased 

FERBEDO was one of the product innovations 

introduced at the Spielwarenmesse 2019, the 

International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany. In this 

article bioplastics MAGAZINE presents the company behind 

this product and the challenges of using bioplastics to 

produce it. 

Ferbedo Kinderfahrzeuge was founded in 1898 and is one 

of many German medium-sized champions who, having 

carved out a niche for themselves, have been able to hold 

their own against the big players in the market through 

innovative thinking and hard work. For many years now, the 

company has produced ride-on toys for toddlers aged 12 

months and older, and go-karts. The realistic design and 

high-quality workmanship of the company’s range of blow 

moulded ride-on vehicles have made these particularly 

popular choices for children. The ride-ons, featuring such 

details as LED lighting, whisper tires with individual wheel 

rims and textile or leather seating, are manufactured 

in particular for automobile OEMs (such as Audi, MAN, 

Jaguar, Volvo) and sold via their dealer networks. Ferbedo 

has also been producing beautifully made pedal go-karts 

for many years. These - and Ferbedo’s own ride-on toys - 

are available directly from the manufacturer. 

The company is keenly aware of its responsibility for 

the environment and listens to what its customers say. A 

few years ago, Ferbedo started exploring how it could best 

continue making its much loved, highly popular plastic toy 

products while at the same time reducing their impact on 

the environment to an ecologically compatible level. 

The first step is to manufacture products that are as 

appealing as possible. Ferbedo succeeds in this almost too 

well, as very often, customers pass the ride-on which they 

purchased for one child down to others in the family. It’s one 

of the best approaches to sustainability: crafting products 

with lasting quality and appeal. Nevertheless, Alexander 

Bacsics, Managing Director of Ferbedo, was eager to think 

about an alternative to the plastic materials currently used. 

Bacsics: “Demand from the market was still low two years 

ago, when the topic first came up for us, but we noticed that 

the connection between plastics and the environment was 

increasingly being addressed in the media. We also wanted 

to distinguish ourselves clearly from the flood of cheap 

products from China and offer retailers and consumers an 

additional selling point.” 

After researching the topic, Ferbedo discovered the 

existence of Green PE, which is derived from sugar 

cane. Use of this material not only cut back on the 

consumption of petroleum-based plastic; one tonne 

of the biobased plastic could store up to 3 tonnes of 

CO 2 

. It was also important that the new material, 

like the one already in use, met all the existing 

standards. Bacsics: “Our products are used by 

children from about one year of age onward. 

Inevitably, there will be mouth contact - a 

toddler may lick on the ride-on, for example - 

or some other unusual kind of close contact 

will occur. We can reassure the parents: The 

new biomaterial fulfils all relevant standards 

and is therefore safe for our youngest 

customers”. 

In FKuR (Willich, Germany), a producer 

and distributor of biobased materials, 

Ferbedo has found a partner able to 

provide outstanding support, especially 

in the initial phase, with the expertise 

to offer the right answers to questions. 

Ferbedo found it extremely easy to use the 

material. No special preparation and, above all, 

no modifications to the existing machines were 

necessary. It was decided to start with the 

Ferbedo ride-on truck - the only children’s 

ride-on truck worldwide. Children are 

thrilled and fall in love with it immediately 

because of its size and design. The truck is also 

available as a fire engine, complete with a functioning siren 

and flashing blue light. 

Ferbedo started producing with the environmentally 

friendly material right away. After heating up the machine 

and running a few cycles, the production operators had 


Cover Story 

found the perfect setting for the machine. The parameters 

had to be adjusted only slightly after which the new 

material could be used without any problem. Bacsics: “We 

were happily surprised by the result. The surface of the 

articles with bioplastic corresponds to that of petroleumbased 

products. Sometimes we could even observe a slight 

improvement in the surface structure!” 

Even though Ferbedo’s ride-on toys regularly get passed 

down in families, their robustness notwithstanding, there 

comes a time when even these toys reach the end-of-life. 

The bio ride-on truck can then be recycled together with 

conventional PE. If the car ends up in a waste-to-energy 

incineration plant, the bio-PE becomes a renewable energy 

source. The solar energy stored in the biobased plastic can 

then be exploited without releasing additional CO 2 

into the 

atmosphere. 

The interest shown by customers at the International Toy 

Fair in Nuremberg earlier this year was enormous. Ferbedo 

has definitely tapped into the mood of the times! The higher 

price of the material compared to conventional PE remains 

something of an obstacle, as this has not yet been fully 

accepted by customers. However, Ferbedo assumes that, 

as their use becomes increasingly widespread, the cost of 

bioplastics will eventually fall to a level comparable with oilbased 

plastics. 

Then, at last, there will be nothing 

to hinder the breakthrough of this 

material. Today’s youngsters 

will be able to remember their 

first sustainable car for the rest 

of their lives! 

6 th PLA World Congress 

19-20 MAY 2020 MUNICH › GERMANY 

organized by 

www.pla-world-congress.com 

www.ferbedo.de 

organized by 

Co-organized by Jan Ravenstijn 

Save the Date 

02-03 Sep 2020 

Cologne, Germany 

www.pha-world-congress.com 



Optimizing PLA for 

injection moulding 

Founded in 2014, Arctic Biomaterials Oy (ABM) from 

Tampere, Finland is now divided into two segments: 

Medical materials and Technical materials. 

On the medical side of the business, ABM offers innovative 

raw materials for bioresorbable implant applications such as 

anchors, pins and screws. This market has never before seen 

materials with loadbearing properties as high as those in these 

new materials developed by ABM. This is due to the resorbable 

glass fiber that ABM has developed. 

This article, however, will introduce three of the company’s 

new Technical materials. The background and motivation for 

these innovations is the willingness to contribute to efforts to 

decrease global warming and to enable the use of sustainable 

solutions in an increasing number of applications. These 

materials allow brand owners to design products with a lower 

carbon footprint, and hence to contribute to the sustainable 

targets that countries have globally committed to. ABM 

previously introduced a degradable glass fiber for use 

as reinforcement for biopolymers, for which the 

company received the 2018 “Bioplastic material 

of the year” award (from nova Institute). In this 

article, the focus will be on new materials without the 

degradable glass reinforcement. ABM has adopted a 

global approach to the market. 

The three different materials that are introduced here are 

all PLA-based materials. The end-of-life options for these 

materials are basically the same as for fossil-based plastics, 

i.e., incineration or recycling, albeit with the addition of industrial 

composting, depending on the applications. Through industrial 

composting, the materials will be transformed into biomass 

and CO 2 

. This CO 2 

will eventually be absorbed back by the plants 

via photosynthesis, thus closing the carbon cycle. 

ABM also works with other biomaterials such as PBS, 

PHB, starch and more, always depending on the customer’s 

requirements regarding mechanical properties and endof-life 

solutions. However, ABM is not a polymer producer. 

As a specialty compounder, their strategy is to enhance the 

properties and reinforce the current bioplastics that are 

available in the market. 

ArcBiox MFA30-B2000, improved temperature 

resistance with fast cycle and cold mould 

This novel PLA-based mineral filled material has been 

developed with a view to improving processability. Temperature 

resistance has always been one of the challenges for PLAbased 

materials, as high mould temperatures (110 °C) are 

required and long cycle times (60 s) needed in order for the 

material to withstand temperatures above 50-60 °C (HDT B). 

ArcBiox MFA30-B2000 offers a HDTB of 96 °C and faster cycle 

times, while the mould temperature can be as low as 30-50 °C. 

Potential applications for ArcBiox MFA30-B200 range from 

houseware products to cosmetics; the material truly opens a 

new window for applications where processing has been the 

barrier. 

ArcBiox B1005, improved impact properties 

ArcBiox B1005 was developed as an alternative to fossilbased 

plastics similar to ABS. The focus has been on improving 

the impact properties of PLA-based materials. The applications 

mainly comprise different kinds of housings and covers. The 

material can be processed in a hot or cold mould. The hot 

mould will result in extra temperature resistance due to the 

crystallization of the PLA. In a hot mould, impact properties of 40 

kJ/m² (IZOD notched) and NB (no breakage - IZOD unnotched) 

can be achieved. In a cold mould, these values are 20 kJ/m² 

(IZOD notched) and 140 kJ/m² (IZOD unnotched). The general 

impact values for ABS would be 20 kJ/m² (IZOD notched) and 

NB (no breakage - IZOD unnotched) 

ArcBiox B2004, excellent hinge properties 

ABM’s new ArcBiox B2004 has been specifically designed to 

offer excellent hinge properties. This grade provides a viable 

solution for e.g. caps and closure applications. While some 

development is still ongoing as regards elongation at break, 

hinge properties of this quality have not been achieved before in 

a PLA-based material. 

The experts at ABM aim to fully satisfy the needs of their 

market. To that end, they always listen to their customers’ 

requirements in terms of mechanical properties and assess 

the end-of-life solution offering the best value proposition. The 

polymer matrix and compound or reinforcement can then be 

chosen which best meets these requirements. 

The product photos are generic pictures to show possible 

applications. These are not commercial products. MT 

www.abmcomposite.com 


Automotive 

The World’s No. 1 Trade Fair 

for Plastics and Rubber 

Home of 

Innovation. K 2019 

No matter what your focus is – circular 

economy, digitalisation, Industry 4.0, lightweight 

construction, additive manufacturing, advanced 

materials or other forward-looking topics in the 

global plastics and rubber industry – K 2019 is 

the place to be to scout for new solutions. The 

fascinating forum for innovation and investment. 

The industry’s most important business platform. 

Around 3,200 international exhibitors offer you 

the latest in research and development. Welcome 

to the show! 

www.k-online.com/ticketing 

Messe Düsseldorf GmbH 

P.O. Box 10 10 06 _ 40001 Düsseldorf _ Germany 

Tel. +49 211 4560 01 _ Fax +49 211 4560 668 

www.messe-duesseldorf.de 



Single-use 

cutlery & food 

containers 

Compostable, high-heat stable, 

food-contact safe, easy to process 

nature2need, located in Heidelberg, Germany with its 

manufacturing units in Zhejiang, PR China, is a global 

supplier of biopolymers and natural fiber reinforced 

compounds and sheets; preferred natural fiber 

reinforcements are mechanically extracted bamboo fibers. 

Different grades are available for applications in various 

industries, like automotive, personal care, houseware, 

kitchenware, toys, outdoor, agriculture and gardening 

industry. 

During April 2019, nature2need launched its new biocompound 

Bioblend LT25B, a biopolymer that is compostable 

in industrial compost conditions according to EN 14995 

(for Europe) and ASTM D 6400 (for North-America). The 

Bioblend grade is a blend of different biopolymers, modified 

with mineral fillers. Main base polymer of the compound is 

PLA. The compound is very easy to process with industryrelevant 

cycle times on standard equipment and injection 

moulds. A quick, in-line annealing process, right after 

demoulding, is suitable to get all parts heat-stable up to 

110 °C (HDT-B). nature2need´s right choice of different 

biopolymers, natural additives that work as nucleating 

agents and natural, highly-effective compatibilizers 

guarantuee a quick and efficient material crystallization to 

meet high-heat requirements. The material is food-contact 

safe. 

Bioblend LT25B targets to replace traditional, fossilbased 

plastics that are used in single-use items, like 

cutlery, food-containers, drinking cups, etc. Single-use 

applications made with non biodegradable materials are 

already or will be banned in a lot of countries very soon. 

There are a few alternatives to traditional, single-use 

plastics parts on the market, most of them are either very 

expensive or are not performing well. Especially thermal 

stability at temperatures around 70 – 100 °C is a problem 

with most of the eco-friendly alternatives. Products made 

with Bioblend LT25B compounds can even be re-used a 

couple of times, a camping holiday or a few dish-washer 

cycles are no problem, even for thin-walled parts. 

“The spoons, knives and forks we molded with our 

material are sturdy, high-temperature resistant, they come 

with a surprisingly high perceived quality; bright-white with 

a very glossy surface. A much better product than the ones 

we all know made with traditional, oil-based plastics like 

PS. The material is completely compostable and - on top of 

this - offers significant reduction in carbon footprint.” says 

Dr. Karsten Brast, CEO of the nature2need Group. “Low 

cost and high-quality levels will make it easier to convince 

everybody out there to finally change to sustainable 

products!” 

A biodegradable/compostable solution is good, but not 

perfect. nature2need is currently developing a new material, 

biodegradable in soil, with very similar properties that will 

be commercially available soon. MT 

http://nature2need.com 


Automotive 

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 



The bioplastics handbook 

for injection molders 

T 

his article is an excerpt of “The bioplastics handbook 

for injection molders”, created and published 

by Green Dot Bioplastics (Emporia, Kansas, USA), 

edited by Michael Thielen. Download the full handbook via 

the link given at the end [1]. 

Processing bioplastics 

Bioplastics can be processed with the same equipment 

and, in many cases, similar cycle times as traditional 

plastics. As with switching from one traditional plastic 

to another traditional plastic (e.g., polyethylene to a 

polystyrene), though, it’s important to understand the 

processing parameters of the new material. And if you plan 

to use the same mold, it’s important to choose a bioplastic 

with similar processing characteristics to the material 

you’re currently using. 

Because of the custom nature of many materials, materialspecific 

processing considerations vary formulation by 

formulation. Still, there are category-specific processing 

considerations injection molders would find helpful to know 

before using a bioplastic. 

In this guide, Green Dot Bioplastics offers general 

considerations for these two overarching bioplastic 

categories: Biocomposites (plastics made with a matrix 

resin — either petroleum-based or renewable and a 

reinforcement of natural fibers or fillers) and biodegradables 

(plastics which are metabolized into organic bio-mass after 

use). See info-box for details about Green Dot Bioplastics’ 

materials. 

Injection molding with biocomposites 

Biocomposites can replace as much as 65 % (in cases 

even up to 70 %) of petroleum-based content with renewable 

materials such as wood-, flax-, hemp-, bamboo- etc. fibers 

or starch — a compelling bio story in a time when plastics 

bans and restrictions are heightening. 

Most biocomposites do not deviate significantly from 

traditional plastics and can be processed on the same 

equipment without major modifications to the injection 

molding process. As long as injection molders are aware of 

the small ways in which biocomposites differ from traditional 

plastics —and the small ways that difference affects the 

injection molding process— processing problems are easy 

to avoid. And as with any material change, it’s paramount 

to follow the processing characteristics laid out by the 

material manufacturer. 

Lower temperatures, slower injection speeds 

Biocomposites are filled with organic fillers and fibers, 

which are especially sensitive to high temperatures and 

shear buildup. If the material gets above about 205°C 

(400°F), there’s potential for degradation of the cellulose 

and burn streaks in the finished part. Changes in the 

process (e.g., lower temperatures, slower injection speeds) 

and tooling (e.g., opening a cooling line, enlarging gates) 

may be needed to alleviate shear stress and prevent the 

material from overheating. 

Although injection speeds might need to be lower for 

biocomposites, cycle times should remain within an 

acceptable range because they are being processed at 

lower temperatures meaning less cooling time is required. 

And the organic filler adds a degree of dimensional stability 

to the material, allowing it to be removed from the mold at 

higher temperatures than conventional plastics and further 

reducing cycle times. 

Follow drying recommendations 

The organic fillers (e.g., natural fibers, wood, starch, 

etc.) in a biocomposite readily absorb moisture from the 

environment and must be dried in a desiccant dryer prior 

to processing. Processing biocomposites at moisture 

levels above about 0.5% can result in a host of processing 

problems such as drooling from the nozzle or runner and 

the formation of voids within the part. 

Account for differing shrinkage characteristics 

The higher the ratio of organic fiber and fillers in a 

biocomposite, the lower the shrink rate. Injection molders 

who currently make a part out of a traditional plastic (e.g., 

polyethylene) and want to switch to a biocomposite (e.g., a 

wood fiber polyethylene composite) need to be conscious 

of the differing shrinkage characteristics between the two 

materials. A higher shrink rate isn’t necessarily good, and 

a lower shrink rate isn’t necessarily bad. But molds are 

designed with draft angles to accommodate the shrinkage 

of one plastic material — and if the same mold shall be 

used for the new material, a material with a similar shrink 

rate needs to be chosen. 

Injection molding with biodegradables 

Experience shows that the vast majority of processing 

problems with biodegradable plastics stem back to 

moisture and temperature. Processing biodegradable 

plastics at above the recommended temperature will cause 

the material to degrade. And if excess moisture is present, 

the resulting parts will be brittle, weak and have a reduced 

shelf life. 

If all processing recommendations of the raw material 

suppliers (e.g. Green Dot Bioplastics) are followed, though, 

the biodegradable plastic will remain strong and functional 

until subjected to the specific conditions in which it is 

designed to biodegrade. Most often, this is in industrial 

composting facilities or, in special cases, backyard 

composting settings — not while a product is on a store 

shelf or in use. 



Drying time and moisture levels 

It’s essential to follow the drying instructions 

specified by the material manufacturer to ensure the 

material is at or below the recommended moisture 

level prior to processing. Moisture levels above 0.1% 

will not only cause problems during the injection 

molding process (e.g., foaming, drooling, voids) but 

also product performance problems. The presence 

of excess moisture can cause the plastic to 

hydrolyze during the product lifecycle, resulting 

in a loss of molecular weight and mechanical 

performance. This can cause parts to be brittle 

and weak and, ultimately, fail. 

Lower processing temperatures 

Many biodegradable plastics tend to be more 

shear-sensitive and have lower melting points than 

most biocomposites and traditional plastics. Because of 

this, most biodegradable materials have to be dried and 

processed at much lower temperatures, often well below 

175°C (350°F). Processing biodegradable plastics above 

the manufacturer recommended temperature can result 

in material degradation. Slower injection speeds and 

larger gates / runners may be required to further reduce 

the temperature and shear stress depending on the mold 

and material you are using. 

Meet injection molders who have made 

bioplastics work 

In a separate publication by Green Dot Bioplastics, four 

injection molders provide valuable and promising insights 

on working with bioplastics. Although each had technical 

issues at the initial stages, they were eventually able to run 

the materials successfully in their respective facilities [2]. 

A research-driven guidebook to processing 

bioplastics 

A special guide published by IfBB – Institute for Bioplastics 

and Biocomposites (Hanover University of Applied Sciences 

and Arts) and supported by FNR (specialist agency 

renewable resources) to the processing of bioplastics gives 

a straightforward explanation of processing considerations 

for a variety of materials and processing procedures based 

on years of research [3]. The texts were contributed by IAP 

– Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research, IfBB, 

SKZ, SLK, Chair of Lightweight Structures and Polymer 

Technology, Technical University Chemnitz. 

[1] The bioplastics handbook for injection molders (complete pdf) The 

Bioplastics handbook for injection molders 

tinyurl.com/bioplastics-handbook 

[2] N.N.: Injection molders who have made bioplastics work; 

tinyurl.com/injection-moulders 

[3] Offers, J.; Lack, N. (Edts): Processing of Bioplastics – a guideline – 

tinyurl.com/bioplasticsprocessingguideline 

Green Dot Bioplastics materials at a glance 

Each of Green Dot’s Terratek® material lines don’t describe a 

discrete material, but rather a class of materials. 

• Terratek BD, is a class of materials that are both bio-based 

and biodegradable. Within the Terratek BD category, there are 

near-infinite possibilities to customize a formulation by alloying 

different polymers and additives to meet customer-specific 

performance requirements. These grades are more rigid and 

similar to traditional polyolefin resins. 

• Terratek Flex is a class of biodegradable elastomers that is 

rubber-like and soft to the touch, 

Terratek BD and Terratek Flex, are certified compostable according 

to ASTM D6400 and EN 13432, meaning they will disintegrate 

within 12 weeks and biodegrade within 180 days in an industrial 

composting facility. 

• Terratek WC is a class of wood-plastic composites. WC contains 

up to 60% wood particles 

• Terratek SC is a class of starchplastic composites with starch-toplastic 

ratios ranging from 30 to 65%. 

Terratek WC and SC replace a significant portion of traditional 

plastic with renewable, reclaimed organic fillers. The organic 

material adds dimensional stability, stiffness and a natural 

appearance to plastic products without sacrificing performance or 

processability. 

The value of Green Dot Bioplastics lies in the material science 

expertise which gives the supplier the flexibility to customize their 

material lines to match the unique requirements of each client. 

Green Dot Bioplastics offers custom formulations for each category, 

alloying different polymers, additives and fillers to achieve a broad 

range of performance and processing parameters. 




By: 

Daniel Ganz, 

Global Product Manager Bioplastics 

Sukano 

Schindeleggi, Switzerland 

Injection Molding PLA 

Make the switch today 

S 

ukano, a global Masterbatch specialist for polyester 

and specialty resins, has leveraged its expertise 

to enable a broader design variety to be injection 

molded with PLA without major financial investments. 

One of the key bioplastics, PLA, is currently the second 

highest consumed bioplastic worldwide by volume, and 

it offers a broad range of functionalities optimized for 

each type of application. It can be processed into a vast 

array of products using conventional plastics processing 

technologies – in most cases, the process parameters of 

the processing equipment simply needs to be adjusted to 

the individual specification of each polymer. 

Overcoming the barriers in injection molding 

Currently, polyolefins and polystyrenes resin are the most 

commonly used materials for injection molding. However, 

a bigger shift toward PLA in injection molding has been 

slowed by serious issues. There are several challenges that 

convertors have faced when processing injection molded 

PLA parts, especially when using existing equipment and 

tools, including: 

• Difficulties to fill cavities due to higher melt viscosity of 

the carrier, especially for thin wall applications 

• Additional force required to fill the form, which may lead 

to shorter lifespan of the tool 

• Material sticking to the mold surface, making demolding 

more difficult and increasing the risk of surface defects 

in the end application 

Due to these issues, processing PLA was not even 

possible in many cases – until now. 

Enabling a broader design variety 

Formulated to enable a broader design variety to be 

injection molded with PLA Sukano has developed a mold 

release additive masterbatch that enables convertors 

to injection mold PLA – even for thin wall applications – 

without needing to change the machine or the equipment. 

Customer cases have demonstrated that the switch from 

fossil-based plastics to PLA for injection molding is very 

much possible, all without major financial investments. 

SUKANO ® Mold Release Masterbatch achieves this by 

providing the critical barrier between a molding surface 

and the substrate, facilitating the separation of the cured 

part from the mold. It acts by migrating to the surface of 

the final product, which helps to demold the injection 

molded part from the metal surface of the cavity, therefore 

reducing the demolding force required. This unique feature 

can help ensure reduced cycle times, continuous running 

of production lines, fewer rejects and waste, as well as 

reduced machine wear out and cleaning. 

Melt flow increase as an additional effect 

Sukano Mold Release Masterbatch also has an 

interesting and very beneficial side effect, as demonstrated 

in sophisticated spiral flow length trials conducted in an 

external lab. By reducing the friction between the polymer 

chains, it creates a lower melt viscosity – and therefore 

a higher melt flow – without increasing the temperature. 

This helps to fill the cavities, which can be especially 

challenging in thin wall applications, and enables a broader 

design variety to be injection molded with PLA. It essentially 

eliminates the critical issue of decreased melt flow, often 

a major barrier to the switch from conventional plastics to 

bio-based materials in this type of process. 

Sukano Mold Release Masterbatch helps producers 

make the switch to PLA while still achieve a consistent 

high-quality standard of their PLA-based end products, 

with high clarity, scratch and scuff resistance, improved 

surface finish, improved material homogenization, and it is 

food compliant. 

1600 — 

1500 — 

1422 

1400 — 

PLA: Peak demolding force / N 

Hold pressure: 400 bar, 

melt temperature: 200°C, 

mold temperature: 25°C 

1300 — 

1200 — 

1100 — 

1000 — 

900 — 

1213 

1075 

800 — 

PLA reference PLA + 1% PLA mr S533 PLA + 3% PLA mr S533 



REGISTER 

NOW & SAVE 

€300 

Sukano – your guide in the move to bioplastics 

In our highly interconnected world, the general public 

has become more and more concerned – and engaged – 

about the planet’s future in the face of increasingly serious 

environmental challenges. The debate has reached its 

tipping point, with the European Commission itself stating 

that “European consumers are more and more prepared to 

buy goods and services which have a reduced environmental 

impact.” People are now prepared to participate via their 

purchase habits and preferences to ensure their impact on 

the environment are minimized or at least well reduced. 

To support its customers in making the switch to 

bioplastics, Sukano has invested in a powerful R&D 

analytical laboratory and pilot plant. This allows the 

company to provide industry-leading capabilities to quickly 

respond to customer’s most urgent demands and flexibility 

requirements. Together with over 30 years of experience in 

the field, Sukano is ready and, willing and able to support 

you to make the switch today. 

www.sukano.com 

Specific injection pressure in bar 

1100% 

1050% 

1000% 

950% 

900% 

850% 

Performance of Injection Pressure 

(MB + Ingeo-PLA 3251D) 

800% 

0% 1% 

3% 5% 

Dosage of mold release SUKANO mr S533 

27/28 June 2019, FrankFurt Messe 

EXAMINING HOW BIOPLASTICS CAN HELP 

CREATE A WORLD FREE FROM PLASTIC WASTE 

applications in Packaging, automotive, textiles & transportation 

PLUS: Increasing use of recycled Materials & end-of-Life solutions 

sponsors 

www.plasticfree-world.com 


Chinaplas-Review 

Chinaplas 2019 Review 

By: 

John Leung 

Biosolutions 

Hong Kong 

A 

companying the growth of China’s plastics and 

rubber industries for over 30 years, CHINAPLAS 

has become a distinguished meeting and business 

platform for these industries and has also largely contributed 

to their prosperous development. At present, CHINA- 

PLAS is the world’s leading plastics and rubber trade fair, 

and also widely recognized by the industry as one of the 

most influential exhibitions in the world. Its significance is 

surpassed only by K Fair in Germany, the world’s premier 

plastics and rubber trade fair. 

Chinaplas 2019 (21-24 May), the 33rd International 

Exhibition on Plastics and Rubber Industries, attracted over 

180,000 professional visitors from 150 countries and regions 

to the China Import and Export Fair Complex, Pazhou, 

Guangzhou. The exhibition space compriswd more than 

250,000 square-meters. The show gathered together more 

than 3,600 leading exhibitors from all over the world, in 

which more than 1,800 of them are related to the packaging 

industry. 

Among the 20 Theme Zones, including for the first time 

a Recycled Plastics Zone, Chinaplas 2019 again featured a 

Bioplastics Zone to address the industry’s need for green 

and circular solutions. 

The biobased plastics and bio-composites shown in the 

Bioplastics Zone not only can be used in a wide range of 

applications such as packaging, electronic appliances, 

toys, children products, automobiles, and 3D printing but 

also are degradable, compostable, environmentally friendly, 

non-toxic and as affordable as petroleum-based plastics. 

Some examples are: 

NatureWorks LLC’s Ingeo ® biobased plastics come from 

100% renewable plant resources. According to ISO 14040 

and 14044 standards, Ingeo® reduces greenhouse gas 

emissions and consumes less non-renewable energy than 

conventional plastic PS/PET/ABS. 

Today, Ingeo is favored for its unique features! It has been 

used in products such as food utensils, coffee capsules, 

nonwovens and home appliances. As part of its commitment 

to the recycling bioeconomy and away from petrochemical 

feedstocks, NatureWorks announced that 100% of all 

agricultural raw materials used in Ingeo biopolymers will 

be certified by the International Sustainable Development 

and Carbon Certification System in 2020, in line with ISCC 

PLUS agricultural production. Best practice standards. 

According to Johannes Becker, BASF’s Global Biopolymer 

Marketing Director, “Rapid industrialization, economic growth 

and environmental awareness have driven the development 

of sustainable living in China. BASF is committed to helping 

China meet these challenges through innovative, sustainable 

plastic solutions. ” 

The biobased and compostable material of Suzhou Hanfeng 

New Material Co., Ltd. has changed the situation of traditional 

plastics being difficult to degrade and combustion producing 

harmful gases. With the technology for blending PLA and PBAT, 

customers’ various requirements for the physical properties 

of products and cost control can be satisfied, and the softness 

and environmental friendliness of products will be enhanced. 

Users can opt for such degradable and non-toxic packaging 

with higher quality when purchasing products in the future. 

The material can be used to manufacture green courier bags, 

disposable lunch boxes, bowls, cups, supermarket shopping 

bags, bags on a roll, flat-top bags and so on. 

Biocosafe ® developed by Xinfu Technology uses binary acid 

and binary alcohol as raw materials, and uses high-efficiency 

non-toxic catalyst to directly synthesize according to the onestep 

polycondensation method. Under the ISO14855 detection 

method, the relative biodegradation rate of the material 

exceeds 90%. The glass transition temperature of the resin is 

-35 ° C. It can meet the requirements of cold, hot drinks and 

lunch boxes, and is a biodegradable material with excellent 

temperature resistance. It could be applied to stationery, toys, 

entertainment products, etc. 

Ecoworld ® developed by Jinhui Zhaolong can be decomposed 

into carbon dioxide and water by microorganisms within 

180 days under composting conditions. Under composting 

conditions, organic fertilizer can be produced, and the 

degradation process does not produce toxic gases. The main 

raw material of plastic film is biodegradable and compostable, 

which can effectively deal with white pollution. 

www.chinaplasonline.com 

BASF showcased the new biodegradable polymer ecovio ® 

courier bags, indicating that BASF is helping to cope with the 

white pollution challenge caused by the surge in domestic 

courier bags. This ecovio degradable courier bag delivers 

outstanding performance and not only meets customer 

needs, but also provides an environmentally friendly 

solution. BASF is working with key downstream partners to 

explore cutting-edge technologies for biodegradable bags. 


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 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

7 th 

Bio-based Polymers & Building Blocks 

The best market reports available 

Automotive 

Commercialisation updates on 

bio-based building blocks 

7 th 1 

Data Data for for 

2018 2018 

UPDATE 


UPDATE 


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 


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 



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 



Authors: Lara Dammer, Michael Carus and Dr. Asta Partanen 

nova-Institut GmbH, Germany 

May 2017 



Author: Jan Ravenstijn, Jan Ravenstijn Consulting, the Netherlands 

April 2017 



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 



Author: Wolfgang Baltus, Wobalt Expedition Consultancy, Thailand 



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. 


1 


Applications 

Cosmetic 

tubes from 

bio-PE 

Saving resources, 

recyclable and 

promoting sales 

With Braskem’s 

Green PE, FKuR has 

a family of biobased 

plastics in its 

portfolio, which has 

proved to be a great 

success with tube 

producers. 

It is a sustainable, 

environmentally 

compatible and 

easily printable 

alternative to fossil 

based counterparts. 

(Picture: FKuR) 

Cosmetic tubes made from Braskem‘s biobased Green 

PE combine sustainability and recyclability along 

with attractiveness at the point of sale so meeting 

the demands of brand owners and end consumers. FKuR 

(Willich, Germany), presents successful applications at 

CosmeticBusiness 2019 in Munich on 5th and 6th June, in 

hall 3 booth E02. 

Application specific biopolymers 

FKuR’s portfolio covers a wide range of biobased plastics 

for the production of cosmetic packaging. Having good 

barrier properties and durability, all grades provide the 

required resistance to the ingredients. This is combined 

with excellent printability giving an attractive product 

without having to use secondary packaging. The biobased 

polyethylene Green PE produced by Braskem from renewably 

sourced sugar cane, is ideally suited for the extrusion blow 

molding of tubes. Depending on the application, HDPE 

grades with more than 90 % of biobased content, or LDPE 

grades with more than 95 % of biobased content, as well 

as LLDPE grades with more than 80 % of biobased content 

(according to ASTM D 6866) are available. Furthermore, 

with its Terralene LL 1712 FKuR offers a ready-to-use 

compound for tube production based on Green PE. 

The mechanical characteristics and the recyclability 

of these materials are the same as those of conventional 

fossil based PE. Hence, they can be used for identical 

applications and are also 100 % recyclable in the same PE 

waste stream. As a sales support measure, brand owners 

can use Braskem’s license-free I’m green logo on the tubes. 

The use of this logo requires the communication of the 

renewable portion of the product, which should be verified 

by C14 analysis according to ASTM D6866. Also certificates 

from independent certification bodies can be used, such as 

the OK Biobased from TÜV Austria or DIN tested by DIN 

Certco with its corresponding points rating system. 

First applications – attractive and successful 

As a result of customers desires and the end users’ 

trend of increasingly considering sustainability and 

environmental compatibility when making purchasing 

decisions, Emballator Tectubes, a Swedish producer of 

injection molded and extruded plastics and aluminum 

tubes, made the transition to biobased Green PE several 

years ago. Supported by Polymerfront, the Swedish 

distributor for FKuR, the company had previously conducted 

intensive tests with Green PE and with the alternative PLA. 

The biobased PE was chosen as a result of its better water 

barrier and ease of processing. 

Jan-Erik Svensson, Strategic Purchasing, at Emballator 

Tectubes comments: “As the first producer who used Green 

PE for our tubes, we faced a considerable challenge. Special 

compounds were developed, all processing parameters and 

the molds were optimized, and after several production 

trials and result analysis the optimum solution was reached. 

Again, the help of Polymerfront was extremely valuable.” 

Today, the company uses Green PE for tubes in a variety 

of sizes from 5 to 275 ml, and also uses this bioplastic to 

make caps. 

Another pioneer in the use of biobased polyethylene 

is LageenTubes, a leading manufacturer of tubes for the 

cosmetics, body, hair and oral care, pharmaceutical & 

food industries, headquartered in Kibbutz Yagur, Israel. 

They have been active worldwide and for more than 50 

years. The company uses Green PE for its sugarcane 

tubes, citing unrestricted recyclability as an important 

argument for Green PE. Timor Benari-Shuster, Marketing 

Communications Manager, says: “At the beginning, more 

than six years ago until recently, we had to do a lot of 

convincing work and had to demonstrate the suitability of 

biobased plastic with supporting facts about the durability 

and quality. Today, the industry has recognized that 

tubes made from Green PE have the same performance 

characteristics as conventional PE and are therefore 

suitable for cosmetic primary packaging. Lageentubes 

offers the sugarcane tube in both formats mono layer and 

co-ex 5 layers. A good argument was also that the change 

to Green PE does not require any changes in the production 

or investment in tooling.” 

At LageenTubes the opportunity to directly digitally print 

cosmetic tubes made from Green PE is also new. Benari- 

Shuster continues: “With this possibility, we now offer 

a revolutionary direct digital printing that allows design 

freedom such as end-to-end-printing including the cap, 

360° decoration without a gap or overlaps with realistic 


Applications 

images, shades, gradients, and halftones, customized and 

also personalized on-demand.” LageenTubes will present 

their sugarcane tube at CosmeticBusiness Hall 2 Stand 

B19. 

At its Wasungen (Germany) site, packaging specialist 

Tubex produces tubes made by co-extruding Green PE 

with a barrier plastic. Among other things, the company 

supplies Swox, a Munich-based manufacturer of special 

sun protection products for outdoor athletes. 

Katharina Kestler, Public Relations, at Swox affirms: 

“Our customers have a natural interest in protecting the 

environment and are fully aware of their responsibilities. 

That is why Swox also took a closer look at packaging and 

finally chose Green PE in close cooperation with Tubex.” 

Sandra Storandt, Account Manager Plastic Tubes at Tubex 

adds: “We see a steadily increasing customer 

demand for sustainable packaging solutions, 

which we can usually fulfill thanks to our 

close cooperation with the bioplastics expert 

FKuR, because Green PE is environmentally 

friendly, compatible with the product and easy 

to recycle.” 

A future-oriented user of such tubes is also the 

Austrian bio-cosmetic label Hands on Veggies. 

Its biocosmetic products, marketed under the 

same name, contain valuable ingredients from 

garden vegetables such as pumpkins, carrots, 

kale & co. Multitubes, a Dutch expert in the field 

of plastic tubes for cosmetic, food, pharmaceutical 

and industrial applications manufactures the tubes 

from Green PE and prints them with bright fresh 

colors. The use of biobased plastic also creates 

a real added value, as the company is showing the 

consumer that it is taking its environmental thinking 

to the very end and is adopting a logical conclusion. 

The beginning of a promising development 

Patrick Zimmermann, Director Sales & Marketing at 

FKuR summarizes: “Green PE offers ideal properties for 

this purpose. That’s why our cooperation with cosmetic 

tube manufacturers is already very successful. But in fact, 

we see the examples given here only as the beginning of a 

promising development. They show how biobased plastics 

can be used to particular advantage in this area of 

application, because they also clearly point out the 

environmental awareness of brand owners on the 

point of sales. 

Based on this, we are involved in the development 

of further tube applications in the cosmetics and 

healthcare sectors, where we advise on application 

technology and if necessary also develop customerspecific 

modifications of our bioplastics. A good example 

of this is our Terralene PP as a partially biobased 

plastic with the properties of polypropylene, used for the 

production of e. g. the caps with and without film hinges.” 

www.fkur.com | 

www.fkur-polymers.com | 

http://plasticoverde.braskem.com.br/site.aspx/plastic-green | 

http://tectubes.com/en/green-pe-tubes/ | 

www.lageentubes.com/2016/10/02/1111/ | 

www.tubex.de/kunststofftuben.html | 

www.swox.com/de/produkte/ | 

www.handsonveggies.de/ | 

https://multitubes.nl/bio-based/| 

By: 

Patrick Zimmermann 

Director Marketing & Sales 

FKuR Kunststoff 

Willich, Germany 

Multitubes 

Lageen 

Tubes 

Tubex / Swox 

Emballator 

Tectubes 


Application News 

Automotive 

Plant-based performance shoes 

Leading global barefoot shoe company Vivobarefoot 

(London, UK) recently announced the launch of Primus 

Lite II Bio, the company’s most innovative sustainable 

shoe to-date and one of the world’s first plant-based 

performance shoes. The mission-driven brand unveiled 

the highly anticipated unisex shoe on the heels of 

independent sustainability research, which highlighted 

eco materials as a key 

factor in consumer 

purchasing decisions. 

The Primus Lite II Bio 

has been available in a 

limited run online since 

May 20 th , 2019. 

The new vegan shoe is 

designed with over 30 % 

renewable plant-based 

materials, including Bio 

TPU made from yellow 

dent field corn, natural 

rubber and harvested algae called Bloom, instead of 

single-use petroleum materials. The design is the 

company’s lightest and most efficient performance shoe 

yet and weighs on average an estimated 10 % less than 

today’s standard performance shoes. 

The new generation of Vivobarefoot’s legacy Primus 

Lite style is a game-changer for the footwear industry 

and represents a major stride for the company towards 

its goal of using 100 % biobased materials in a future 

iteration of this product. 

Vivobarefoot’s sustainability ethos is uniquely different from 

other footwear brands in the industry, as it is rooted in design, 

wellness and social impact, along with utilizing eco-friendly 

materials. The company believes product design encompasses 

doing more with less and creating durable products. Its focus 

on wellness enables people to move in a natural, healthy, 

connected way, while maintaining performance and durability. 

“The launch of the 

Primus Lite Bio represents 

an exciting step away from 

the industry’s reliance 

on single use petroleumbased 

materials and 

towards a promising 

future of plant-based 

alternatives,” said Asher 

Clark, Design Director at 

Vivobarefoot. “We want 

to challenge the world’s 

relationship with shoes, the 

materials they are made from and the impact they are having 

on us and our environment. Our ultimate goal is complete 

circularity.” 

More than 20 billion pairs of shoes are made annually, most 

from petrochemicals, which have a harmful impact on the 

environment, contributing to the already serious effects of 

climate change. The plant-based materials in the Primus Lite 

II Bio shoe are sourced and managed responsibly, reducing 

water, energy and CO 2 

emissions, improving waste water and 

ultimately reducing their ecological footprint. MT 

www.vivobarefoot.com 

Swedish outdoor brand switches to bioplastic 

As of this year Swedish Light my Fire (Malmö) transitioned 

its entire product line to biobased plastics, featuring a new 

palette of warm and soft colors inspired by nature. “We’re 

always looking to use the most sustainable raw materials,” 

says CEO Calill Odqvist Jagusch. “By experimenting with 

various biobased plastics, we’ve found a solution that meets 

our sustainability objectives while not compromising on our 

product’s functionality and durability.” 

Biobased plastics are still in their infancy, and as they 

continue to blaze trail LMF wants to share its knowledge 

and be as transparent as possible. To this end, LMF has 

prepared a “Little School of Plastic” mini-tutorial and a 

fully transparent overview of all their product materials 

and suppliers in “Let’s Talk Materials,” both found on their 

website. 

Plastic pollution in nature is a tragedy – and with proper 

recycling and behavioral changes, it’s completely avoidable. 

Much of plastic pollution currently consists of single-use 

items like plastic straws, forks and packaging, and until 

recycling becomes widespread single-use items really have 

no place in a sustainable world. 

“Products like our ReStraw, Pack-up-Cup and Spork are in 

fact durable, reusable replacements of many of these singleuse 

items,” explains Calill Odqvist Jagusch. “However, like 

most other brands, we’ve used single-use plastics in our 

packaging. Moving forward, this year we plan to remove singleuse 

plastics in all our packaging using RE-PET storage bags as 

well as recycled and 

recyclable cardboard 

where needed.” 

Light My Fire has 

cooperated with SK 

Chemicals, of South 

Korea, Hexpol and 

FKuR to arrive at the 

selection of bioplastic 

materials appropriate 

for their products, 

taking issues such as 

durability and foodcontact 

approvals into 

account. MT 

www.lightmyfire.com 


Application News 

Spectacles from coffee and flax 

www.ochis.coffee 

The first Kickstarter campaign with a collection of sunglasses, made from organic coffee residues and flax resulting in durable 

eyewear that smells of coffee, was a full success in 2018. Now Ochis Coffee (Washington DC, USA) launched a new collection 

of Ochis Coffee eyewear. Founder Max Gavrilenko wanted to avoid the use of petroleum based plastic: “We use recyclables for 

the glasses production: coffee grounds and flax. They’re glued together by a biopolymer based on vegetable oil,” Max said. the 

frame smells slightly of freshly roasted coffee and has a matte 

texture that is pleasant to the touch. The polarized lenses with 

UV-filter are made of cellulose triacetate and feature an antiscratch 

coating. 

According to Ochis, the frames decompose 100 times faster 

than ordinary plastic glasses. In fact, the frame completely 

degrades after 10 years in soil or water, and turns into a 

natural fertilizer should the wearer lose it. There are four 

colours of Carl Zeiss lenses available and the frames are Rxable. 

The new spring 2019 collection was again introduced in 

a new Kickstarter campaign. MT 

First modular storage system 

from Bio-on’s bioplastic 

Only a few short months following the announcement of 

the alliance between Kartell (Noviglio, Italy), a leading design 

company, and biotechnology company Bio-on (Bologna, Italy), 

the first fruits of the partnership are being exhibited at the 

Salone del Mobile, Milan (Italy). 

Kartell has chosen to produce a new eco-friendly and 

sustainable edition of one of its best sellers - a modular 

storage unit designed in 1967 by Anna Castelli Ferrieri - in 

Bio-on’s 100% natural bioplastic material. The 50-year old 

design is available in four colours: green, pink, cream and 

yellow in the three-module version. 

For Kartell, research is a mission, said company president 

Claudio Luti. “We will continue to experiment to combine 

innovation and design.” 

Kartell celebrates its 70 th anniversary this year, thus ‘we are 

happy to be able to reach another milestone’, he added. 

“We have worked with Bio-on to be able to offer our public a 

very high-quality bioplastic product and we have chosen to do 

it on one of our historic products, one of the most recognized 

in the world. Research on bioplastics fits with our quest for 

innovation and is part of the “Kartell loves the planet” project 

aimed at enhancing good sustainability practices.” 

For Bio-on, it is ‘an honour’, said founder and CEO Marco 

Astorri. The company is proud to see its bioplastic showcased 

with one of the most famous Italian design brands in the 

world. To reciprocate and in gratitude for the trust placed in 

the material, Bio-on has given the biopolymer used for this 

specific application the name CL, the initials of Claudio Luti. 

In just a few days, Bio-on first saw the launch of the first 

line of solar cosmetics based on its technology, and now 

the first piece of furniture. “It is a clear confirmation of the 

extreme versatility that our biopolymer can offer, bringing its 

extraordinary advantages to all sectors,” Astorri concluded... MT 

www.bio-on.it 


Applications 

This spoon does the rest! 

Whether yoghurt cups or jam jars, peanut butter, 

chocolate cream, bottled baby food or other packaged 

pasty food: significant residual quantities 

remain in all the containers of these products even after 

they have been emptied. In some cases, we lose up to 10% 

of the contents of food packaging, because their special 

shapes make it impossible to remove the products completely. 

When having almost completely emptied a jar, some 

of us will ambitiously try to take out even this last remnant. 

A normal tablespoon or teaspoon is not an ideal means 

for emptying a recipient completely, to avoid cleaning before 

waste disposal. The water which is consumed for this 

purpose needs to be cleaned at high costs, too. Additional 

resource consumption is the consequence. 

Thomas Griebl, a designer from Oberschneiding, 

Germany, who has been working for many years as movie 

and stage designer now developed the Balaenos ® - spoon. 

The whale 

For Thomas 

b i o n i c s 

should be 

an important 

aspect of design. 

This is very well 

illustrated by whales, whose bodies 

are excellently shaped for their 

natural habitat. For long periods they 

have been able to adapt themselves 

to their environment. With the aim of 

optimizing, evolution has thereby formed back a l l 

features which are not required any longer. The eponym 

of the Balaenos- spoon, the bowhead whale (Balaena 

mysticetus), even gets along without a dorsal fin. It is the 

only whale species who doesn’t have one. 

The idea for designing the Balaenos- spoon came up 

when “plunging” into the yoghurt jar or when “fishing” 

for remnants of its contents. Both the spoon’s design and 

function were inspired by this animal. 

The spoon 

Balaenos - spoons are made in one work-step from 

thermoplastic resin in an injection moulding process. Its 

special shape distinguishes this spoon from conventional 

spoons and it simplifies the uncomfortable gathering or 

scraping of remaining residual quantities. The spoondesign 

is copyrighted at the German Patent Office and 

internationally protected by WIPO. 

Inspired by an international major debate on how to avoid 

plastic waste and in view of the long-term environmental 

pollution by conventional plastics, Thomas and his team 

decided to manufacture the spoon from a biobased and 

biodegradable PLA compound. “By using biopolymers, both, 

we and the users, try to achieve the aim of a sustainable and 

ecologically safe use of plastic materials in the household 

and to reduce environmental pollution,” Thomas says. 

The PLA material used for Balaenos consists to approx. 

70% of renewable raw materials and works therefore as a 

carbon-dioxide buffer storage. It can be completely recycled, 

used for energy production, or led back into the ecological 

cycle, after use. Of course, the material is FDA compliant and 

approved for use with food. 

The special compound makes the spoon resistant 

to temperatures of approx. 75°C. It is therefore not 

recommended to clean the spoon in the dishwasher, but 

better wash it by hand like other natural materials (such as 

wooden knife handles and kitchen utensils). 

The spoon is home compostable, if such a possibility exists. 

Mechanical comminution like grinding or rasping accelerates 

this biological degradation. 

The Balaenos - spoon is available in two different sizes. The 

two versions of the spoon are based on the usual dimensions 

for cutlery. 

The idea behind 

Balaenos is to design 

a complete range 

of everyday utensils 

which are produced as sustainably as 

possible. Their materials are derived from nature in a 

resource-saving way, in order to return them to their natural 

cycle at the end of their lifetime. 

The uniform design language 

evokes their 

models from 

nature and 

our contact 

with nature 

as an integral 

part of it. 

“Simple and widely used products, at best produced 

locally at low cost, sold via different distribution channels, 

will enrich our everyday life with new, renewable materials, 

and can substantially influence our attitude and our general 

behaviour towards existing resources,“ Thomas Griebl 

says.“ Much could be achieved when the special spoon on 

the breakfast table, the hygiene product in the bathroom or 

small office accessories create awareness that we are not 

consumers, but users, who think in terms of closed circuits!” 

Balaenos will be manufactured completely in southern 

Germany and customized and despatched in-line with 

customers’ requirements. Sustainability is also kept in mind 

for packaging materials, by using cardboard from grass 

paper and films from biodegradable PLA. 

Domestic production for the German and the adjacent 

European markets avoids long transport routes from overseas 

and multiple transport itineraries to the end users. MT 

www.balaenos.de 


Automotive 

GET THE APP NOW 

download free of charge* 

APP-Anzeige 

Via the new App you read 

bioplastics MAGAZINE sooner 

on your mobile device 

Not only on a tablet, but also on 

your smartphone you can easily 

read bioplastics MAGAZINE 

Be informed quicker: 

read bioplastics MAGAZINE a week 

before the print edition is mailed 

More features: 

find links to additional material 

like PDFs, videoclips, photos etc. 

Easy navigation: 

digital version, optimized for 

tablets and smartphones 

Includes a Twitter Feed about 

our daily online news 

* Contents may become restricted to subscribers or subject to additonal fees at a later stage. 


Materials 

Pack it in feathers 

pluumo – The world’s first feather-based, 

sustainable packaging material 

Thousands of tonnes of waste feathers are generated 

every day by the global poultry industry. The average 

amount of meat consumed per person globally has 

more than doubled in the past 50 years, e.g. from 23 kg 

in the 1960s to 69 kg in 2016 in the European Union [1]. 

This has a massive impact not only on anthropogenic GHG 

emissions, but also continues to create a huge amount of 

waste. In the EU alone, over 20 million tonnes of animal-byproducts 

(ABP) are produced annually and over 3.1 million 

tonnes of this material are feathers from poultry production. 

Feathers protect birds from adverse weather conditions 

and are inherently biodegradable in their nature. Honing 

in on these two properties; the team of AEROPOWDER 

(London, UK) has conducted comprehensive manufacturing 

testing in order to harness the beneficial assets of feathers 

and create a high-performance feather-based material. 

Other early-stage product ideas included water-proof 

coatings and composite materials. After several years of 

development, the team just launched a sustainable textile 

named pluumo, designed to be a highly effective insulation 

material. The material comes in the form of sheets and 

batts and is applicable in a variety of sectors, such as 

building, automotive and furniture. However, the initial 

focus is on packaging, using the novel textile as a featherbased 

thermal insulator for chilled shipments. pluumo is 

composed of feathers making it lightweight. Additionally, its 

packaging film is fully compostable, and it also adheres to 

strict environmental standards. The film is supplied by biofilm 

expert Nuova Erreplast in Italy, which conventionally 

produce flexible packaging. A pivotal role in the company 

policy is played by the search for new technologies and 

sustainable packaging solutions, aiming at having a low 

impact on the environment: one of the reasons why Nuova 

Erreplast embraced the pluumo project. 

Elena Dieckmann (CTO, Aeropowder) states: “The current 

discourse about the environmental impact of packaging is 

huge, and rightly so. We thought we could create a circular 

packaging product that is eco-friendly, waste-derived 

and high performance. Feathers can replace synthetic 

insulators, such as polyethylene foams or polystyrene (EPS) 

without loss of performance. In the booming industry that 

is online food delivery, this means that for every standard 

sized packaged being sent to a customer, around 400g of 

EPS packaging are avoided.” 

In order to create a fully compostable product, Aeropowder 

connected with Trevira (Bobingen, Germany), an innovative 

European manufacturer of high-value branded fibres 

and filament yarns. Trevira provided a solution in form of 

innovative, fully biodegradable binding fibres used to fuse 

the feather fibres together. These recyclable binding fibres 

are bicomponent fibres consisting of the biopolymers 

polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS). 

“Fibres made from biopolymers are a sustainable alternative 

to petroleum-based fibres and provide a basis for intelligent 

materials with added functions, for new applications and for 

niche products,” says Joerg Dahringer of Trevira. “They are 

as economical as they are efficient.” And Elena Dieckmann 

adds: “ For us, Trevira was the ideal partner – they are real 

pioneers of sustainability and have the technical expertise to 

create customized products.” 

Compostability test for the whole pluumo product are 

currently performed with accredited laboratories in Europe. 

In addition to biodegradability, pluumo must observe certain 

cold chain delivery requirements with regards to its insulative 

performance. Therefore, pluumo was tested extensively 

in collaboration with several research facilities in the UK. 

The product has been designed to outperform conventional 

EPS packaging (30 mm) by several hours. The secret to this 

impressive performance is down to the structure of feathers 

themselves. 

Feathers are made of keratin, an integral building block in 

nature. A unique feature of feather composition is their hollow 

microstructure traps air. Preventing movement of air is critical 

to preventing conductive heat transfer and thus tied directly to 

insulative performance. The team at Aeropowder have found 

a way to optimise the arrangement of feather fibres within 

the structure of pluumo, resulting in the material having a 

thermal conductivity 0.032 W/mk. Additionally, the strength 

of keratin means that pluumo retains its structural integrity 

after impact, providing additional cushioning protection for 

fragile items. pluumo’s specifications are also customisable 

in terms of height and density to meet a variety of demanding 

applications. 

Currently, Aeropowder is supplying pluumo Europe-wide, 

but its potential is wide-reaching. Wherever poultry found, 

pluumo and other innovative sustainable materials can be can 

be manufactured. MT 

[1]: OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2017-2026; 

http://www.fao.org/3/a-i7465e.pdf 

www.pluumo.com 


Materials 

Novel biobased barrier films 

According to recent forecasts by European Bioplastics 

and nova Institute, global production of biopolymers 

will increase from about 2.05 million tonnes in 2017 

to 2.44 million tonnes in 2022. The trend towards biobased 

and biodegradable plastics was induced mainly by the global 

waste problem and increasing environmental regulations 

for the industry. Consumers’ growing environmental awareness 

also has a beneficial effect for the bioplastics sector. 

Furthermore, certain bioplastics offer technical advantages. 

Due to its unique barrier properties towards oxygen, 

nitrogen and carbon dioxide, polylactide (PLA), for example, 

is already being successfully applied in the packaging industry 

- the largest field of application for biopolymers. 

This is where the Bio-Barrier Films (BioBaFol) project ties 

in, which was launched as part of the support programme 

for Renewable Resources by the German Federal Ministry 

of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The project partners, 

SKZ, Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research, Tecnaro, 

JenCAPS Technology and Südpack Packaging (all from 

Germany) are jointly developing PLA-based films with 

special barrier properties for the food, pharmaceutical 

and cosmetics industries. An inorganic-organic functional 

layer integrated in these films is intended to improve 

the films’ barrier effect in comparison to conventional 

multilayer films. Such hybrid polymers are already being 

used in numerous fields of application, such as photoand 

electrochromic, scratch- and abrasion-resistant or 

antistatic coatings. These excellent barrier properties are 

now being evaluated for use in food packaging and flexible 

encapsulation of optoelectronic applications. 

Conventional barrier films are mainly covered by 

laminated composites. These usually consist of duplex 

sheets wherein two different films are bonded together 

by coextrusion. Application-specific polyolefins are added 

In the framework of the Bio-Barrier Films (BioBaFol) project, the 

SKZ and several project partners are jointly developing PLA-based 

films with special barrier properties for food, pharmaceutical and 

cosmetics industries. 

as sealing media. These laminated composites currently 

cannot be broken down into their individual components, 

and thus cannot be recycled. “The use of a hybrid polymer 

layer on a PLA carrier material is now intended to facilitate 

the recycling process,” explained SKZ scientist Alexander 

Rusam. “During renewed film extrusion, this layer can be 

incorporated in the polymer matrix and can thus serve both 

as a nucleating agent for crystallization and as an additional 

barrier filler material. It is therefore not necessary to 

separate the barrier layer from the PLA carrier material, 

and recycling will thus be possible in the future. “ 

Besides feasibility, by the end of the project period, in mid 

2021, a scale-up at pilot-scale is also aimed at. MT 

www.skz.de 

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 


Basics 

Captured carbon vs. biobased 

Can products made from captured/recycled CO 2 

be called biobased? 

B 

iobased carbon content and captured or recycled 

carbon content are two separate metrics, though not 

always exclusive of each other. Biobased content is 

based upon the source of the raw material and is thus a ‘beginning 

of life’ concept. On the other hand, recycled or captured 

carbon content is based upon an ‘end of life’ action of 

e.g. incineration. As such, it is important to understand the 

differences between the two carbon content types and why 

each needs to be treated differently when developing standards 

for measurement or determination. 

Defining biobased 

The term biobased is used to describe materials (products 

and/or chemicals) derived in whole or in part from biomass 

resources; organic materials available on a continuous basis 

(i.e. renewable) from terrestrial and marine agricultural, plant, 

animal, and fungal sources living in a natural environment in 

equilibrium with the atmosphere (ref D6866, USDA, Farm Bill, 

EU). The phrase “living in a natural environment in equilibrium 

with the atmosphere” in the definition is critical because it 

provides for the absolute measurement of the biobased 

carbon content of a product using radiocarbon (carbon-14) 

analysis, and validates the amount of carbons originating 

from plant-biomass resources. 

There are three naturally occurring isotopes of carbon: 12 C, 

13 

C, 14 C and all are present in living organisms. Carbon-14 

( 14 C), however, is radioactive. The living systems maintain their 

C-14 content in equilibrium with atmospheric C-14. In other 

words, all plant-biomass feedstocks will contain the same 

level of C-14 as the atmosphere does. When a living plant or 

animal dies, it ceases to take up C-14, and thus no longer 

maintains an equilibrium level of C-14 with atmospheric C-14. 

The amount of C-14 in the carbon from this material will then 

decay exponentially from the equilibrium level with a half-life 

of 5730 years. Products made from biomass feedstocks like 

agricultural, plant, animal, marine, and forestry materials will 

still retain 100% of C-14 radioactivity for a long period of time 

(only 1% of radioactivity is lost after 100 years). Fossil carbons 

in products will have zero radioactivity as they are formed 

over millions of years. The ASTM & ISO test methods use the 

above radiocarbon concept to quantify the biobased carbons 

originating from the biomass feedstocks. The amount of 

biobased carbon in a given sample can be determined using 

radiocarbon dating, which measures the amount of carbon-14 

present. 

Because carbon present in biobased materials is recently 

captured from the atmosphere, the combustion and release 

of carbon dioxide (CO 2 

) from biobased material results in a 

net zero carbon footprint: if this carbon dioxide is captured 

or recycled, then this is also biobased captured or recycled 

carbon dioxide. In contrast, fossil fuel-derived material is 

formed over millions of years (devoid of carbon-14) and thus 

combustion of fossil fuels adds to the atmospheric levels 

of carbon dioxide. But, as will be discussed later, the use of 

captured or recycled CO 2 

partially mitigates this addition of 

greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. 

Test standards for biobased testing 

Carbon-14 testing is performed according to widely 

accepted test standards such as ASTM D6866 and ISO 

16620-2. ASTM D6866 is a standard test method used 

for determining the biobased content of solid, liquid and 

gaseous samples using radiocarbon dating [3]. Likewise, 

ISO 16620-2 is an international standard test method 

for determining the biobased content of solid, liquid and 

gaseous samples using carbon-14 analysis [4]. 

After analyzing a sample, the result is cited as percent 

modern carbon (pMC) and reported as percent biobased 

carbon content (or simply percent biobased content). A 

result of zero pMC indicates a sample is wholly derived 

from fossil carbon and does not contain any measurable 

carbon-14. In contrast, one hundred pMC represents a 

sample comprised entirely of biobased carbons from plantbiomass 

resources. If the pMC value is between 0 and 

100, the content is a mixture of fossil carbon and biobased 

carbon. Under ASTM D6866, this percentage is a measure 

of the amount of biomass-derived carbon in a product 

compared to its total organic carbon (TOC) content. ISO 

16620-2 uses this terminology as well [3, 4]. 

Certifying biobased products 

Carbon-14 testing has been used for over a decade 

to validate biobased claims and often to receive product 

eligibility for third-party certifications and eco-labels. ISO- 

17025 accredited laboratory Beta Analytic has tested the 

percent biobased content of over a thousand samples within 

a wide range of product types. The biobased approach has 

qualified over 2,500 biobased products in the marketplace 

today [5]. 

Globally, there are several biobased certification 

programs. The United States Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) BioPreferred ® Program requires the measurement 

of the biobased content of products according to the 

ASTM D6866 standard. This program includes two parts: a 

mandatory federal purchasing requirement and a voluntary 

labeling program for biobased products. The USDA has 

identified over 100 product categories with a minimum 

biobased content established per category for which federal 

agencies have purchasing requirements. Furthermore, the 

voluntary labeling initiative allows companies to receive 

the USDA Certified Biobased Product certification label on 

products that exceed the minimum threshold of biobased 

content required for the specific product category. This has 

certified over 2,500 products [6]. Several of these products 

may also be certified by other programs such as TÜV 

AUSTRIA’s OK biobased (using a a star system: one-star 

is for products with biobased content between 20% and 

40% while a four-star certified product contains over 80% 


Basics 

By: 

Kelvin Okamoto, Green Bottom Line, Chair of ASTM D20.96 

Ramani Narayan, Michigan State University, Former Chair of ASTM D20.96 

Stephany Mason, Beta Analytic 

Haley Gershon, Beta Analytic 

biobased content [7] and DIN CERTCO’s DIN-Geprüft (with 

three quality divisions: Biobased 20-50%, Biobased 50-85%, 

and Biobased >85%) [8] in Europe. 

Beyond those mentioned above, biobased testing has been 

incorporated into many other eco-labeling programs and 

biobased product initiatives. These include but are not limited 

to Japan BioPlastics Association’s BiomassPla certification, 

Canada’s EcoLogo Program, French Decree 2016-379 on 

Single-Use Plastic Bags, and Italy’s EU Directive 2015/720 on 

Biobased Plastic Bags. 

Products manufactured from captured/recycled CO 2 

To reiterate, in order to be called ‘biobased’ a product or 

chemical needs to be manufactured from renewable, plantbiomass 

living systems that exist in a natural environment in 

equilibrium with atmospheric CO 2 

. Products obtained from 

converting smokestack CO 2 

from coal, natural gas or other 

fossil fuel burning systems do not fall under the ‘biobased’ 

definition and do not lend themselves to quantitative analysis 

by radiocarbon measurement (ASTM D6866) since these 

products do not contain any carbon-14 content. 

Therefore, PHAs and algae-based products, polymers, or 

chemicals produced from only petroleum-based smokestack 

CO 2 

are not “biobased.” 

However, these products are beneficial to 

the environment by removing CO 2 

during 

production that would otherwise be emitted 

back into the atmosphere. 

By using recycled CO 2 

the product manufacturing process 

also does not require the burning of additional fossil fuels. 

Again, this reduces the emissions of carbon dioxide into the 

atmosphere. 

There are, however, fuel combustion sources that burn 

municipal solid waste (MSW) or mixed fuels (biomass-derived 

and fossil fuel). Any captured or recycled CO 2 

from these sources 

will have a radiocarbon signal. The US EPA Greenhouse Gas 

(GHG) reporting rule requires the determination of the biogenic 

(biomass-derived) CO 2 

contribution from these sources using 

the ASTM D6866 standard. Thus, products made from these 

sources of captured CO 2 

may have biobased content. 

Conclusion 

While products derived from recycled CO 2 

may provide 

environmental benefits, they do not always meet the 

requirements to be considered as biobased products. There 

are over 2,500 products certified under the USDA BioPreferred 

Program based on testing per ASTM D6866 and countless 

products in Europe and Asia that qualify as biobased and 

whose biobased carbon content can be accurately validated. 

Modifying the existing D6866 (and ISO) standards to 

accommodate products made with recycled carbon dioxide 

devoid of carbon-14 content could negatively impact the 

credibility and market acceptance of biobased products and 

open the door to non-verifiable products. Separate verifiable 

standards and validation criteria for environmental benefit 

should be developed for these products. Approaches using 

carbon tagging or an audit approach would be useful to 

develop. Future standards for products captured from 

recycled CO 2 

containing only petroleum-based carbon are 

critical in order to develop this new class of chemicals and 

polymers. 

References 

1. Narayan, Ramani, The Promise of Bioplastics - Bio-Based and 

Biodegradable-Compostable Plastics, Editor: Kabasci, Stephan Bio- 

Based Plastics, Chapter 14, 347-357, 2014, DOI:10.1002/9781118676646 

2. Ramani Narayan, Biobased & Biodegradable Polymer Materials: 

Rationale, Drivers, and Technology Exemplars; ACS (an American 

Chemical Society publication) Symposium Ser. 1114, Chapter 2, pg 13-31, 

2012 

3. ASTM International. ASTM D6866 - 18, Standard Test Methods for 

Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples 

Using Radiocarbon Analysis. 2018. 

4. International Organization for Standardization. ISO 16620-2:2015, 

Plastics -- Biobased content -- Part 2: Determination of biobased carbon 

content. 2015. 

5. United States Department of Agriculture. Fact Sheet: Overview of 

USDA’s BioPreferred Program. (https://www.usda.gov/media/pressreleases/2016/02/18/fact-sheet-overview-usdas-biopreferred-program). 

6. United States Department of Agriculture. What is BioPreferred? (https:// 

www.biopreferred.gov/BioPreferred/faces/pages/AboutBioPreferred. 

xhtml). 

7. TUV Austria. OK biobased. Belgium. (http://www.tuv-at.be/certifications/ 

ok-biobased/). 

8. TUV Rheinland Din CERTCO. Certification Scheme Biobased Products in 

accordance with ASTM D 6866 and/or ISO 16620, Parts 1-3 and/ or DIN 

SPEC 91236 (DIN CEN/TS 16137). Berlin, Germany, 2015. (https://www. 

dincertco.de/media/dincertco/dokumente_1/certification_schemes/ 

Biobasierte_Produkte_biobased_products_certification_scheme.pdf). 

Want to help ASTM D20.96 ? 

ASTM D20.96 Environmentally Degradable Plastics and 

Biobased Products subcommittee is moving forward with 

developing a recycled/capture carbon content standard and is 

actively seeking individuals interested in helping. If you have 

interest in this, please email Kelvin Okamoto 

(kelvin@greenbottomline.com). 

Biobased vs. recycled CO 2 


new 

series 

Bioplastic Patents 

By: 

Barry Dean, 

Naperville, Illinois, USA 

U.S. Patent 10,087,305 (October 2, 2018): “Nucleated 

Crystallization of Poly(Trimethylene-2,5-Furandicarboxylate) 

(PTF) and Articles Made Therefrom”, Gordon Mark Cohen, 

Frederik Nederberg, Bhuma Rajagopalan, (E. I. DuPont De 

Nemours and Company. (Wilmington, DE USA) 

Ref: PCT WO2015/095466 EP 

The composition taught is a block copolymer consisting of 

a hard segment, poly(trimethylene-2,5-furandicarboxylate) 

and a soft segment, 2,5-furan dicarboxylate based 

poly(alkylene ether glycol). A critical teaching is the use 

of a nucleating agent, a neutralized carboxylic acid salt or 

trisodium phosphate, for promoting crystallization of the 

hard segment from the melt which is key for the injection 

molding process cycle time. The level of nucleating agent is 

1 – 2.5 weight % 

The ratio of hard segment to soft segment will influence 

bulk mechanical properties such as modulus, impact 

strength and compressive strength. 

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. 

The five patents cited demonstrate 

compositions and process for renewable/ 

biodegradable injection moldable compositions. 

Key for injection molding are compositions that 

deliver bulk properties in the final article but also 

must offer fast cycle times for the production of 

the molded article. 

U.S. Patent 9,914,831 (March 13, 2018): ”Injection Molded 

Article”, Maximillian Lehenmeier, Gabriel Skupin, Martin 

Bussmann , (BASF SE, Ludwigshafen DE) 

Ref: PCT WO2015/169660 

This patent teaches an injection molding composition 

exhibiting an HDT of 80 – 105 C with balance of Charpy impact 

strength and modulus to allow for thin wall structures. The 

multi-component composition consists of 47 – 59 weight 

% of polyester derived from succinic acid and a C6 – C20 

aliphatic acid with 1,3-propanediol and 1,4-butanediol; 3- 

14 weight % of polyester derived from C6 – C20 aliphatic 

acid and terephthalic acid with 1,3-propanediol and 

1,4-butanediol; 15 – 24 weight % of polylactic acid and 10 

– 35 % mineral filler(eg talc). Chain extender is used in the 

polyesters to control molecular weight. 

The compositions illustrated are tailored to control 

HDT, modulus and impact based on application as well 

as injection molding cycle time and structure dimensional 

stability. Preferred applications are coffee capsules, coffee 

cup lids and tableware. 

The biodegradability/compostability of the injection 

molded article is determined by the polymer matrices 

selection. 


U.S. Patent 10,189,989 (January 29, 2019): “Polyester 

Mixture Including Polyethylene-2,5-Furandicarboxylate”, 

Anne K. Moeller, Klan Molawi, Motomori Yamamato, (BASF 

SE) 

Ref: PCT WO2015/150141 

This patent teaches poly(cyclohexylenedimethylene- 

2,5-furandicarboxylate)(PCF) can be nucleated with 

poly(ethylene-2,5-furandicarboxylate). PCF is a semicrystalline 

polyester with a Tg of 86 – 87 C, Tm of 267 C and 

onset of recrystallization at 217 – 223 C. For the injection 

molding process a higher onset of recrystallization is 

important for both cycle time and dimensional stability. 

Other nucleating agents are shown to increase the onset of 

crystallization of PCF by 10 – 12 C while 1 weight % PEF is 

shown to increase the onset of nucleation of PCF to 243 C, 

an increase of 25 C relative to non-nucleated PCF. 

The patent also teaches that PEF can have nucleation 

benefits in other renewable polymers such as PBS and 

PBAT 

U. S. Patent 10,160,857 (December 25, 2018): 

“Thermoplastic Resin Composition and Molded Article 

Made Therefrom”, Chansu Kim, Kyunghae Lee, Jun Chwae, 

Mooho Lee, Kwangmyung Cho, (Samsung Electronics Ltd 

Korea) 

A thermoplastic composition based on a polylactic 

acid and a inorganic-organic particle tailored to improve 

impact strength and heat resistance is taught. The particle 

consists of an inorganic core and an organic coating layer 

on the core. Significant improvement in impact strength and 

heat resistance are illustrated when the inorganic-organic 

particle is based on organic coating layer that is a block 

copolymer for polycaprolactone and PLA. Lower impact 

strength and heat resistance are shown when the organic 

coating layer is either polycaprolactone or PLA or when the 

polycaprolactone/PLA layer is a copolymer and not a block 

copolymer. The inorganic particle diameter is less than 100 

nm. The thermoplastic composition illustrated is 74 % by 

weight PLA, 20 % by weight inorganic-organic particle and 

the remainder is a plasticizer and nucleating agent. The 

inorganic-organic particle can be ranged from 5 – 40 weight 

% to tailor properties. 

The organic layer that is taught as a block copolymer 

of polycaprolactone and PLA is key to enabling the bulk 

composition to offer improved impact strength and heat 

resistance compared with the polylactic acid matrix. 

U.S. Patent 10,240,007 (March 29, 2019): “Shaped 

Polylactide Article and Method of Preparation”, Siebe 

Cornelis De Vos, Robert Edgar Haan, Geraldus Gerardus 

Johannes Schennink, (Purac Biochem BV Netherlands) 

Ref: PCT WO2016/102163 

This patent teaches a method to maximize the formation 

of the stereocomplex(sc) crystallinity from mixtures of two 

enantiomers PLLA and PDLA. The method consists of 

mixing a first homopolylactide with an excess of a second 

homopolylactide where the first and second homopolylactide 

are poly-L-lactide(PLLA) or poly-D-lactide(PDLA). This 

mixing is done in the molten state and the pellets allowed 

to cool and crystallize as a blend of the sc-PLA. The pellet 

sc-PLA is blended with pellets of the first homolactide and 

melt processed into an article where the melt processing 

temperatures are above the melting points of the PLLA 

and PDLA(Tm= 175 C) but below that of the sc-PLA(Tm = 

230 - 240 C). This method maintains the modulus, impact 

and elongation while providing an increase in bulk thermal 

performance via maximizing the sc-PLA. 


Brand Owner 

Brand-Owner’s perspective 

on bioplastics and how to 

unleash its full potential 

With bioplastics we see an opportunity to increase the renewable content 

in our cars, but there are still some concerns regarding availability and 

recyclability in some cases. At this stage, we see the use of renewable fibres 

for reinforced plastics as the first option to increase bio-content. The addition 

of a portion of renewable raw material in normal plastics production, and 

calculate the biomass balance, would also be an option for us. 

www.volvocars.com 

Christina Zander, spokeswoman for Volvo 

‘Basics‘ book on bioplastics 

This book, created and published by Polymedia Publisher, maker of 

bioplastics MAGAZINE is available in English and German language 

(German now 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. 

110 pages full color, paperback 

ISBN 978-3-9814981-1-0: Bioplastics 

ISBN 978-3-9814981-2-7: Biokunststoffe 

2. überarbeitete Auflage 

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 61 for details, outside German y only) 


10 Automotive Years ago 

10 

Years ago 

Published in 

bioplastics 

MAGAZINE 

In May 2019, 

Tim Colonnese, 

CEO, KTM, 

said: 

Rigid Packaging 

Thermal 

Cooler Box 

S 

andoz, Inc. (Princeton, New Jersey, USA) and KTM 

Industries, Inc. (Lansing, Michigan, USA) recently 

announced the launch of the Green Cell Cooler 

Box - the first 100% biobased and completely compostable/recyclable 

thermal cooler to protect pharmaceutical 

products during shipment. The Green Cell Cooler Box is 

a standard corrugate box outer lined with panels of cornstarch-based 

Green Cell Foam, manufactured by KTM. 

Green Cell Foam meets ASTM D400 and ISO 108 specifications 

for biodegradability under composting conditions. 

Led by Mark Kuhl, Packaging Development Manager 

for Sandoz, the project was in response to a new way of 

thinking at Sandoz where sustainability has become a 

top priority. This was a perfect opportunity to shift the 

paradigm and find a packaging solution that utilizes 

bio-renewable resources and offers an environmentally 

responsible end-of-life option. 

The typical pharmaceutical insulated shipper is 

constructed with polystyrene and is used for 24-2 hours 

before it is discarded. Non-renewable polystyrene is 

recyclable but the facilities to enable this are limited and 

cost prohibitive, thus relegating it to landfills. Sandoz’ 

mission was to find an effective sustainable alternative 

to polystyrene based on biofeedstocks that would 

assimilate back into nature after its use. The mission was 

accomplished with Green Cell Foam which is compostable 

and can be recycled in the paper recycling stream along 

www.greencellfoam.com 

with the outer box, thereby affording the end user with 

flexibility in the end-of-life disposal process. 

Mr. Kuhl set out to design, test and validate a cost effective 

‘green’ cooler that met the rigorous cold-chain shipping 

requirements for protecting sensitive pharmaceutical 

products. During his tests he discovered Green Cell Foam not 

only insulates as well as polystyrene but it also absorbs excess 

condensation that would potentially damage the contents of 

the package. Green Cell’s ability to wick out ambient moisture 

presents a cleaner package for the customer by eliminating 

any pooling of water due to condensation. 

Green Cell Foam also provides significantly improved 

protection against shock and vibration damage when 

compared to traditional shipping coolers. Polystyrene coolers 

are somewhat brittle and have the propensity to crack under 

stress – even from a single impact. A break in the foam can 

compromise the integrity of the cooler by providing a channel 

for outside air to flow inside. Green Cell Foam can absorb 

multiple hits without cracking or breaking, providing a more 

stable thermal barrier while also providing improved impact 

protection to the contents. This adds value to the overall 

package while reducing damage claims. 

Sustainability was a key driver to this project. Sandoz 

wanted to see the environmental effects of switching from 

polystyrene to Green Cell Foam. KTM turned to Dr. Ramani 

Narayan of Michigan State University for the answer. 

Dr. Narayan provided life cycle assessment data which 

demonstrated a significant improvement in all but one of 

the LCA indices (eutrophication is slightly higher with Green 

Cell). The key metrics from the LCA comparison are an 80% 

reduction in greenhouse gases and a 0% decrease in energy 

requirements. 

In June 2009, refreshed graphics will grace the outside of 

the coolers which will help educate customers recognize and 

understand the benefits of the Green Cell Cooler. Mr. Kuhl is 

now designing additional sizes of Green Cell Coolers for use 

within Sandoz’ North American operations. 

It’s a real win-win situation for Sandoz and their customers: 

improved performance, improved convenience and a big 

improvement for the environment. 

A lot can change in 10 

years. For KTM, everything 

has changed in 10 years. In 

2009, bioplastics MAGAZINE 

published this article about 

the launch of KTM’s Green Cell Cooler Box, a 

biobased, compostable alternative to polystyrene 

coolers made from KTM”s cornstarchbased 

Green Cell Foam. Sandoz, a subsidiary 

of Novartis (Basel, Switzerland), was the 

first adopter, using the Green Cell Cooler 

Box as an effective way to ship pharmaceuticals 

while demonstrating environmental 

sustainability. Today, Sandoz and Novartis 

are using Green Cell Coolers to protect lifesaving 

products in transit. And they’re not 

alone: over 36 other pharma-based companies 

have integrated Green Cell Coolers into 

their operations. And over 200 other companies 

in the food, nutritional supplement, 

and life sciences industries have jumped on 

board, helping Green Cell Coolers develop 

and maintain a reputation for consistent, 

high-level performance. And the changes 

don’t stop there. KTM now offers its customers 

access to a team of packaging 

engineers equipped with design software, 

testing equipment and an ISTA-certified 

lab to help design, test and certify custom 

packaging using Green Cell Foam. 

From a 1,600m² (18,000 sqft) facility in 

2009, KTM has recently moved into a 

7,900 m² (85,000 sqft) facility in Michigan 

and has committed to a 5-200 m² 

(56,000 sqft) manufacturing facility in 

Nevada to better serve western US 

customers, expected to open in August 

2019. Plans are in process to expand 

outside of the US in 2020. Yes, a lot has 

changed in 10 years. And we expect 

that the changes over the next ten 

years will be even greater. 

18 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/09] Vol. 4 

tinyurl.com/2009foam 


Basics 

Mind the right terms 

Biodegradable vs. compostable vs. oxo-degradable plastics: 

A straightforward explanation 

As consumer demand for sustainable products grows, 

bioplastics —which can reduce our reliance on fossil 

fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions— will 

become more prevalent. Production of bioplastics is expected 

to grow by as much as 20% by 2022 [1], and as it 

does, consumer understanding of bioplastics will need to 

grow with it. 

A major source of confusion is the difference between 

three terms: Biodegradability, compostability and oxodegradability. 

Although these terms are often used 

interchangeably, they are not synonymous. Confusion 

regarding common bioplastics terminology such as these, 

especially where it concerns the disposal of bioplastic 

products, can have dire consequences. Companies need 

to understand the distinctions between each category in 

order to accurately and honestly market their products. 

And consumers need to understand these terms in order to 

make educated purchasing decisions and properly dispose 

of bioplastic products at the end of use. 

Understanding bioplastics: Biobased vs. 

biodegradable 

To understand these three terms (i.e., biodegradability, 

compostability and oxo-degradability), it is important 

first to clearly understand the definition of bioplastics 

[2]. Bioplastics refer to a large family of plastics which 

are sourced from biomass at the beginning of their life 

(biobased), metabolized into organic biomass at the end of 

their life (biodegradable), or both. 

Based on this, bioplastics can be broken down into three 

distinct classifications [3]: 

• Fully or partially biobased but NOT biodegradable. (e.g., 

biobased PET, biobased PE, Terratek® SC or Terratek® 

WC) 

• Fully or partially biobased AND biodegradable (e.g., PLA 

or starch blends such as Terratek® BD). 

• Biodegradable and petroleum-based (e.g., PCL). 

Biodegradable plastics are a relatively small subset 

of bioplastics which can be converted into water, carbon 

dioxide (CO2) and bio-mass over time with the help of 

micro-organisms — this process is called biodegradation. 

And because the biodegradability of a plastic lies within the 

chemical structure of the polymer —and not the source of 

the feedstock— biodegradable plastics can be either bio- or 

petroleum-based. 

Biodegradable vs. compostable vs. oxodegradable 

plastics 

Nearly every material will biodegrade, given enough 

time. But the length of the biodegradation process is highly 

dependent on environmental parameters such as humidity 

and temperature, which is why claiming that a plastic is 

“biodegradable” without any further context (i.e., in what 

timeframe and under what environmental conditions) is 

misleading to consumers. 

Reputable companies will often make more specific 

claims, primarily certifying that their bioplastics are 

compostable. Compostable plastics are a subset of 

biodegradable plastics, defined by the standard conditions 

and timeframe under which they will biodegrade. All 

compostable plastics are biodegradable, but not all 

biodegradable plastics would be considered compostable. 

Certified compostable: A more specific claim of 

biodegradability 

Compostable plastics are those plastics which have been 

tested and certified by a third party (e.g. BPI [4], DIN Certco, 

TÜV Austria etc.) to adhere to international standards 

such as ASTM D6400 (in the U.S.) or EN 13432 (in Europe) 

for biodegradation in an industrial composting facility 

environment. 

Materials certified according to ASTM D6400 or EN 13432 

will disintegrate within 12 weeks and biodegrade at least 

90% within 180 days in a municipal or industrial composting 

facility. Approximately 10% of solid material will be left 

at the end of the six-month-long process in the form of 

valuable compost, or biomass and water. These standards 

also ensure that the leftover compost will be free of toxins, 

so the compost will not cause harm when the facility sells it 

for gardening or agricultural applications. 

Unless otherwise denoted, certified compostable products 

must be disposed of in a designated municipal composting 

facility, not at home. Many certified compostable materials 

require the higher temperatures of industrial settings to 

biodegrade quickly enough, or in some cases at all. 

Other than in many countries (in Europe e.g. Germany, 

Italy, France, Sweden, The Netherlands etc.) few areas in 

the USA have curbside collection for industrial composting, 

which is why certified compostable products are best utilized 

in closed systems such as amusement parks, stadiums and 

schools, where compostable and organic waste is carefully 

monitored and controlled to ensure proper disposal in an 

industrial composting facility. San Francisco International 

Airport [5] and Safeco Field in Seattle [6] are two good 

examples of organizations using composting as a means of 

reducing their carbon footprint and diverting organic waste 

from landfills. Find more info on the differences in different 

countries in bM 05/2018. 

A quick note on oxo-degradable plastics 

While often confused with biodegradable plastics, 

oxo-degradables are a category unto themselves. They 

are neither a bioplastic nor a biodegradable plastic, but 

rather a conventional plastic mixed with an additive in 

order to imitate biodegradation. Oxo-degradable plastics 


By: 

Kevin Ireland 

Communications Manager 

Green Dot Bioplastics 

Emporia, Kansas, USA 

COMPEO 

quickly fragment into smaller and smaller pieces, called 

microplastics, but don’t break down at the molecular or 

polymer level like biodegradable and compostable plastics. 

The resulting microplastics are left in the environment 

indefinitely until they maybe eventually fully break down. A 

scientifically backed evidence for “bio”degradation was not 

presented until today. 

The importance of clearly and accurately 

labeling plastic products 

As bioplastics continue to gain market share in the 

coming years, being clear about the environmental benefits 

in product and material marketing is imperative. Looking to 

the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Green Guides 

[7] is a good place to start. The Green Guides outline best 

practices for clearly labeling and marketing green products 

to ensure the expectations of the consumer align. 

Not only will transparency allow consumers to make 

smarter purchasing decisions, but it will ensure bioplastics 

are disposed of through the proper channels. Ultimately, 

better end-of-life disposal of bioplastics strengthens their 

environmental value proposition of diverting organic waste 

from landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and 

ensuring the sustainable consumption of resources. 

For further reading we also suggest previous articles 

published in bioplastics MAGAZINE [8, 9, and 10]. They are 

available for download at www.bioplasticsmagazine.com/ 

en/miscellaneous/downloads.php 

Leading compounding technology 

for heat- and shear-sensitive plastics 

References 

[1] www.european-bioplastics.org/market/ 

[2] www.greendotbioplastics.com/bioplastics-101-introduction-key-termssustainable-plastics/ 

[3] www.european-bioplastics.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2.1_ 

Material-Koordinatensystem_eng_2015_150109-1.jpg 

[4] https://bpiworld.org/CertifiedCompostable 

[5] www.sfexaminer.com/news/at-sfo-zero-waste-means-zero-confusion/ 

[6] www.mlb.com/mariners/ballpark/information/sustainability 

[7] www.ftc.gov/news-events/media-resources/truth-advertising/greenguides 

[8] Narayan, R.: Biodegradability - Sorting through Facts and Claims; 

bioplastics MAGAZINE 01/2009 

[9] Narayan, R.: Misleading Claims and Misuse of Standards Continues to 

Proliferate in the Bioplastics Industry; bioplastics MAGAZINE 01/2010 

[10] Ißbrücker, C.: Can Additives make conventional plastics biodegradable? 

bioplastics MAGAZINE 01/2017 


Uniquely efficient. Incredibly versatile. Amazingly flexible. 

With its new COMPEO Kneader series, BUSS continues 

to offer continuous compounding solutions that set the 

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

industries, including for biopolymers. 

• Moderate, uniform shear rates 

• Extremely low temperature profile 

• Efficient injection of liquid components 

• Precise temperature control 

• High filler loadings 

www.busscorp.com 


Basics 

Plastic microparticles 

Small particles of plastic were first reported in marine 

environments in the early 1970s. However, it wasn’t 

until the term ‘microplastics’ was coined in 2004 that 

the issue started to generate significant attention. 

What are microplastics? 

Plastic particles smaller than 5 millimetres are generally 

considered to be microplastic. ‘Primary’ microplastics are 

purposely made this size. However, most are ‘secondary’ 

microplastics derived from the degradation and 

fragmentation of larger plastic items. 

Microbeads used in personal care products, such as 

facial cleansers are a well-known example of primary 

microplastics. Secondary microplastics are often fibres 

originating from the wear and laundering of clothing. 

Another major source of secondary microplastics is 

vehicles on the road, where normal wear and tear of tyres 

and plastic components of the vehicles contribute as well 

as wear of paints from road markings. Uncontrolled plastic 

waste and litter also break down into microplastics over 

time through weathering. 

Microplastics frequently end up in the ocean. Secondary 

microplastics are often swept there directly during rainfall, 

or, like primary microplastics, which are designed to 

be washed into sewers, eventually make it their way via 

wastewater treatment systems where they are not captured 

due to their small size. 

Microplastics downunder 

Scientists at Scion (Rotorua, New Zealand) and the 

University of Canterbury (Christchurch, New Zealand) have 

been identifying, quantifying and characterising plastic 

microparticles in Auckland waterways. Auckland is New 

Zealand’s largest city with zones of high industry, varying 

land use, estuaries, two harbours and western and eastern 

coastlines. 

Over 170 sediment samples were collected and analysed. 

In line with international trends, the majority of the 

microparticles recovered were fibres, likely derived from 

textiles. Higher counts were observed in samples collected 

near the discharge of wastewater treatment plants. Infrared 

spectroscopy of the microparticle polymer type showed the 

majority of the plastic microparticles to be polyethylene, 

polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene. Around 40% 

were found to be cellulose and regenerated cellulose [1]. 

Effects of microplastics 

In the ocean, microplastics can be ingested all along 

the food chain up to shellfish and fish. This can cause 

physical damage such as obstructions or 

abrasions and potentially transfer plastic 

additives such as phthalates. 

The long-term effects of microplastics 

on humans is still unknown. However, it is 

believed that ingested microplastics larger 

than 150 microns (the size of fine sand 

grains) will pass through the body without any 

issues. Particles smaller than this can pass 

through the gut wall and travel to different parts of 

the body. The main ways microplastics are consumed 

by humans are through seafood, including salt, or drinking 

water and breathing in of household air (or dust). 

Expectations of public, industry and government 

Many countries have implemented policies to ban plastic 

microbeads and reduce single use plastics such as plastic 

bags. However, as only a portion of microplastics originate 

Plastic and 

microplastics on a 

Caribbean beach 

from these items (the major sources being synthetic 

textiles, tyres, city dust, paint…), expectations of a quick fix 

are misguided. 

Bioplastics as a solution? 

Substituting with marine biodegradable polymers 

is touted as one potential solution to the microplastic 

problem. Unfortunately, the situation in not that simple. 

Some polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) have been shown to 

be marine biodegradable, however the estimated lifetime 

of objects made from PHA in a marine environment still 

range from 1 to 5 years. Further, the impact of the PHA 

microparticles on marine organisms within this period is 


By: 

Jamie Bridson and Kate Parker 

Biopolymers and Chemical Technologies 

Scion 

Rotorua, New Zealand 

still unknown. As reported by Francesco 

Degli Innocenti in Bioplastic Magazine 

Vol.14/1, biodegradability reduces the 

risk, but ultimately mitigation using 

bioplastics should be based on sound 

impact and risk assessment methodology. 

Oxo-degradable plastics are sometimes 

suggested as another possible solution. 

However, oxo-degradable plastics are designed 

to fragment into microplastics meaning they 

actually contribute to the problem. 

Turning the tide 

A wide range of clean-up strategies have been proposed 

by various groups from community litter collections to vast 

ocean clean ups. However, preventing microplastics being 

generated or reaching the environment in the first place 

are better solutions. Improved waste management, circular 

Join us at the 

14th European Bioplastics 

Conference 

The leading business forum for the 

bioplastics industry 

economy principles and new materials will all form part of 

the solution to this challenging but extremely important 

issue. 

Acknowledgements 

This work was funded by the New Zealand Ministry for 

the Environment through the Waste Minimisation Fund and 

Packaging Council of New Zealand (PAC.NZ). Work was 

supported by collaborators at Auckland Council, Watercare 

and the University of Auckland. 

[1] https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_ 

id=1&objectid=12164041 

www.scionresearch.com 

3/4 December 2019 

Titanic Chaussee Hotel 

Berlin, Germany 

@EUBioplastics #eubpconf 

www.european-bioplastics.org/events 

REGISTER 

NOW! 

For more information email: 

conference@european-bioplastics.org 


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: 

Tel.: +49 2161 6884467 

suppguide@bioplasticsmagazine.com 

Stay permanently listed in the 

Suppliers Guide with your company 

logo and contact information. 

For only 6,– EUR per mm, per issue you 

can be 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 


Sample Charge: 

39mm x 6,00 € 

= 234,00 € per entry/per issue 

Sample Charge for one year: 

6 issues x 234,00 EUR = 1,404.00 € 

The entry in our Suppliers Guide is 

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 60-9995 

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 

58 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/19] Vol. 14


1.5 PHA 

3. Semi finished products 

3.1 films 

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 

Grabio Greentech Corporation 

Tel: +886-3-598-6496 

No. 91, Guangfu N. Rd., Hsinchu 

Industrial Park,Hukou Township, 

Hsinchu County 30351, Taiwan 

sales@grabio.com.tw 

www.grabio.com.tw 

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 

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 



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 

2. Additives/Secondary raw materials 

GRAFE-Group 



Tel. +49 36459 45 0 

www.grafe.com 

TIPA-Corp. Ltd 

Hanagar 3 Hod 

Hasharon 4501306, ISRAEL 

P.O BOX 7132 

Tel: +972-9-779-6000 

Fax: +972 -9-7715828 

www.tipa-corp.com 

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 

bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/19] Vol. 14 59


9. Services (continued) 

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 

9. Services 

Osterfelder Str. 3 

46047 Oberhausen 

Tel.: +49 (0)208 8598 1227 

thomas.wodke@umsicht.fhg.de 

www.umsicht.fraunhofer.de 

Innovation Consulting Harald Kaeb 

narocon 

Dr. Harald Kaeb 

Tel.: +49 30-28096930 

kaeb@narocon.de 

www.narocon.de 

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 

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 

European Bioplastics e.V. 

Marienstr. 19/20 

10117 Berlin, Germany 

Tel. +49 30 284 82 350 

Fax +49 30 284 84 359 

info@european-bioplastics.org 

www.european-bioplastics.org 

10.2 Universities 

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 

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/ 

10.3 Other Institutions 

Green Serendipity 

Caroli Buitenhuis 

IJburglaan 836 

1087 EM Amsterdam 

The Netherlands 

Tel.: +31 6-24216733 

www.greenseredipity.nl 

Stay in the loop! 

Subscribe 

for free! 

@ 

ogy.de/rubber-newsletter 

Subscribe 

for free! 

@ 

ogy.de/pu-newsletter 

Subscribe 

for free! 

@ 

ogy.de/tpe-newsletter 

60 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/19] Vol. 14

05/05/17 11:39 


Events 

Subscribe 

now at 

bioplasticsmagazine.com 

the next six issues for €169.– 1) 

Event 

Calendar 


Special offer 

for students and 

young professionals 

1,2) € 99.- 

2) aged 35 and below. 

end a scan of your 

student card, your ID 

or similar proof ... 

26 th Anniversary meeting of the Bio-Environmental 

Polymer Society (BEPS) 

05.06.2019 - 07.06.2019 - Greenville, SC, USA 

http://www.beps.org/meetings/ 

Biobased Coatings Europe 2019 

19.06.2019 - 20.06.2019 - Duesseldorf, Germany 

https://www.wplgroup.com/aci/crce2_agenda_mkg/ 

Plastics beyond Petroleum - BioMass & Recycling 

25.06.2019 - 27.06.2019 - New York City Area, USA 

http://innoplastsolutions.com/conference.html 

Plastic Free World 

27.06.2019 - 28.06.2019 - Frankfurt, Germany 

https://plasticfree-world.com/ 


ISSN 1862-5258 

Highlights 

Rigid packaging / Theromforming | 12 

Building & Construction | 23 

Basics 

Biobased Packaging | 46 


Mar / Apr 

r1_05.2017 

02 | 2019 


Caroli Buitenhuis 

Green Serendipity 


Basics 



Captured CO 2 vs. biobased | 48 

Highlights 

Toys | 10 



May / June 

Cover Story 



4th International Conference on Bio-polymers & 

Polymer Chemistry 

11.07.2019 - 12.07.2019 - Las Vegas, NV, USA 

https://scientificfederation.com/icbpc-2019/index.php#sessions 

9th World Congress on Biopolymers & Bioplastics 

26.08.2019 - 27.08.2019 - London, Great Britain 

https://biopolymers.insightconferences.com/ 

SPC Engage:London 

23.10.2019 - 24.10.2019 - London, Great Britain 

https://sustainablepackaging.org/events/spc-engage-london/ 

+ 

or 

Mention the promotion code ‘watch‘ or ‘book‘ 

and you will get our watch or the book 3) 

Bioplastics Basics. Applications. Markets. for free 

(new subscribers only) 

1) Offer valid until 31 July 2019 

3) Gratis-Buch in Deutschland nicht möglich, no free book in Germany 

bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/19] Vol. 14 61

Companies in this issue 

Company Editorial Advert Company Editorial Advert Company Editorial Advert 

5 Gyres 14 

Global Biopolymers 8 58 nova-Institute 8, 23 19, 39, 60 

Aakar Innovations 8 

Aeropowder 46 

Agrana Starch Bioplastics 21, 58 

AIJU 22 

Alterra Plastics 14 

API 58 

arbo Plastic 6 

Arctic Biomaterials 30 

Arkema 6 

Audi 28 

Balaenos 44 

BASF 7 58 

BeoPlast Besgen 59 

Beta Analytic 48 

Bio4Pack 59 

Bioblo 12, 26 

Biobuddi 23 

Bio-Fed Branch of Akro-Plastic 58 

Bio-on 43 59 

Bioserie 12, 16 

Biotec 59 

BPI 60 

Braskem 12, 18, 40 

Buss 55, 59 

Caprowachs, Albrecht Dinkelaker 59 

Cardia Bioplastics 58 

Cove 5 

dantoy 18, 23 

DIN Certco 5, 40 

DowDuPont 7 

Dr. Heinz Gupta Verlag 60 

DuPont 12, 14 

eKoala 12, 20, 23 

Emballator Tectubes 40 

Erema 59 

European Bioplastics 24, 47 57, 60 

Farrel Pomini 2 27 

Ferbedo 1, 4,28 

FKuR 12,18,28,40,40 2, 58 

Fraunhofer IAP 25 

Fraunhofer Silicat Research 46 

Fraunhofer UMSICHT 32 60 

Gianeco 58 

Golden Compound 8 

GRABIO Greentech Corporation 59 

Grafe 58, 59 

Green Bottomline 48 

Green Dot Bioplastics 12, 25, 34, 54 58 

Green Serendipity 60 

Habermaaß 12 

Hands on Veggies 41 

Hape 23 

Hexpol TPE 12, 42 

Hötter Spiel 26 

Indochine Bio Plastiques 59 

Infraserv Knapsak 8 

Inst. F. Bioplastics & Biocomposites 35 60 

Institut f. Kunststofftechnik, Stuttgart 60 

Jaguar 28 

Janod 23 

JenCaps 46 

JinHui Zhaolong 58 

Kaneka 5 59 

Kartell 43 

Kikadu 23 

Kingfa 58 

Kompuestos 6 59 

KTM 53 

Lactips, 7 

Lageen Tubes 40 

Lego 11 

Light my Fire 42 

Lipura 26 

Luke's Toy Factory 23 

MAN 28 

Mattel 12 

Messe Düsseldorf (K'2019) 31 

Michigan State University 48 60 

Microtec 58 

Minima Technology 59 

Multitubes 41 

narocon InnovationConsulting 10 60 

nature2need 32 

Natureplast-Biopolynov 59 

Natur-Tec 59 

Neste 12 

Novamont 20 59, 64 

Novartis 53 

Nuova Erreplast 46 

Nurel 58 

Ochis Coffee 43 

plastickjer 46 

Playmobil 12 

polymediaconsult 60 

Polymerfornt 40 

Pottery Barn Kids 14 

PTT MCC Biochem 58 

Ravensburger 12 

Saida 59 

Sandoz 53 

Schmiderer & Schendl 26 

Scion 5, 56 

SK Chemicals 42 

SKZ 35, 47 

SLK 35 

Spinnova 8 

Südpack Packaging 46 

Sukano 36 58 

Swox 41 

Tecnaro 12, 13, 47 59 

Teijin 7 

TianAn Biopolymer 59 

TicToys 12, 13 

TIPA 59 

Total-Corbion 12 59 

Trevira 46 

Tubex 41 

TÜV Austria 40 

Uhde Inventa-Fischer 60 

Univ Chemnitz 35 

Univ. Stuttgart (IKT) 60 

Volvo Cars 28, 52 

Wiener Spielkarten 26 

Xinjiang Blue Ridge Tunhe Polyester 58 

Zapf Creatiuon 12 

Zeijiang Hisun Biomaterials 59 

Zhejiang Hangzhou Xinfu Pharm. 58 

Zoë B Organic 12, 14 

Issue 

Editorial Planner 

Month 

Publ. 

Date 

edit/ad/ 

Deadline 


02/2019 Mar/Apr 08 Apr 19 08 Mrz 19 Thermoforming / 

Rigid Packaging 

Edit. Focus 1 Edit. Focus 2 Basics 

Building & 

construction 

Bioplastics in packaging 

(update) 

Trade-Fair 

Specials 

Subject to changes 

Chinaplas Preview 

03/2019 May/Jun 03 Jun 19 03 May 19 Injection moulding Toys Microplastics Chinaplas Review 

04/2019 Jul/Aug 05 Aug 19 05 Jul 19 Blow Moulding Biocomposites incl. 

thermoset 

Home composting 

05/2019 Sep/Oct 07.10.19 06.09.19 Fiber / Textile / 

Nonwoven 

Barrier materials 

Land use for bioplastics 

(update) 

K'2019 Preview 

06/2019 Nov/Dec 02.12.19 01.11.19 Films/Flexibles/ 

Bags 

Consumer & office 

electronics 

Multilayer films 

K'2019 Review 


YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND 

A BIOPLAST SUITING 

YOUR NEEDS. 

BIOPLAST®, INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR EVERYDAY PRODUCTS. 

Made from potato starch, BIOPLAST® resins are designed to work on 

existing standard equipment for blown film, flat film, cast film, injection 

molded and thermoformed components. 

100 % biodegradable, BIOPLAST® is particularly suitable for ultra-light 

films with a thickness of approx. 10-15 μm. 

S002 

TRANSPARENT ODORLESS PLASTICIZER 

FREE 

S002 

OK COMPOST 

HOME 

FOOD-CONTACT 

GRADE 

GMO FREE 

www.biotec.de 

member of the SPHERE 

group of companies 

LJ Corporate – © JB Mariou – BIOTEC HRA 1183



r1_05.2017

Issue 03/2019

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?