Issue 02/2019

Application News
Automotive
Reusable, biobased and biodegradable nets
Wood-based fibre specialist Lenzing Group (Lenzing,
Austria) has joined forces with Billa, an Austrian
supermarkert chain with more than 1,088 stores in
Austria, to offer consumers reusable, biobased nets
as alternative to conventional plastic packaging. The
newly launched nets for fruit and vegetables, made
from Lenzing Modal fibers, have proven to be a hit,
with over 150,000 already
having been sold by Billa,
Merkur And Adeg since
the introduction of the
nets in November 2018.
Due to high demand,
the environmentally
friendly packaging has
been available in all Billa
stores throughout Austria
since the beginning of
February 2019.
The reusable nets are
produced from Modal
fibres (regenerated
cellulose based on the
viscose process) and offer
a significant ecological advantage over conventional
plastic bags for fruit and vegetables: not only are they of
natural origin, they are biodegradable and compostable
when disposed of in waste. Microparticles ending up in
the waste water when washing the nets, quickly become
part of the natural cycle, leaving no harmful residues in
rivers or seas (certified by TÜV Austria).
“Sustainability is comprehensively anchored in Billa’s
corporate strategy. Hence we are pleased to be able to offer
an alternative to plastic with this innovative packaging solution
and to actively work with our customers on protecting the
environment “, says Robert Nagele, Chairman of the board at
Billa.
“Consumers can buy
the reusable nets for
vegetables and fruit made
from fibres produced by
the Lenzing Group with a
clear conscience. They are
not only practical, but also
contribute significantly
to the protection of
the environment. They
are an expression of
Lenzing’s leading role in
sustainability in the entire
fiber industry”, says Stefan
Doboczky, CEO of Lenzing.
The reusable nets
are ideally suited for
food because, as confirmed by the manufacturer VPZ
Verpackungszentrum GmbH (Graz, Austria), the breathable
and moisture-regulating properties keep fruit and vegetables
fresh for up to three days longer than conventional packaging.
The sustainable nets have already been awarded the State
Prize for Smart Packaging by the Austrian Ministry of Digital
and Economic Affairs in cooperation with the Ministry for
Sustainability and Tourism. MT
www.lenzing.com | www.billa.at
Samsung to switch to sustainable packaging
Samsung Electronics announced earlier this year
that the packaging used currently for their products and
accessories – ranging from mobile phones and tablets to
home appliances – will be substituted with environmentally
sustainable materials like recycled/biobased plastics.
For mobile phone, tablet and wearable products, Samsung
will replace the plastic used for holder trays with pulp molds,
and bags wrapping accessories with eco-friendly materials.
Samsung will also alter the phone charger design, swapping
the glossy exterior with a matte finish and eliminating plastic
protection films, reducing the use of plastics.
The plastic bags used to protect the surface of home
appliances such as TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners and
washing machines as well as other kitchen appliances will
also be replaced with bags containing recycled materials and
bioplastics, which are respectively made from plastic wastes
and non-fossil fuel materials like starch or sugar cane.
“Samsung Electronics is stepping up in addressing
society’s environmental issues such as resource depletion
and plastic wastes,” said Gyeong-bin Jeon, head of
Samsung’s Global Customer Satisfaction Center. “We are
committed to recycling resources and minimizing pollution
coming from our products. We will adopt more environmentally
sustainable materials even if it means an increase in cost.”
Under the company’s circular economy policy, Samsung
Electronics has set a mid-term implementation plan to only use
paper packaging materials certified by forestry initiatives by
next year. By 2030, Samsung aims to use 500 thousand tonnes
of recycled plastics and collect 7.5 million tonnes of discarded
products (both cumulative from 2009). MT
www.samsung.com
36 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/19] Vol. 14