Issue 3/2018

ISSN 1862-5258 

May / June 

03 | 2018 

bioplastics MAGAZINE Vol. 13 

Basics 

Castor Oil | 52 

Highlights 

Injection Moulding | 14 

Additives/Masterbatches | 18 

Cover Story: 

Netherlands to prohibit 

Oxo-degradables | 9 

... is read in 92 countries

Resins 

THE BIOPLASTIC 

SPECIALIST OFFERS: 

Elaborated product portfolio 

Technical support 

Marketing advice 

Tailor-made formulations 

PLA Blends 

Green PE Compounds 

Cellulose Compounds 

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Bio-TPE Compounds 

Natural Fibre Compounds

Editorial 

dear 

readers 

Towards the end of May, most of us were absolutely swamped with e-mails asking 

us to re-subscribe or to confirm some subscription or the other - but mostly 

newsletters. And we apologize for being part of this annoying hassle. The reason 

is the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that came into force 

on May 25. So we’d like to take the opportunity here again to ask all who haven’t 

done so already to (re-) register for our free bi-weekly e-mail-newsletter and 

info-mailings about our events or other related products or services. We will use 

nothing but your e-mail address. And only for the aforementioned purposes. No 

third party will ever have access to your data. 

Here is the link tinyurl.com/bio-newsletter 

The soccer referee on our cover photo is Patrick Gerritsen, founder and CEO 

of Bio4pack (www.bio4pack.com). From 2003-2009, he was an official FIFA 

referee, presiding over 60 international matches, next to acting as match official 

in the “Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbal Bond” (Dutch professional soccer 

league) from 1997 to 2015. The cover relates to the news on page 9, which, it 

should be noted, was also was the most clicked-on item in our daily online 

news on our website, namely ”The Netherlands looking to ban oxo-degradable 

plastics”. 

Other highlight topics of this issue are Injection moulding and Additives / 

Masterbatches. In the Basics section we have a closer look at Castor oil. 

The next event we’d like to bring to your attention is the new 1 st PHA platform World 

Congress in Cologne, Germany on the 4 th and 5 th of September. 

Plus: the call for proposals for the 2018 edition of the Global Bioplastics Award is also 

open (cf. p. 41). So if you think your product or service from the world of biobased plastics 

deserves the award, or you’d like to nominate somebody else’s, just let us know. 

And please don’t forget: for current news, be sure to check the latest reports, breaking 

news and daily news updates at www.bioplasticsmagazine.com. 

EcoComunicazione.it 

WWW.MATERBI.COM 

adv mela se tore_bioplasticmagazine_05.06.2017_210x297_ese.indd 1 05/05/17 11:39 

r1_05.2017 


ISSN 1862-5258 

Basics 


Highlights 



May / June 

Cover Story: 




... is read in 92 countries 

We hope you enjoy reading bioplastics MAGAZINE. 

Sincerely yours 

Michael Thielen 

In this issue we have a closer look to India. India, also called the Republic of 

India. is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the 

second-most populous country (with over 1.2 billion people), and the most 

populous democracy in the world. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean on the 

south, the Arabian Sea on the southwest, and the Bay of Bengal on the southeast 

(Wikipedia). 

bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/18] Vol. 13 3

Content 

Imprint 

May / June 03|2018 

3 Editorial 

5 News 

9 Cover Story 

10 Events 

26 Application News 

45 Material News 

48 Brand Owner 

49 Basics 

51 10 years ago 

58 Suppliers Guide 

61 Event Calendar 

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 

s.brangenberg@samsales.de 

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: 3.300 copies 

Injection Moulding 

14 Dimensional stability of injection 

moulded bioplastics 

16 Injection moulded NFC 

Additives / Masterbatches 

18 Biobased masterbatches for PLA, 

PBS and biobased blends 

20 Biobased additives 

21 Renewable, sustainable mineral 

22 Bio-Masterbatches with ecofriendly, 

mineral pigments 

23 Biobased wax additives 

From Science & Research 

28 PHBV from waste water 

30 Breaking barrier for clean & 

green BioPolyols 

34 Biobased filler for SMC 

38 Astroplastic 

Report 

28 Spanish project will develop customized 

materials 

46 The journey of bioplastics in the Indian 

subcontinent 

INDIA 

32 Compostable sanitary napkins for 

India’s girls and women 

Materials 

37 Sun protection cosmetics 

40 Thermoplastic Starch 

Trade shows 

24 Chinaplas-Review 

42 NPE-Review 

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 in bioplastic envelopes 

sponsored by Plastiroll Oy, Finland. 

Cover 

Photo: Jan Ligtenberg 

Follow us on twitter: 

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daily upated news at 


News 

Packaging related properties of biopolymers 

Because of the multitude of biopolymers on the market it 

is often difficult to gain an overview about their packaging 

related properties. For this reason, Verena Jost from 

the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and 

Packaging IVV (Freising, Germany) extruded and analysed 

various commercially available biopolymers. The oxygen 

and water vapour barrier, crystallinity, tensile strength, 

elongation at break and Young’s modulus of PLA, PHAs, 

PHB, PHBHB, PHBV, TPS, PBAT, PBS, PCL and BioPE 

were analysed. The results show the broad range of 

mechanical and barrier properties of biopolymer films 

that can be achieved by currently available grades. From 

the functional point of view, the commodity polymers 

PE and PP can be well complemented by the analysed 

biopolymers. MT 

Young‘s modulus YM [GPa] 

5 — 

— 

4 

— 

3 — 

— 

2 — 

— 

1 — 

BioPE PP-HD 

PBAT+PLA+filler 

— 

PLC 

PBAT+PLA 

PP-LD PBAT 

PBS TPS 

TPU 

0 — 

0 20 40 60 200 250 

Tensile strength σ [MPa] 

— 

— 

PHB 

— 

PHBV11 

PHBV7 

— 

PHBV3 

— 

PHBHB18 

PP 

PHBHB10+PLA+filler 

PHBHB13 

— 

— 

PLA 

— 

PET-BO 

— 

— 

Info: 

1: The complete report can be downloaded from 

tinyurl.com/bm201803 

www.ivv.fraunhofer.de 

Picks & clicks 

Most frequently clicked news 

Magnetic 

for Plastics 

www.plasticker.com 

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: 

The Netherlands looking to ban oxo-degradable plastics 

(29 Mar 2018) 

After France and Spain implemented actions in 2017 to limit the production, 

distribution, sale, provision and utilization of packaging or bags made 

from oxo-degradable plastics – conventional plastics that falsely claim 

to biodegrade – the Netherlands now, too, has announced plans for a 

complete ban of oxo-degradable plastics. 

See also our Cover-Story on page 9 

• 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 


News 

daily upated news at 


Camphor as viable alternative to castor oil for 

production bio-PA? 

Within the scope of the Camphor-based polymers 

international research project, the Fraunhofer Institute IGB 

will, in the coming year, research sustainable production 

processes for biobased monomers. 

The Camphor-based polymers 

project, a collaborative effort between 

the IGB branch Bio, Electro and 

Chemocatalysis BioCat in Straubing, 

Germany and research and industry 

partners, aims to develop technology 

that will make it possible to use residual 

materials from pulp production for the 

manufacture of plastics. 

Castor (ricinus) oil is one biobased 

alternative to crude oil as a starting material for the production 

of polyamides; however, it has some disadvantages: processing 

is complex and several synthesis steps are required to convert 

castor oil into monomers. 

BioCat and its project partners are investigating the use of 

terpene camphor for the production of biobased monomers 

for polyamides and polyesters. Moreover, in contrast to castor 

oil production, both the extraction and processing of camphor 

is unproblematic. The terpene is produced in large quantities 

in China from by-products of the pulp industry and is therefore 

not only a sustainable raw material, but also readily available. 

In addition, only a single synthesis step is required to produce 

the targeted biomonomers. 

As part of the Camphor-based polymers project, BioCat and 

its partners are working on an efficient biocatalytic process for 

the selective functionalization of the camphor into biobased 

monomers. 

“The ultimate goal of our project is 

the sustainable production of biobased 

polymers, which ranges from the use of 

natural terpenes from the Chinese pulp 

industry to the production of polymeric 

materials in Germany,” said IGB scientist 

Dr. Michael Hofer, who heads the project 

at BioCat. 

In order to achieve this goal and to 

map out the entire value-added chain, 

Hofer and his team are working together 

with scientific and industrial project partners from China and 

Germany. Worldwide, pulp-based camphor production currently 

amounts to 17 000 tonnes per year, mainly produced by just five 

Chinese pulp manufacturers. One of these was enlisted as an 

industrial partner for the project “Camphor-based polymers”. 

The potential for global camphor production based on pulp is 

estimated by the project partners to be 100 000 tonnes. 

The project, which was launched in January 2018, is 

scheduled to run until December 2020 and is coordinated by the 

Chair of Chemistry of Biogenic Raw Materials at the Technical 

University of Munich. The Federal Ministry of Education and 

Research is funding the project as part of the “Bioeconomy 

international” program. MT 

https://is.gd/PDuoR7 (Fraunhofer IGB) 

DuPont & Archer Daniels Midland open 

biobased pilot facility 

End of April 2018, DuPont Industrial Biosciences (DuPont) and Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) announced the 

opening of the world’s first biobased furan dicarboxylic methyl ester (FDME) pilot production facility in Decatur, Illinois. The 

plant is the centerpiece of a long-standing collaboration that will help bring a greater variety of sustainably sourced biomaterials 

into the lives of consumers. 

FDME is a molecule derived from fructose that can be used to create a variety of biobased chemicals and materials, including 

plastics, that are ultimately more cost-effective, efficient and sustainable than their 

fossil fuel-based counterparts. 

One of the first FDME-based polymers under development by DuPont is 

polytrimethylene furandicarboxyate (PTF), a novel polyester also made from DuPont’s 

proprietary Bio-PDO (1,3-propanediol). PTF is a 100 % renewable polymer that, in 

bottling applications, can be used to create plastic bottles that are lighter-weight, 

more sustainable and better performing. 

Research shows that PTF has up to 10-15 times the CO2 barrier performance of 

traditional PET plastic, which results in a longer shelf life. With that better barrier, 

companies will be able to design significantly lighter-weight packages, lowering the 

carbon emissions and significant costs related with shipping carbonated beverages. MT 

www.biosciences.dupont.com 

6 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/18] Vol. 13

News 

BioAmber announces 

filing for stay of proceedings 

on creditors 

BioAmber Inc. announced on May 4th, that it filed a 

voluntary petition for relief under chapter 11 of the United 

States Bankruptcy Code 

Its two Canadian subsidiaries, BioAmber Sarnia Inc. and 

BioAmber Canada Inc., filed a Notice of Intention (the "NOI") 

to make a proposal under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act 

(Canada), with a view to strengthening the company’s financial 

health and solidifying its long-term business prospects. 

BioAmber believes filing these procedures is the best way 

to protect all stakeholders and will best facilitate its efforts to 

renegotiate its debt and raise the funds needed to continue 

its operations. The filing of these procedures has the effect of 

imposing an automatic stay of proceedings that will protect 

the company, its Canadian subsidiaries and their assets 

from the claims of creditors while the company pursues its 

restructuring efforts. 

There can be no guarantee that the company will be 

successful in securing further financing or achieving its 

restructuring objectives. Failure by the company to achieve 

its financing and restructuring goals will likely result in 

the company and/or its subsidiaries being forced to cease 

operations and liquidate its assets 

Pursuant to the NOI filing, PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. has 

been appointed as the trustee in the proposal proceedings. MT 

www.bio-amber.com 

Symphony 

Environmental moves 

into the bioplastic 

sector 

Symphony Environmental Technologies has signed 

a collaboration agreement and commitment to a 

strategic investment with French biotechnology start 

up, Eranova. 

bEranova has developed a technology which extracts 

starch from algae which can be used to produce a range 

of compostable and biodegradable bioplastics. Other 

applications include biofuel, biopolymers, proteins for 

food and animal feed stock, and by-products for the 

pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. 

The key benefits of the technology, said Symphony, 

are, among other things, the fact that a natural, 

renewable waste product which pollutes beaches can 

now be put to good use; also, algae are a non-foodbased 

resource, which do not impact the food industry, 

in addition to providing higher yields per hectare due to 

the fast growing rate of algae. 

The agreement marks Symphony’s first move into 

the bioplastics sector. The UK-based company is a 

producer of a wide range of polymer masterbatches and 

additives, including oxo-degradable and anti-microbial 

technologies.MT 

www.symphonyenvironmental.com 

Full stereocomplex PLA technology now 

commercially available from Total Corbion PLA 

Total Corbion PLA, Gorinchem,The Netherlands, recently 

announces the launch of a novel technology that can create full 

stereocomplex PLA in a broad range of industrial applications. 

The proprietary technology will enable PLA applications able 

to withstand temperatures close to 200°C (HDT-A). 

The new technology enables stereocomplex PLA – a 

material with long, regularly interlocking polymer chains that 

enable an even higher heat resistance than standard PLA. 

This breakthrough in PLA temperature resistance unlocks 

a range of new application possibilities, and provides a 

biobased replacement for PBT and PA glass fiber reinforced 

products. For example, injection molded applications for 

under-the-hood automotive components can now be made 

from glass fiber reinforced stereocomplex PLA, offering both 

a higher biobased content and a reduced carbon footprint. 

The technology can offer these same sustainability benefits to 

the wider automotive, aerospace, electronics,home appliance, 

marine and construction industries. 

“Over the past decades, the benefits of full stereocomplex 

PLA have been studied by universities and R&D departments 

on a laboratory scale”, says Stefan Barot, Senior Business 

Director Asia Pacific. “Now, Total Corbion PLA is the first 

company to scale up this technology and make it available 

for a broad range of industrial applications. The technology 

enables full stereocomplex morphology not only in the lab 

environment but also in commercial production facilities”. 

Commercial samples of full stereocomplex PLA will soon 

be made available for customer evaluation. Total Corbion PLA 

is looking for brand owners, converters and compounders 

that wish to validate and capitalize on this new technology. MT 

www.total-corbion.com 


Richard Altice named 

new president and CEO of NatureWorks 

NatureWorks’ board of directors has named Richard 

Altice as the company’s new President and Chief Executive 

Officer, replacing Marc Verbruggen, who led the company 

from 2008 to his retirement in 2017. 

Altice comes to NatureWorks from PolyOne Corporation 

where he was Senior Vice President and President – 

Designed Structures and Solutions. At PolyOne, he had 

global responsibility for the sheet, roll stock, and 

formed packaging business. Prior to PolyOne, 

Altice also served as Vice President of Hexion’s 

global specialty epoxy business focused on 

coatings and composites. Altice holds a Bachelor 

of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from 

Missouri University of Science and Technology. 

“We are pleased to welcome Rich as 

NatureWorks’ CEO. Rich is an exemplary leader. 

He brings broad experience and demonstrated 

success in international business, strategic 

marketing, and building highly effective teams 

to serve customers in the polymer and chemical 

industry,” said Peter Hawthorne, Chairman of the Board. “We 

believe Rich’s leadership will advance market development 

and the adoption of NatureWorks’ performance materials in 

new applications.” 

“Through my prior work experience, I became familiar 

with NatureWorks and thought very highly of the company 

and its products,” said Altice. In a personal meeting with 

bioplastics MAGAZINE Rich added: ”I’m excited about the time 

in which I have joined NatureWorks, seeing an enormous 

amount of efforts by very dedicated, long-term employees in 

this company. I think they have really created NatureWorks 

culture, the company’s leadership, and the market interest 

in renewably sourced advanced polymers and chemicals. 

This all presents an exciting opportunity”. 

NatureWorks was the first company to offer commercially 

available low-carbon-footprint bioplastics derived 

from 100 % annually renewable resources. Recently, 

NatureWorks reached the milestone of 900,000 tonnes 

(2 bn pounds) of Ingeo biopolymer sold globally via its 

comprehensive portfolio of 33 grades, which 

are converted into thousands of consumer 

and industrial products. In 2017, the company 

launched a performance chemicals business 

with the new Vercet platform for adhesives 

and coatings. Along with its customers 

and supply chain partners, NatureWorks 

continues to introduce new, innovative Ingeobased 

applications across a spectrum of 

industries, including expanded offerings 

for 3D printing filaments, a first-of-itskind 

liner to increase the energy efficiency 

of refrigerators (cf. p. 45), and hydrophilic 

nonwovens for absorbent hygiene products. With leading 

coffee companies, NatureWorks is developing a new 

generation of high performance compostable capsules for 

single-serve coffee makers. 

These applications and more will be discussed at 

Innovation Takes Root, the international forum on advanced 

biomaterials, this September in San Diego, California. 

bioplastics MAGAZINE will then do a more comprehensive 

interview with Richard Altice, who is married, father of two 

daughters and who, when not working for NatureWorks, 

loves outdoor activities like hiking, running and golf. MT 

www.natureworksllc.com 

Bioplastics will outpace the economy as a whole 

In a Plastics Market Watch report released 10 May, entitled Watching: Bioplastics – the Plastics Industry Association 

(PLASTICS) reports bioplastics are in a growth cycle stage and will outpace the economy as a whole. 

New investments and entrants in the sector and new products and manufacturing technologies are projected to make 

bioplastics more competitive and dynamic. 

The report finds growing interest in bioplastics, but also a continued need for education. According to a survey PLASTICS 

conducted of U.S. consumers in January 2018, more consumers are “familiar” or “somewhat familiar” with bioplastics 

compared to a survey conducted just two years ago; 32 % of consumers are familiar with bioplastics in 2018 compared to only 

27 % in 2016. The PLASTICS survey also indicated 64 % of consumers would prefer to buy a product made with bioplastics – and 

expect to see bioplastics in disposable plastic tableware, plastic bags, food and cosmetic packaging, and toys. 

As bioplastics product applications continue to expand, the growth dynamics of the industry will continue to shift. Looking at 

industry studies on market segmentation, packaging is the largest segment of the market at 37 % followed by bottles at 32 %. 

Growth opportunities in bioplastics manufacturing are expected to continue from the demand and supply side. While in the past 

growth in bioplastics was primarily driven by higher petrol-based polymers, changes in consumer behavior will be a significant 

factor for higher demand of bioplastics. 

The report is available for download to members and non-members. 

www.plasticsindustry.org 


Cover-Story 

The Netherlands looking to ban 

oxo-degradable plastics 

After France and Spain implemented actions in 2017 to limit the production, distribution, sale, provision and utilization of 

packaging or bags made from oxo-degradable plastics – conventional plastics that falsely claim to biodegrade – the Netherlands 

now, too, has announced plans for a complete ban of oxo-degradable plastics. 

“A ban on oxo-plastics that fall apart into microplastics is an important step in the fight against pollution,” said Suzanne Kröger, 

Member of the Dutch Parliament and GroenLinks, the party that submitted the proposal in the Lower House. "Microplastics are 

an increasing problem. They end up in nature, in the food chain and in our bodies. It is important for a total ban to be imposed 

on these plastics that fall apart as soon as possible. If it can no longer be produced, then this rubbish will no longer end up in 

our nature" [1] 

The announcement followed a report by the European Commission earlier in January this year announcing plans to restrict 

the use of these materials in Europe. The New Plastics Economy initiative of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation called for a ban 

on oxo-degradable plastics as early as November last year. "Although there is a perception that these materials are safely 

biodegradable, there is scientific evidence that they can be harmful to the food chain," said The New Plastics Economy [2]. 

The use of oxo-degradable plastics for bags, bottles and labels is on the rise in different areas of the world. Made from 

conventional, fossil-based polymers to which chemical additives are added to promote degradation, these plastics disintegrate 

at an accelerated rate following exposure to UV-light, oxygen or heat. 

The key word in this context is ‘disintegrate’: rather than undergoing biodegradation, the plastic breaks down into tiny 

particles, which contributes to the formation of microplastics. The microparticles can be found in plankton and algae, among 

other things, and therefore spread easily into other organisms, according to GroenLinks [2]. 

The Netherlands supports a full ban, rather than the restricted use proposed by the Commission. “If it is no longer allowed 

to be produced, it will no longer be able to find its way into our environment,” said Kröger. MT 

[1] www.pakkracht.biz 

[2] www.duurzaambedrijfsleven.nl 

THE BENCHMARK 

FOR COST EFFECTIVENESS. 

EREMA 

Discovery Days 

27 - 29 June 2018 

Ansfelden / Austria 

www.erema.com/en/ 

discovery-days-2018/ 

59 euros/tonne 

for high-quality recycled pellets 

110 µm filtered* 

INTAREMA ® 

TVEplus ® 

From post-consumer plastic 

to high-quality, top recycled 

pellets for only 59 euros/tonne*. 

The INTAREMA ® TVEplus ® 

sets the standard in terms of 

production efficiency and cost 

effectiveness: extremely low 

energy consumption, high 

throughput thanks to Counter 

Current technology, laboursaving 

through automation 

and remarkably low service 

costs. 

*) Production costs for recycled pellets on an INTAREMA ® 2018 TVEplus ® 

with EREMA Laserfi lter, input material: washed supermarket fi lm 

LD/LLDPE 98/2, 8 % moisture, calculation incl. investment costs 

(amortisation 5 years) and variable costs (labour, electricity, water, 

service and maintenance). 

That’s Careformance! 

CAREFORMANCE 

We care about your performance. 

1804012ERE_Bioplastics Magazine.indd 1 bioplastics MAGAZINE 25.04.18 [03/18] Vol. 15:4413 

9

Events 

organized by 

Co-organized by Jan Ravenstijn 

www.pha-world-congress.com 

4 th PHA platform World Congress, preliminary programme 

Tuesday, Sep 04, 2018 

08:45-09:15 Jan Ravenstijn The PHA Platform - Virtues and Challenges 

09:15-09:40 Mats Linder, Ellen MacArthur Foundation The role of PHA in a circular economy for plastics 

09:40-10:05 Michael Carus, nova Institute 

Production capacities of bio-based polymers – 

status and outlook & political and social framework for further growth 

10:05-10:30 Erwin LePoudre, Kaneka Marketing of Biodegradable Polymer PHBHTM as a Solution to Plastic Waste Issues 

11:10-11:35 Harald Kaeb, narocon Pitfalls and opportunities for marketing PHA products 

11:35-12:00 Fred Bollen, LifetecVision Exploiting competitive advantage and creating market attractiveness for PHA-polymers 

12:00-12:25 Jos Labée, Modified Materials Use of PHBH in fishing gear 

12:25-12:50 Sam Deconinck, OWS Biodegradation of PHAs: not simply a fixed feature 

Phil van Trump, Danimer 

14:00-14:30 

& Garry Kohl, PepsiCo 

PHA for packaging applications (t.b.c.) 

14:30-14:55 Eligio Martini, MAIP PHBH compounds for electrical switches (ABB) 

14:55-15:20 Pieter Samyn, Hasselt University 

Formulation and processing of PHB with fibrillated 

cellulose for nanocomposite films and paper coatings 

15:20-15:45 Urs Hänggi, Biomer Virgin PHB has thermoplastic properties, but is not a thermoplast 

16:00-16:20 Coffee 

16:20-16:55 Eike Langenberg & Carsten Niermann, FKuR Meet the needs for future legislations: Innovative PHA compounds 

16:55-17:20 Remy Jongboom, Biotec PHBH compounds for bags? 

Wednesday, Sep. 05, 2018 

09:00-09:25 Karel Wilsens, AMIBM Nucleating agents for PHAs and other biopolymers 

09:25-09:50 Christophe Collet, Scion Research From pine to PHA products 

09:50-10:15 Leon Korving, Phario High quality PHBV from wastewater 

10:15-10:40 Lenka Mynářová, Hydal/Nafigate Hydal PHA – Circular Economy Concept 

11:20-11:45 Li Teng, Bluepha 

11:45-12:10 Molly Morse, Mango Materials t.b.d. 

12:10-12:35 Andrew Falcon, FullCycle Bioplastics PHB/PHBV from waste streams 

Bluepha: Industrial-scale Low-cost P(3HB-co-4HB) 

Production using Halomonas bluephagenesis TD via an Open Fermentation Process 

14:00-14.25 Christian Bonten, IKT, Univ. Stuttgart Impact modification of PHB by building of a blockcopolymer 

14:25-14:50 Harold van der Zande, Stamicarbon PHA coating for slow release fertilization 

14:50-15:15 Ruud Rouleaux, Helian (on behalf of Tianan) PHBV from Tianan / 3D printing applications 

16:05-16:30 Kenichiro Nishi, Kaneka PHBH applications presentation 

16:30-16:55 Alessandro Carfagnini, Sabio Kartell (design furniture) 

16:55-17:20 Stefan Jockenhövel, AMIBM Role of Biodegradable Polymers for (Regenerative) Medicine 

Subject to changes, please visit the conference website 


Automotive 

Save the Date 

04-05 Sep 2018 

Cologne, Germany 

Register now, and benefit from our 

Early Bird discount until June 30/2018 


organized by 

Co-organized by Jan Ravenstijn 

PHA (Poly-Hydroxy-Alkanoates or polyhydroxy fatty acids) is a family of biobased polyesters. As in many 

mammals, including humans, that hold energy reserves in the form of body fat there are also bacteria that 

hold intracellular reserves of polyhydroxy alkanoates. Here the micro-organisms store a particularly high level 

of energy reserves (up to 80% of their own body weight) for when their sources of nutrition become scarce. 

Examples for such Polyhydroxyalkanoates are PHB, PHV, PHBV, PHBH and many more. That’s why we speak 

about the PHA platform. 

This PHA-platform is made up of a large variety of bioplastics raw materials made from many different renewable 

resources. Depending on the type of PHA, they can be used for applications in films and rigid packaging, 

biomedical applications, automotive, consumer electronics, appliances, toys, glues, adhesives, paints, coatings, 

fi bers for woven and non-woven and inks. So PHAs cover a broad range of properties and applications. 

That’s why bioplastics MAGAZINE and Jan Ravenstijn are now organizing the 1 st PHA-platform World Congress 

on 4-5 September 2018 in Cologne / Germany. 

This congress will address the progress, challenges and market opportunities for the formation of this new polymer 

platform in the world. Every step in the value chain will be addressed. Raw materials, polymer manufacturing, 

compounding, polymer processing, applications, opportunities and end-of-life options will be discussed. 

When there is sufficient interest there will be a workshop on the basics of the PHA-platform in the afternoon of 

September 3 rd , preceding the conference.See website for details. 

Platinum Sponsor: 

Gold Sponsor: 

Silver Sponsor: 

Media Partner: 

Supported by: 

Bronze Sponsor: 

1 st Media Partner 

Institut 

für Ökologie und Innovation 


Events 

Glass fibre reinforced 

PLA wins award 

Innovation Award Bio-based Material of the Year 2018 

for Arctic Biomaterials 

The Innovation Award Bio-based Material of the Year 

2018 was awarded to three innovative bio-based materials. 

The competition focused on new developments in the biobased 

economy, which have a market launch in 2018. The 

winners were elected on 15 May by the participants of the 

11th International Conference on Bio-based Materials in 

Cologne, Germany. As in the previous year, the award was 

sponsored by InfraServ GmbH & Co. Knapsack KG, a service 

provider for the planning, construction and operation of 

plants and sites. 

The “International Conference on Bio-based Materials” 

is organised by nova-Institute (Germany) and a wellestablished 

global meeting point for companies working 

in the field of bio-based chemicals and materials. 205 

participants, mainly from the industry and representing 22 

countries, met in Cologne on 15 and 16 May 2018 to discuss 

the latest developments in the sector. 21 companies 

presented their products and services at the exhibition. 

The winners in detail: 

No 1: Arctic Biomaterials Oy (Finland): 

Degradable PLA reinforced with glass fibre that erodes 

back to harmless minerals in composting environment 

ArcBioxTM BGF30-B1 is a Polylactic Acid (PLA) that 

is reinforced using LFT (long fibre) technology with a 

special degradable glass fibres. This innovation makes it 

possible that bio-based plastics can be used in technically 

demanding durable applications and still have the option 

of biodegradation at the end of life. The 

reinforcement is a glass fibre 

developed by Arctic 

Biomaterials Oy (ABM) and can also be used for 

several other bio-based polymers. This composite material 

reduces the carbon footprint and use of non-renewable 

energy of a composite product drastically compared to 

fossil-based reinforced plastics. This reinforced PLA is 

compostable and certified by the seedling mark from DIN 

CERTCO. More information: www.abmcomposite.com 

No 2: Cardolite Corporation (US/Belgium): 

Cashew nutshell residual-based blocking agent 

NX-2026 is an ultra-high purity 3-pentadeca-dienylphenol 

recently developed by Cardolite through advanced 

proprietary process technology. 3-pentadeca-dienyl-phenol 

is the main component distilled from cashew nutshell 

liquid, a renewable and non-edible resin extracted from 

the honeycomb structure of the cashew nut. NX-2026 has 

been successfully introduced to the coating and adhesive 

market as a non-toxic isocyanate (NCO) blocking agent that 

is a suitable replacement for petrochemical phenols. NCO 

systems blocked with NX-2026 provide lower viscosity and 

deblocking temperature than equivalent systems blocked 

with phenols. Moreover, NX-2026 blocked NCO prepolymers 

can be used in 2K epoxy systems to improve bond and T-peel 

strengths while maintaining good cure properties. More 

information: www.cardolite.com 

No 3: AIMPLAS Instituto Tecnológico del Plástico 

(Spain): 

Bio-based and biodegradable nets for green beans 

A packaging 

material which is more 

than 80% bio-based 

and more sustainable 

than conventional 

polyethylene nets but 

has similar linear 

weight and mechanical 

properties. The 

innovative product is 

a biodegradable net 

suitable for green beans packaging. A compound has been 

developed through reactive extrusion and the combination 

of different biodegradable materials and additives. Chemical 

modification was made by grafting low molecular weight 

units, such as oleic alcohol, obtained by the fermentation of 

sugars extracted from vegetable waste (watermelon). More 

information: www.aimplas.es 

www.bio-based-conference.com 

www.nova-institute.eu 

The nova-Institute would like to thank: 

The nova-Institute would like to thank InfraServ GmbH 

& Co. Knapsack KG (Germany) for sponsoring the 

renowned Innovation Award “Bio-based Material of the 

Year 2018”. 

BASF SE (Germany) and UPM Biochemicals (Finland/ 

Germany) are supporting the conference as Silver 

Sponsors and Neste SA (Finland/Suisse), FKUR 

Kunststoff GmbH (Germany) and Synvina C. V. 

(Netherlands) as a Bronze Sponsor. 


The leading Business Directory of the Bio-based Economy now 

offers FREE standard profiles for companies, associations and 

institutes! 

International Directory 

for BIo-based Businesses 

• Players of the bio-based and CO 2 -based 

industry can now present themselves in the 

iBIB online directory – for FREE and for an 

unlimited time period. 

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upload 2 full PDF pages of information on 

your company. 

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content as you like to your Premium Profile 

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catalogue. Everything is possible – iBIB 

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Take a look and find your contacts at 

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Pictures: Fraunhofer IAP (2), IAR, Novamont, Isowood, Biowert, Evonik, Metabolix 

Save the Date: 

nova-Institute Events in 2018 

12 – 13 June 2018 

Maternushaus, Cologne, Germany 

www.eiha-conference.org 

18 September 2018 

Airport Cologne/Bonn, Germany 

www.bio-based.eu/nova-sessions 

1 – 2 October 2018 

Maritim Hotel, Cologne, Germany 

www.REFAB.info 

20 – 21 March 2019 

Maternushaus, Cologne, Germany 

www.co2-chemistry.eu 

Bio-based News – Daily news 

on Bio-based and CO 2 

-based 

Economy worldwide 

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suppliers and experts in the Biobased 

Economy worldwide. 

Upload your company profile now 

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Contact: Mr. Dominik Vogt, +49 (0) 2233 48 14 49, dominik.vogt@nova-institut.de 

All conferences at www.bio-based.eu 



Dimensional stability of 

injection moulded bioplastics 

During processing plastics, there are different fundamental 

factors that influence the quality of a component. 

A key factor for the injection moulding process 

is the dimensional stability. This describes how much the 

dimensions of the processed part deviate from the specified 

dimension after processing. In particular, problems 

often quickly arise here due to different shrinkage and warpage 

properties, once a new material, such as a bioplastic, 

should be used for an existing injection moulded component. 

At the Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites – 

IfBB, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hanover, various 

bioplastics were therefore investigated in more detail. 

The following marketable and commercially available materials 

were examined: 

material to be substituted, differs strongly in its shrinkage 

properties, this usually leads to processing problems and 

requires a corresponding adjustment of the cavity. It is 

therefore not possible to make the general statement that 

a slight shrinkage is good and a large shrinkage is bad. As 

a general rule, if the cavity should not be reconstructed 

to suit the material, the bioplastic should exhibit similar 

shrinkage behaviour as the petrochemical material to be 

substituted. In addition, when processing bioplastics – as 

well as conventional plastics – widely differing shrinkage 

properties in and across the direction of flow lead to 

component distortion. 

Table 1: Overview of the examined bioplastics for injection moulding applications 

Material Tmelt [°C] Tmold [°C] Holding pressure [bar] Flow Direction [%] Cross Direction [%] FD/CD 

Nature Works Ingeo 3052D 200 °C 30 °C 500 bar 0,247 0,315 0,784126984 



Zhejiang Hisun Revode 190 200 °C 30 °C 500 bar 0,265 0,304 0,871710526 

Jelu WPC Bio PLA H60-500-14 200 °C 30 °C 500 bar 0,154 0,171 0,900584795 

Jelu WPC Bio PE H50-500-20 

#DIV/0! 

FKuR Terralene HD 3505 230 °C 30 °C 500 bar 1,906 1,45 1,314482759 

Evonik Vestamid Terra HS16 250 °C 80 °C 500 bar 1,558 1,631 0,955242183 

Showa Denko Bionolle 1020MD 200 °C 30 °C 500 bar 0,814 0,839 0,970202622 

Metabolix Mirel P1004 180 °C 30 °C 500 bar 0,404 0,64 0,63125 

During processing, the bioplastic is melted in the injection 

moulding machine and injected under high pressure into an 

injection mold cavity. Once the cooling time is completed, 

the cooled part is ejected from the cavity. At this point, 

important aspects that must be observed when changing 

from a conventional plastic to a bioplastic – this also applies 

when changing to a different petroleum-based plastic – 

are the different shrinkage and warpage characteristics 

of the substituting material. The material shrinkage 

allows significant statements to be made concerning the 

compatibility of the selected material with the existing cavity 

and whether component distortion must be expected. If the 

The results of this investigations show that most of the 

investigated bioplastics show an almost isotropic shrinkage 

and warpage (FD/CD) behavior with a little more shrinkage 

in CD than in FD and a ranking lower than 1. This is similar 

to most of the petroleum-based plastics and therefore an 

important aspect of substitutability. Furthermore, it can be 

seen that the PLA-based bioplastics show a low shrinkage. 

This corresponds to a typical behavior of unreinforced 

amorphous thermoplastics. The other bioplastics have 

significantly higher processing shrinkages. In the case of 

Vestamid Terra HS16, the shrinkage is very high but in a 

magnitude typical for PA. The bioplastic Bionolle 1020MD 



By: 

Marco Neudecker, Nuse Lack, Hans-Josef Endres 

Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites – IfBB 

University of Applied Sciences and Arts 

Hanover, Germany 

Figure 1: Shrinkage and warpage of bioplastics 

FD/CD Ranking 0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1 1,2 1,4 1,6 1,8 2 

Nature Works Ingeo 3052D 



Zhejiang Hisun Revode 190 

Jelu WPC Bio PLA H60-500-14 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Jelu WPC Bio PE H50-500-20 

not measurable due to bad surface 

— 

FKUR Terralene HD 3505 

— 

Evonik Vestamid Terra HS16 

— 

Showa Denko Bionolle 1020MD 

— 

Metabolix Mirel P1004 

— 

FD/CD 

Flow Direction (%) Cross Direction (%) 

also shows increased shrinkage values which are still in 

the lower usual range of semi-crystalline thermoplastics. 

Significant anisotropy is exhibited by the Mirel P1004 and 

the Terralene HD 3505. The shrinkage of Mirel P1004 

is characteristic of largely amorphous thermoplastics, 

which also have a relatively high viscosity. Striking is 

the high anisotropy, which makes this material prone to 

distortion. Terralene HD 3505 belongs to semi-crystalline 

thermoplastics but shows a very high shrinkage value, 

especially in FD. 

We STARCH 

your bioplastics. 

Made in Austria. 

The results listed here and many other conclusions 

relevant to processors could be identified in the processing 

project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and 

Agriculture. All results are freely accessible and available to 

anyone interested in two databases: 

• Material Data Center (www.materialdatacenter.com/bo/) 

• Project Results Database (http://www.biokunststoffeverarbeiten.de). 

The project outcome closes important gaps in the 

knowledge of the processing of bio-synthetic materials. 

For further questions the competence network of project 

partners can be contacted (http://verarbeitungsprojekt. 

ifbb-hannover.de/de/projektkontakte.html). 

www.ifbb-hannover.de 

AMITROPLAST ® 

THERMOPLASTIC STARCH 

BIOBASED. COMPOSTABLE. SUSTAINABLE. 

PERFORMING. COST COMPETITIVE. FOR YOU. 

AMITROPLAST ® allows you to incorporate 50 % or more of 

thermoplastic starch in your compound for film extrusion 

and injection moulding. 

AGRANA.COM 

bioplastics.starch@agrana.com 

THE NATURAL UPGRADE 



Injection moulded NFC 

Simulation vs. Experiment 

Figure 1: SEM pictures of sisal fibre 

bundles before (left) und after compounding 

(right). A: Fibre bundle breakage. B: Start of 

fibre bundle splitting. C: Peeling behaviour 

of sisal. [2] 

Figure 2: Distribution of the length (left) 

and width (right) for sisal before processing 

(Original), after compounding (Granules) 

and after injection moulding (Plate). The 

results are shown as box-and-whisker plots 

(whiskers with a maximum of 1.5 x IQR, 

outliers shown as circles). Boxplots with * 

represent not normally distributed samples 

and different capitals represent significant 

differences. [2] 

Due to growing environmental concerns, the interest 

for renewable resources increases drastically nowadays. 

Natural fibre-reinforced composites (NFC) are 

an interesting prospect to combine light weight constructions 

with renewable resources. Natural fibre-reinforced 

form-pressed composites have been used for interior panels 

since 1954 [1]. A new interest increases using natural 

fibre-reinforced, injection moulded components for largescale 

production in the automotive industry. As engineers 

only consider predictable compounds in component development 

processes, models to simulate natural fibre-reinforced 

compounds need to be developed. Common software 

programs for injection moulding simulation already include 

models to simulate glass fibre-reinforced polymers, but 

not yet NFC. To close this gap the project “Material and 

Flow Models for Natural Fibre-Reinforced Injection Moulding 

Materials for Practical Use in the Automotive Industry” 

(NFC-Simulation) was created. 

Besides others, two main aspects of the simulation are 

the prediction of the fibre orientation and the final fibre 

morphology (fibre length and width) in the component 

part. The fibre orientation and fibre morphology influence 

the mechanical properties of the component. For the 

analyses of the fibre orientation and fibre morphology in a 

component, plates were injection moulded with 30 mass% 

sisal/PP. Sisal fibres are leaf fibres from the plant Agave 

sisalana P.. The fibre morphology was determined before 

compounding, after compounding and after injection 

moulding via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and via 

FibreShape 5.1.1 (IST AG, Vilters, Switzerland), an image 

analysis software. The SEM pictures show that the sisal 

fibre bundles split and break during compounding (figure 1). 

In figure 2, it is shown that the length is significantly reduced 

during compounding, while no further reduction could 

be observed during injection moulding. The simulation 

also showed correlating results: no fibre breakage during 

injection moulding [2]. 

For the fibre orientation measurements, the µ-CT analysis 

was found to be the most promising experimental method 

to validate the fibre orientation results of the injection 

moulding simulation [3]. The fibre orientation results of the 

µ-CT analysis showed good correlation with the injection 

moulding simulation via Cadmould at different measuring 

points on the injection moulded plate (see figure 3). 

Finally, glove boxes of the Ford B-Max (figure 4) 

were injection moulded by IAC Group and crash tests 

were performed experimentally and simulatively. The 

experiments and crash simulation correlated well [4,5]. 

A first closed development cycle for a sisal-reinforced 

component could be realised from the process simulation, 

over the component manufacturing and component test to 

the crash-simulation in the project NFC-Simulation. 



By: 

Katharina Albrecht, HSB – City University of Applied Sciences Bremen, Germany 

Tim Osswald, University of Wisconsin - Madison, USA 

Erwin Baur, M-Base Engineering + Software GmbH, Aachen, Germany 

Maira Magnani, Ford Forschungszentrum Aachen, Aachen, Germany 

Jörg Müssig, HSB – City University of Applied Sciences Bremen, Germany 

Natural fibres used to reinforce polymers in the automotive 

industry instead of glass fibres can provide the advantage 

of reduced carbon footprints [6]. The implementation of 

material models of NF-reinforced polymers in software 

programs opens the market for sustainable, bio-based 

compounds in various automotive components. 

References 

[1] Prömper E. (2010): Natural Fibre-Reinforced Polymers in Automotive 

Interior Applications. In: Müssig J., (editor): Industrial application of 

natural fibres: Structures, properties and technical applications. Ed. 

John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2010, 423-437. 

[2] Albrecht, K., Osswald, T., Baur, E., Meier, T., Wartzack, S. & Müssig, 

J. (2018): Fibre length reduction in natural fibre-reinforced polymers 

during compounding and injection moulding - Experiments versus 

numerical prediction of fibre breakage. Journal of Composites Science 

2, 20. 

[3] Albrecht, K., Baur, E., Endres, H.-J., Gente, R., Graupner, N., Koch, M., 

Neudecker, M., Osswald, T., Schmidtke, P., Wartzack, S., Webelhaus, K. 

& Müssig, J. (2017): Measuring fibre orientation in sisal fibre-reinforced, 

injection moulded polypropylene - Pros and cons of the experimental 

methods to validate injection moulding simulation. Composites Part A: 

Applied Science and Manufacturing 95, 54–64. 

[4] Ford Forschungszentrum Aachen GmbH, IAC Group GmbH, 

LyondellBasell, Kunststoffwerk Voerde, Simcon Kunststofftechnische 

Software GmbH, M-Base Engineering und Software GmbH, 

Hochschule Hannover, Hochschule Bremen, TU Clausthal, Fraunhofer 

LBF, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2014): Werkstoff- und 

Fließmodelle für naturfaserverstärkte Spritzgießmaterialien für den 

praktischen Einsatz in der Automobilindustrie. Final report of the 

project “NFC-Simulation”, 2014. < http://www.fnr-server.de/ftp/pdf/ 

berichte/22005511.pdf > (2018-04-27). – in German 

[5] Franzen, M., Magnani, M. & T. Baranowski (2014): Advanced Crash 

Simulation of Natural Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics with MF- 

GenYld+CrachFEM. 3rd MATFEM Conference, 21st October 2014 Schloss 

Hohenkammer, Hohenkammer, DE. 

[6] Markarian J. (2015): Renewable reinforcements hit the road. 

Compounding World 2015, Vol. March 2015, 57-64. 

www.bionik-bremen.de 

Figure 3: Comparison of results of the µ-CT 

measurements and the IM simulation determing 

the fibre orientation at six measuring points in 

the IM plate. Left: Main fibre orientation angles 

in the shell layer. Right: Main fibre orientation 

angles in the core layer. Positions without any bar 

refer to an angle of 0°. Results are shown in a 

mathematical positive sense. [3] 

The project NFC-Simulation was funded by the German 

Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer 

Protection (BMELV) through the Fachagentur 

Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR, Gülzow, Germany). 

Project partners were: Ford Forschungszentrum 

Aachen GmbH, Aachen, DE; IAC (International Automotive 

Components), Ebersberg, DE; LyondellBasell, 

Frankfurt, Germany; Kunststoffwerk Voerde Hueck & 

Schade GmbH & Co. KG, Ennepetal, DE; Simcon Kunststofftechnische 

Software GmbH, Würselen, DE; M-Base 

Engineering + Software GmbH, Aachen, DE; University 

of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA; University of 

Applied Sciences and Arts Hannover, IfBB (Institute for 

Bioplastics and Biocomposites), Hannover, DE; HSB - 

City University of Applied Sciences Bremen, Bremen, 

De; Clausthal University of Technology, Institute of Polymer 

Materials and Plastic Engineering, Clausthal, 

DE, and Fraunhofer LBF, Darmstadt, DE. 

Figure 4: Injection moulded glove box with 30 % 

sisal/PP. [4] (Foto: Frank Schumann, IAC) 



Biobased masterbatches for 

PLA, PBS and biobased blends 

Sukano AG (Schindellegi, Switzerland) is proud to 

have embarked on the bioplastics journey over a 

decade ago (cf. p. 51). By leveraging their expertise, 

focus and dedication in conventional polyester plastics to 

bioplastics, their biobased masterbatches portfolio has 

grown significantly with a product range for any kind of 

PLA, as well as PBS and bio PET. 

Today the spotlight is on what PBS based masterbatches 

can do to strengthen this revolutionary resin and its 

blends, mainly with PLA, with its two-fold bio properties. 

Being essentially biobased, bio-PBS resin and 

masterbatches are also biodegradable and compostable. 

Sukano tailor-made bio-PBS masterbatches are easily 

compounded with another bioplastic material. They 

provide a drop-in type of masterbatch to be added to 

the resin, and require no process changes, nor new 

machinery machinery to achieve great results according to 

customer’s manufacturing needs at the same throughput 

as comparable conventional plastics. 

Bio-PBS is a resin that needs bio-PBS based 

masterbatches, highly compatible to this polymer, 

to support its material environmental friendly, food 

compliant, printability and heat resistance properties. 

To achieve the best benefits from this choice, the 

masterbatches are also formulated for biobased content 

with cradle-to-cradle biopolymer and ingredients. 

Knowing that Bio- PBS is naturally compostable at 30 °C 

into H 2 

O, CO 2 

and biomass either in a composting facility 

or at home, Sukano developed three main product grades 

to enhance the final product even further. This enables it to 

finally replace several flexible packaging structures out in 

the market while still complying with the biodegradability 

regulations. Sukano’s masterbatches are designed to 

maintain the main resin characteristics, and therefore to 

be disposed of along with organic waste. 

The array of applications and assessments made 

by their experts indicate that Sukano’s masterbatches 

support applications that can be used for food contact at 

up to 100 °C. This high service temperature performance 

means it is suitability for hot beverages, boxes and utensils 

for freshly cooked food and food containers. 

The modified resin with Sukano’s masterbatches 

achieves its heat seal performance at the same level of 

sealability properties as fossil-based polymers. 

These characteristics, in addition to potential blends, 

means that bio-PBS can be also targeted for key end 

applications such as paper coatings, single use food 

service and flexible packaging. 

Paper cups are among the main target of PBS and PLA 

resins or blends as replacements for PE coatings. This 


By: 

Alessandra Funcia 

Head of Sales and Marketing 

Sukano AG 

Schindellegi, Switzerland 

application is certainly one of the most commonly misunderstood when it 

comes to its compostability claim. 

Today, many paper cups are still laminated with conventional plastics to 

prevent liquid from leaking out or soaking the paper, ultimately causing the 

cup to collapse. This thin fossil-based plastic coating negatively impacts 

the biodegradation process of the paper, making it almost impossible to 

biodegrade, especially when both sides of the cup are coated. 

However, using Bio-PBS or PLA coated paper cups makes them indeed 

compostable. Additionally, the bio-PBS masterbatches added to the bio- 

PBS paper cups or heat stable PLA means the cups can still be filled with 

hot and cold beverages, and consumers can safely enjoy their drinks in an 

environmentally improved product type. 

Other applications where the use of highly compatible masterbatches 

enable bio-PBS and its blends to outperform conventional plastics is in the 

injection molding process for food service applications. 

The blended products achieve improved mechanical properties, such 

as impact strength, in addition to higher service temperatures, keeping 

dimensional stability at desired levels, allowing the material to flow smoothly, 

the parts to be molded properly and at industrial yields needed, while still 

being compostable. 

What’s more, the greatest breakthrough where Sukano biobased 

masterbatches in PBS and PLA are present is in flexible packaging. 

A typical flexible packaging is based on dry lamination of many layers, 

where each layer has a predefined role of its own. Sukano masterbatches 

based in PBS and PLA are used in combination with bio-PBS and special 

grades of neat PLA, creating a combination of resins that have a compostable 

sealing performance compared to other bioplastics, yet still provide a higher 

gas barrier than low density PE, and retain the aroma of the packaged 

product longer. Sukano masterbatches do not interfere in the packaging 

transparency, thus allowing the product to be seen so it can display its 

appetite appeal on the shelves naturally. 

The flexible packaging structures can be used for dry, baked and frozen 

food, fruits and vegetables. Sukano masterbatches enable flexible packaging 

structures to remain recyclable, compostable and be produced using less 

conventional plastic. 

The circular economy concept indicates the design phase for new 

packaging as the key disruptive point for higher environmental credentials 

of packaging. Flexible package is in the top of the list of targeted packaging 

where urgent improvements are required. 

Sukano masterbatches enable creative and functional changes for the 

flexible packaging market, protecting food from wastage, being compostable, 

transparent and using less plastic – and all able to be processed on existing 

industrial manufacturing lines. 

www.sukano.com 

EMERY 

OLEOCHEMICALS – 

THE FIRST CHOICE 

IN SUSTAINABLE 

POLYMER ADDITIVES. 

LUBRICANTS 

RELEASE AGENTS 

SPECIAL PLASTICIZERS 

SURFACE FINISH AGENTS 

VISCOSITY REGULATORS 

CREATING VALUE 

www.emeryoleo.com 



Biobased additives 

that enhance polymer processing and improve end product quality 

With more than 60 years of experience delivering 

high-performance, natural-based products to the 

plastics industry, Emery Oleochemicals GmbH 

(Düsseldorf, Germany; headquartered in Telok Panglima 

Garang, Malaysia) is well-positioned to offer natural-based 

polymer additives, especially lubricants, plasticizers and 

surface finish agents to companies in the plastics industry 

that are seeking more sustainable products. 

Why Green Polymer Additives? 

Due to the plastics industry’s heightened interest in 

sustainability, Emery Oleochemicals is also constantly 

refining its Green Polymer Additives product portfolio to 

exceed the increasingly stringent standards and regulations. 

From the very beginning, when the LOXIOL ® brand was 

first introduced in 1957, Emery’s experienced product 

development teams around the globe have concentrated on 

creating specialized additives through the use of renewable 

biobased raw materials from natural fats and oils. 

Lubricants for Optimal Processability 

Loxiol lubricants from Emery Oleochemicals are 

compatible with various stabilizers and are mainly based on 

renewable raw materials. Loxiol G 59 improves the material 

flow during extrusion and reduces the melt viscosity. It 

has food contact approval and is suitable for transparent 

applications. It is compatible with several polymers and it 

reduces the formation of deposits (blooming) on the final 

article as well as on the machines (plate out), and thereby, it 

increases the productivity. 

Loxiol G 24 is an external lubricant and release agent 

that is based on 100 % renewable resources. It can replace 

paraffin and Fischer-Tropsch waxes. 

Sustainable Additives for C-PVC 

It is well known in the plastics industry that the processing 

behavior of C-PVC is significantly different from that of PVC. 

To meet these unique application requirements, Emery 

Oleochemicals’ latest technical developments include 

tailored ester lubricants for processing of chlorinated PVC 

(C-PVC). Advantages of Emery’s new lubricants are, among 

others, a biobased-feedstock, a minor influence on the Vicat 

softening point and a defined chemical structure similar to 

the often used paraffin waxes. These lubricants also enable 

an exact adjustment of the processing window. In addition, 

Emery’s most recent product developments include food 

contact compliant additives that adhere to the respective 

regulations in all major regions worldwide. 

Customized Solutions to Meet Today’s 

Challenging Applications 

In addition to a broad portfolio of established products, 

Emery Oleochemicals offers customized products that 

are not only eco-friendly, but also tailored to the desired 

performance specifications. as well as economically 

viable,” emphasizes Dr. Harald Klein, Global Platform Head 

of Emery Oleochemicals’ Green Polymer Additives business 

unit. 

In addition to a broad portfolio of established products, 

Emery Oleochemicals offers customized solutions tailored 

to special requirements. “Today, it is not enough to provide 

standardized products. Plastics manufacturers require 

additives that are not only eco-friendly, but also customized 

to their performance specifications as well as economically 

viable,” emphasizes Dr. Harald Klein, Global Platform Head 

of Emery Oleochemicals’ Green Polymer Additives business 

unit. 

Emery Oleochemicals’ global operations are supported 

by a diverse workforce and an extensive global distribution 

network covering over 50 countries worldwide. MT 

http://greenpolymeradditives.emeryoleo.com/additives/ 



Renewable, 

sustainable 

mineral 

By: 

Jeff Apisdorf 

President 

MultiPlast Systems, Inc. 

Solon, Ohio, USA 

Multiplast Systems, Inc. (Solon, Ohio) recently introduced 

a range of masterbatches made with RenewCal, a 

renewable biogenic, highly purified oolitic aragonite 

(calcium carbonate). This unique mineral has physical and 

environmental characteristics unlike all other mined alternatives. 

Compatible with a wide range of resins, including biobased 

resins, RenewCal masterbatches offer a wide range of 

benefits including performance, economics, environmental 

and degrading in both flexible and rigid products. 

Sourced in their 500 square mile lease on the Bahama 

Banks, this unique crystalline formed mineral is replenished 

by approximately 900,000 tonnes per year. Current supply of 

this accumulated material is over 2 billion tonnes. The natural 

biogenic process is based on a confluence of factors, including 

ocean currents, sea-floor topography, and the natural 

presence of picoplankton stimulated by photosynthesis, which 

cause these microscopic organic organisms to combine 

atmospheric carbon dioxide with pure calcium in the water, to 

form oolitic aragonite. These oolites then precipitate as very 

pure grains of calcium carbonate, which settle on the ocean 

floor. This continuing natural mineralization process is also, 

at the same time, sequestering 5,680 tonnes of CO 2 

from 

the atmosphere. Unlike mined minerals which vary based 

on the range of sources, RenewCal is very consistent. as it is 

produced from the same source under the same conditions. 

Harvested with minimal environmental impact, RenewCal 

is proven to be carbon minimal to negative, renewable and 

sustainable. Environmental benefits include replacing fossil 

fuel-based resins, lowering carbon footprint compared to 

mined minerals, and producing finished products with a 

higher degree of renewable content. 

Benefits of improved degradability/compostability are due to 

RenewCal’s ability of high Ph buffer against acids, for higher 

loadings and for greater mineral surface area, which all speed 

up the degradation process. 

Benefits in production, performance, and economics are 

due to its unique crystalline needle like particle shape, high 

zeta potential (improved dispersion), ability to load high 

percentages depending on the application and cost reduction 

by replacing more expensive resins. Improved barrier 

characteristics and heat deflection are achieved by its high 

aspect ratio, crystalline particle shape and high loading thus 

producing a greater tortuous path. 

RenewCal masterbatches are FDA compliant for food 

packaging, come in a range of carriers and can have mineral 

content up to 80 %. 

Typical applications are flexible film, thermoformed 

sheeting, blown and injection molding, synthetic paper and 

extrusion coatings. 

www.multiplastsystems.com 

COMPEO 

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 

Leading compounding technology 

for heat- and shear-sensitive plastics 



Biobased wax 

additives 

Clariant adds high-performing 

solutions based on non-food 

competing biomass to its broad 

portfolio of waxes for bio- and 

conventional plastics applications. 

External Lubrication: Polyamide 6 (PA 6) 

Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals and 

recognized as one of the most sustainable chemical 

companies in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, 

is introducing a family of high-performance waxes 

based on renewable feedstock: Licocare ® RBW. These 

multi-purpose additives are based on crude rice bran 

wax. This is a non-food-competing by-product from the 

production of rice bran oil. Clariant chemically and physically 

upgrades this non-edible component of the oil and 

thus contributes to using the rice bran’s full value. The 

main target applications for Licocare RBW are engineering 

thermoplastics such as polyamides, polyesters or 

TPU, biopolymers like PLA, and epoxy resins. They offer 

benefits to resin manufacturers, Masterbatch producers, 

compounders or plastics convertors. Clariant’s innovative 

solutions can also be used for other applications, 

such as agriculture, coatings, home and personal care. 

By: 

Manuel Bröhmer 

Product Manager 

Clariant Plastics & Coatings (D) GmbH 

Gersthofen, Germany 

Release force [N] 

Spiral length [cm] 

520 — 

500 — 

480 — 

460 — 

440 — 

420 — 

46 — 

45 — 

44 — 

43 — 

42 — 

41 — 

40 — 

Without 

Lubricant 

Without 

Lubricant 

Licocare 

RBW 300 

Licocare 

RBW 102 

Standard 

Montan wax 

Polymer: Durethan B 29, Dosage: 0,3% 

Flow Improvement: Polyamide 6 (PA 6) 

Licocare 

RBW 300 

Licocare 

RBW 102 

Standard 

Montan wax 

Standard 

PETS 

Standard 

PETS 

Formulation for the test; Polymer: Durethan B 29, Dosage of test product: 0,3% 

Application tests by Clariant show that Licocare RBW 

solutions achieve higher performance levels compared 

to alternative solutions on the market. The major two 

grades for plastics applications, Licocare RBW 300 TP and 

Licocare RBW 102 TP, fulfil numerous highly demanding 

requirements set for example by the transportation and 

electrical and electronic industries. Licocare RBW 300 

TP is a highly thermostable, partially saponified wax, 

Licocare RBW 102 TP is a medium-polarity wax type. 

Clariant’s new solutions improve melt flow, lower the 

amount of force required to release parts from molds, 

ensure a more homogeneous distribution of pigments 

or fillers, and lead to less yellowing of final products. 

Furthermore, they offer outstanding processing stability, 

even at elevated temperatures, due to their superior 

thermal stability, very low volatility and low metal 

content. Ultimately, Licocare RBW benefits its customers 

by significant claims: improved shaping flexibility, better 

mechanical properties and improved surface finish. 

Reduced rejection rates and more effective dosage can 

positively impact the financial bottom line of Clariant’s 

and its customers’ customers. 

Clariant has launched its EcoTain ® -certified Licocare 

RBW solutions in Japan, China and the United States this 

year and is gradually introducing its sustainable product 

line for plastics in other markets. Clariant awards its 

EcoTain sustainable excellence label to products in its 

portfolio that provide sustainable benefits above market 

standard and therefore represent best-in-class solutions. 

“Sustainability has become a major focus in the plastics 

industry, driven by society’s growing environmental 

awareness and consumers’ demand for more sustainable 

plastics”, says Manuel Mueller, Global Head of Market 

Segment Plastics in Business Line Advanced Surface 

Solutions at Clariant. “To improve the eco-friendliness and 

to boost their product performance, plastics companies 

are increasingly making use of renewable raw materials 

such as bio-polymers and bio-additives. Our Licocare RBW 

solutions support this development at the forefront.” MT 

www.clariant.com 



Bio-Masterbatches with 

ecofriendly, mineral pigments 

Bio-masterbatches from Albrecht Dinkelaker, Polymer- 

und Produktentwicklung (Zell im Wiesental, 

Germany) are made with the compostable, waterproof 

carrier material Caprowax P. They are suitable for use as 

universal colourants of bioplastics, blends and biocomposites, 

such as 

• PLA, PBS, PHA, PCL, Caprowax P-blends 

• Polysaccharides and derivates, PVAc/bioplastic-blends, 

• bio-NFC, bio-WPC, PVOH, bio-UPR, bio-TPE and NIPU 

(Non-isocyanate polyurethane) 

The pigments added to the Caprowax P base carrier 

are non-toxic minerals comparable to naturally occurring 

inorganic pigments, such as oxides, ultramarines, silicates, 

pyrophosphates, natural carbonates and vegetable carbon. 

These bio-masterbatches enable bioplastics to be dyed 

according to the specifications of DIN EN 13432. They are 

water insoluble, already mineralised and yield colours 

ranging from light pastel shades to strong, natural hues. 

The carrier material - Caprowax P - is a mixture of a 

compostable polyester and modified, GMO-free plant oils, 

tested and approved by MFPA (Materialforschungs- und 

-prüfanstalt, University Weimar, Germany). It is compliant 

with the criteria of DIN EN 13432. The material has 

been comprehensively tested by MFPA, to evaluate its 

disintegration at bench scale and the quality of the compost, 

including its ecotoxicological harmless state (MFPA - Test 

certificate: P31029-05). 

Albrecht Dinkelaker’s bio-masterbatches are compatible 

with many different bioplastics in a wide range of 

thermoplastic processing technologies: 

• Injection moulding, thermoforming, blow moulding, 

compression moulding 

• fibres, mono- and multifilaments, sheets, foils, films, 

foams, 

• hotmelt, NF-biocomposites 

• and much more … 

These masterbatches can be supplied in opaque or 

translucent colours, while achromatic and pearlescent 

effects are also possible. Step by step, the palette of 

Caprowax P - bio-masterbatches will be expanded. This 

includes ecofriendly, calcined Kaolin as white pigment. 

Interested customers can ask for up to 4 free 50 g 

samples. Commercial quantities are available in 80 – 500 kg 

batches. Samples of laboratory prototypes with brightening 

Kaolin or pearlescent pigments are also available. 

The mineral color pigments used in Caprowax P are 

harmless, lightfast, non-migratory, thermally stable, water 

insoluble and comparable with natural, mineral pigments. 

They are - in a range of 15 – 40% - low-dusty incorporated in 

the compostable carrier material and already mineralised. 

Pigments and carrier material are free of aromatics and 

toxic heavy metals. 

For the most part, they are free of nitrogenous substances. 

The renewable, modified plant oil is GMO-free and presents 

no competition to food and feed. 

Bio-masterbatches can be processed at temperatures 

from 90 to 200 °C, and for a short time up 220 °C. Different 

bioplastics can be coloured with masterbatches in a range 

of 0,5 – 6 %. In colored final products separate, mineralic 

components are ≤1% . MT 

www.caprowax-p.eu 


Chinaplas-Review 

Chinaplas 2018 

The rainy weather in Shanghai seemed not to have affected 

the number of visits to Chinaplas 2018 which was 

moved to the National Exhibition and Convention Centre, 

Hongqiao, Shanghai for the first time. 

The National Exhibition and Convention Centre is located 

about 1.5 km from Hongqiao Airport and 60 km from Pudong 

Airport. It is close to the Hongqiao highspeed train HUB, just a 

10 minutes walk away. Metro lines 2, 17 and 23 stop there, and 

were highly suggested as they are the most convenient way 

to get to Chinaplas 2018 because of the heavy street traffic in 

Shanghai. 

The design of National Exhibition and Convention Centre 

is like a Shamrock grass leaf with three office buildings and 

a 5 star hotel at the four leaf tips. The complex offers over 

400,000 m² indoor exhibition space including 13 halls with 

28,800 m² each and 3 halls with 10,00 m² each. An additional 

100,000 m² outdoor exhibition space completes the centre. 

From 24 th April to 27 th April 2018, Chinaplas saw a record 

breaking attendance of 180,701 visitors which shows a 21.6 % 

increase compared to 2016 and 16.4 % compared to 2017. On 

the second day alone Chinaplas had 64,385 visitors, which is as 

many as NPE (Orlando/USA) two weeks later saw over 5 days. 

At Chinaplas 2018, two new special zones, 3D technology 

zone and TPE rubber zone were introduced in addition to the 

existing 16 zones. 

In the Bioplastics zone a total of 38 exhibitors, consisting of 

resins manufacturers, compounders and products converters 

showed their products and services. 

bioplastics MAGAZINE talked with most of the Chinese 

exhibitors and found that the local market accounts only for 

less than 10 % of their total sales volume. Insider pointed 

out that a lack of an efficient waste classification system and 

missing anaerobic organic waste biodegradation systems 

result in a lack of value for biodegradable products in a circular 

economic system. 

According to China Bioplastics Alliance, a first breakthrough 

for biodegradable plastics applications would be agricultural 

mulch films. Although according to the latest legalization 

the use of any plastic mulch film less than 12 µm thickness 

is forbidden, so that farmers can re-collect PE mulch film 

after harvest. However, according to local experts, the Chinese 

government is well aware about the comparative advantages 

of biodegradable mulch films. Every province has accumulated 

biodegradable mulch film trial data over the last 10 years. There 

seem to be no functional issues. The biggest obstacle seems 

to be the cost factor. China Bioplastics Alliance are studying 

different ways to reduce cost to an acceptable level including 

building a large scale factory in Northwest China where natural 

gas is available to produce BDO and subsequently PBAT. 

One of the most interesting visitors at the booth of bioplastics 

MAGAZINE was a company from Tibet. They have been involved 

in water treatment in Tibet and are now looking for a partner 

to introduce anaerobic organic waste digestion systems to 

Tibet. They claimed that Tibet may be the most suitable place 

to adopt anaerobic digestion of organic waste because of the 

following reasons: 

Tibet’s regional spirit is back to nature. According to the 

Tibetan faith, celestial burial is performed by letting animals 

eat dead bodies. 

Tibetan people incinerate combustible waste for heating 

purposes in winter. Therefore their concept of waste 

classification is much better than in most parts of the People’s 

Republic of China. 

Tibet is a minority area. It is therefore expected that 

government will spend much more resources in environmental 

protection. 

www.chinaplasonline.com 

By: 

John Leung, Biosolutions 


Automotive 

Back in 1989, we had a big, crazy idea. 

What if we could turn greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into 

products? It took a lot of research and some real innovation, but 

today Ingeo is valued for its unique properties and found in 

products from coffee capsules to nonwovens to appliances. 

natureworksllc.com | 

@natureworks 

Join us at Innovation Takes Root to learn more. 

The NatureWorks Advanced Biomaterials Forum | September 10 -12 

Rancho Bernardo Inn | San Diego, California USA 

innovationtakesroot.com | #ITR2018 


Application AutomotiveNews 

Chocomel to opt for innovative packaging of 

more than 80 % plant-based materials 

Sustainable production 

is high on the agenda 

at FrieslandCampina 

(Amersfoort. The Netherlands) 

as sustainable 

leader in the dairy sector. 

For the long-keeping 

variety of their brand 

Chocomel, the company 

is now the first food 

producer in the world to 

opt for a new, innovative 

cardboard liter pack. One 

that is for more than 80 

% made of raw materials 

that come from plants, 

with wood and sugar cane 

as parent materials. The 

new packaging has been 

available in stores in the 

Netherlands since end of 

May 2018. 

The new packaging of the sustainable varieties of Chocomel 

is from more than 80 % made of plant-based materials. In 

addition to the cardboard, which is produced from wood that 

is 100 % sourced from FSC-certified forests, the plastic cap 

and the outer plastic layer of the iconic yellow-colored suit 

are now made from plants. It concerns the part of the plant 

that remains after the part that is suitable for food has been 

taken out. The exact plastic material was not disclosed, but 

presumably it is Braskem’s bio-PE. The processing of this 

material for the packaging of Chocomel is therefore not at 

the expense of food. On an annual basis, about 40 million 

packages are involved. 

By crossing the 80 % limit FrieslandCampina reaches 

the threshold for the highest possible, 4-star certificate, 

‘Ok Biobased’. This is issued by the worldwide accredited 

inspection and certification organisation TÜV Austria 

(formerly Vinçotte). Compared with the previous packaging, 

the new Chocomel pack yields a CO 2 

saving of 17 %, 

according to the independent Swedish environmental 

research institute IVL. 

The choice for this innovative packaging is completely 

in line with FrieslandCampina’s strategy, route2020, and 

purpose, Nourishing by nature, which stands for better 

nutrition for consumers in the world, good income for the 

farmers, now and in the future. To achieve climate-neutral 

growth, FrieslandCampina is working on an efficient and 

sustainable production chain. In line with Sustainable 

Development Goal 12 of the United Nations, Sustainable 

consumption and production (SDG 12), the company aims to 

use only agricultural raw materials and paper packaging in 

2020, from fully sustainably managed sources.” MT 

www.frieslandcampina.com 

WPC posts for electric fences 

Green Dot Bioplastics (Emporia, Kansas, USA) developed 

a wood-plastic composite for Kencove’s PasturePro Posts 

for electric fences that is stronger, lasts longer and is easier 

to use compared to conventional solutions. 

It’s organic certifed and ready for long-term use. 

Kencove Farm Fence Supplies is a US-nationwide 

manufacturer and distributor of electric fence supplies 

for animal containment and exclusion. They manufacture 

electric fencing materials such as posts, wire and energizers 

and serve large farming operations as well as personal 

backyard farms — anyone who needs animal containment 

and protection solutions. The 

company carries electric fencing 

supplies for chickens, horses, 

cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and 

more. 

The material for the PasturePro 

Posts had to balance: 

Dielectric properties, tensile 

strength, memory capability, 

durability, aesthetics, flexibility, 

UV properties, and recyclability. 

Determining a formulation that met all these requirements 

as well as the cost target was challenging. As such, Green 

Forest Composites, the original manufacturer of PasturePro 

Posts, reached out to Green Dot Bioplastics. 

Green Dot Bioplastics worked to run multiple trial 

productions with various combinations of polypropylene (PP) 

grades and wood, as well as various processing conditions. 

Wood fiber was used to add strength and lighten the 

weight of the posts. There was a wide range of wood species 

to pick from, including oak, pine and maple that came in 

various particle sizes. Choosing the correct one was critical 

since its properties would affect the manufacturing process. 

There were several manufacturing challenges associated 

with the PasturePro Posts. In the early 2000s, the orientation 

of wood-plastic composites was a newly patented process 

and everything from speed, length of the line, heating, 

cooling and die sizes were constantly being adjusted. After 

carefully consulting with Green Forest Composites, Green 

Dot Bioplastics was able to pinpoint a consistent wood pellet 

that could function within the formulation. MT 

www.greendotbioplastics.com 

www.kencove.com 


Application Automotive News 

New generation of coffee capsules 

Flo, a major European food packaging producer from Parma, Italy, recently 

introduced Gea, the first coffee capsule in the world that combines compostability, 

oxygen barrier, and an improved taste and aroma experience for the consumer. The 

capsule was created in partnership with NatureWorks and is the result of a two-year 

joint development process that created a compostable capsule aimed to deliver on 

the high-performance requirements of the most demanding roasters. 

“Gea represents a new generation of capsules, designed to meet the needs of 

coffee roasters and coffee lovers, but also to address environmental issues related 

to the management of waste,” says Erika Simonazzi, marketing director of Flo. “As 

food packaging producers, we are very careful to study the right materials for their 

use, based on environmental requirements and the dictates of the new rules of the 

circular economy.” 

Gea is entirely composed of Ingeo PLA, which is certified for industrial composting systems according to global standards 

such as EN-13432 (EU) and ASTM D6400-04 (USA). The new capsule technology platform is fully approved for food contact and 

is now in final testing by TÜV Austria and the Italian Composting and Biogas Association (CIC) for compostability certification. 

“A fully compostable capsule provides an elegant and simple system for delivering the valuable used coffee grounds to 

industrial compost,” said Steve Davies, commercial director, NatureWorks Performance Packaging. “Thanks to the collaboration 

with Flo and their unique capability and dedication to developing improved packaging technologies, we are proud to support the 

commercialization of the first compostable coffee capsule made from 100 % Ingeo. The results demonstrate that delivering a 

superior taste and brewing experience to the consumer does not have to sacrifice sustainability.” 

Compared to compostable capsules currently on the market, the new Gea capsules address market requests for material 

ageing stability in an industrially compostable format. “Being able to count on a capsule that does not show signs of ageing in 

a few months, but is shelf stable for years, is a huge value for coffee roasters,” explains Erika Simonazzi. “Roasters should be 

focused on their coffee, not the packaging it is packed in. NatureWorks’ unique analytical and engineering capabilities together 

with Flo’s know-how in thermoforming technology, were critical to developing this solution.” 

Gea capsules also are an excellent barrier to oxygen, which protects the organoleptic qualities of the packaged coffee. The 

taste and aroma of the coffee are preserved, satisfying the needs of coffee roasters while ensuring an enhanced brewing 

experience for consumers. 

Initially targeting the demanding requirements of high pressure, single serve coffee systems, the Gea capsules have 

successfully passed the industrialization and filling tests at Flo’s major partner coffee roasters and will be available on the 

market starting in October 2018.” MT 

www.flo.eu | www.natureworksllc.com 

(Photo: The Guardian / Shutterstock) 

Arla introduce mass-balance based bio-packaging 

Arla Foods Germany (Düsseldorf) is the first company to opt for the innovative SIGNATURE PACK from SIG Combibloc 

(Neuhausen, Switzerland) – the world’s first aseptic carton pack that is 100% linked to plant-based renewable material. 

Signature pack cartons are made from 77% paper board from wood and 23% plant-based polymers through mass balancing. This 

means that for the polymers used in the packaging, an equivalent amount of biobased feedstock went into the manufacturing of 

(other) polymers ofthe supplier. To ensure the integrity of this process, the mass balancing is certified through recognised and 

audited certification schemes (ISCC PLUS and TÜV SÜD CMS71). Arla now offers its 1 litre 1.5% and 3.8% organic milk (Arla ® 

BIO Weidemilch) in the Signature pack. 

By choosing the innovative Signature pack, Arla is demonstrating its commitment to sustainability as it strives to increase 

the market share of its organic dairy products. Arla’s organic milk cartons now carry a clear message to consumers: buying 

this pack promotes the use of renewable raw materials to protect fossil resources while making a positive impact in reducing 

the CO 2 

level compared with a standard carton pack. 

Elise Bijkerk, Marketing Director at Arla Foods Germany said: “The Signature pack 

is a great match for our BIO Weidemilch. Consumers that choose for our pure Arla BIO 

Weidemilch also have an increasingly strong interest in sustainable packaging. With 

the value-added pack from SIG, we can demonstrate our commitment to transparency 

and our holistic approach to sustainability across the value chain. We are happy to be 

the first company to use Signature pack and to be able to offer consumers in Germany 

this solution.” 

www.signature-pack.com 


Report 

PHBV from waste water 

Phario: an opportunity for the polymer market 

Save the date 

see page 10-11 for details 

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a well-known family of biodegradable 

bioplastics. One in particular is PHBV, a less 

crystalline and amorphous rubbery material with unique 

properties. A Dutch consortium with -surprisingly- regional 

water authorities has committed to investing in a PHBV demonstration 

project called PHARIO in 2019. It is an open invitation 

to the polymer industry to co-invest in the development of 

this promising, biodegradable value chain. 

PHARIO 

A group of five Dutch water authorities, responsible for 

processing wastewater into clean water and protection of 

shores against rising water levels, form a core development 

group called Phario. This group assisted with its sectoral 

innovation institute, technology providers and two sludge 

incinerators. During a 10-month pilot, they achieved an 

excellent PHBV quality and business case, producing PHBV 

(up to 40% HV) from municipal sludge and waste fatty acids 

and successfully testing applications. 

Etteke Wypkema, innovation manager of Phario explains 

the concept: ‘The processes required for purifying sewage 

water already appear to breed the right bacteria for making 

PHA bioplastic. For the bacteria, this plastic is a form of 

energy reserve; if you offer them enough food under the right 

conditions (fatty acids), they produce this plastic, up to 50 % 

of their own weight. This plastic has very beneficial thermal 

and mechanical properties that make it usable for all kinds of 

applications. It is also biodegradable, and, most importantly: 

globally scalable, as the approach fits most conventional 

wastewater treatment plants (WWTP).’ 

Promising results from the pilot stage 

Mid 2016 the project concluded in a public report [1] that 

the harvested activated sludge can consistently produce a 

high quality PHA/PHBV polymer that has interesting and 

meaningful application potentials and a sound business case. 

The polymer produced showed a 70% lower environmental 

impact compared to currently available PHA bioplastic and 

other benefits (non-GMO and no competition with food and 

feed nor land use). 

“The project showed that a high quality 

PHBV can be produced for less than EUR 

3.50 per kg on a 5,000 ton/year scale. 

Further cost reductions are possible, we 

need industrial participation”, says Mr. 

Martijn Bovee, business developer. 

Road to demonstration phase in 2019: open to 

partners 

Within the Phario project a large set of material data 

(thermal, mechanical) was generated, that made it possible 

for investors and end-users to evaluate the potential of 

the material. Now, higher volumes are needed. Pilot scale 

application tests are the key to commercialization. 

Various European compounders and end-users have shown 

their interest in Phario. Especially the content of up to 40% 

HV (amorphous, high polymer weight) and its ability to steer 

mechanical and thermal properties are key benefits. For this 

reason, Phario consortium will scale up to demonstration 

phase in 2019 with a larger role for the private sector. The 

project will cost approx. 5.5 million euro. Private sector 

involvement and EU-subsidies are expected to reduce net 

costs. During the project a few thousands of kilogrammes 

PHA/PHBV will be produced and evaluated to verify more 

extensively with application partners. The results of these 

tests will form the guarantees for the next development 

stage: a commercial reference facility with approx. 5,000 ton/ 

year capacity [1]. 

“Phario really combines ‘doing good’ with 

‘doing well’: it is beneficial to the water 

authorities, the industry and the environment”, 

says Mr. Berenst, executive of one of the Phario 

consortia members. 

Mr. Egbert Berenst, executive of Wetterskip Fryslân: 

“Our commitment is high. We believe we enable and boost 

biodegradable applications. It is one of the solutions to reduce 

the severe effects of micro plastics and plastic soup, and it 

is supportive to good governance and recycling as major 

solutions too. We also play another role in this market: 

we encourage all suppliers of biopolymers to supply biodegradable 

applications and solutions we can use in our 

water system. Phario really combines ‘doing good’ with ‘doing 

well’: we focus on both strong business and value cases.” 

www.phario.eu 

[1] Public report: https://tinyurl.com/phario 

Partners of PHARIO: 

Waterschap Brabantse Delta, Waterschap de Dommel, Wetterskip 

Fryslân, Waterschap Hollandse Delta, Waterschap Scheldestromen, 

HVC, SNB, STOWA, TUDelft, Wetsus, Paques, EFGF 


Report 

By: 

Martijn Bovée 

Business Developer 

Energie- & Grondstoffenfabriek 

Tiel, The Netherlands 

rethinking 

plastic 

PHARIO claims the following value proposition for 

applications: 

• High purity due to green solvent extraction 

• Design polymer: consistent quality and composition control options 

• Up to 40% HV content and high molecular weight (>1.000 kDA) 

• Lower melting points, amorphous 

• No use of raw materials and land; only waste/residues, non GMO 

• Cost competitive and 70% better LCA than classic PHA from monoculture 

Produced 

exclusively from 

pure plant-based, 

renewable 

resources! 

Figure 2: 1 kg of PHBV biopolymer from 

waste water 

Figure 3: Alternative to fishing lead 

Our premium range from 

renewable raw materials 

Figure 4: Festival tokens 

With Joma Nature® we offer a select 

range of our Spice Grinders and our 

Securibox® as an environmentally 

conscious alternative to conventional 

products – sustainable and CO 2- 

neutral. 

For our environment, we aim to 

protect our natural surroundings 

and secure a livable world for our 

children. 

www.joma.at 



The French project PolyOil2Industry aimed at the development 

of a new biobased polymer based on renewable 

polyol intermediates. This 4 year research project 

has recently been completed. It was an inspiring collaboration 

between several French industrial partners which finally 

resulted in new renewable building blocks. 

These green polyols needed to answer the current 

demand of the different markets with new technical 

performance. Three main areas of applications were 

targeted in the project: building, packaging and cosmetics 

with the respective companies Soprema, Vegeplast and 

Polymerexpert. The project partner ITERG as well as LCPO 

(the joint research unit of the University of Bordeaux, 

CNRS and Bordeaux National Polytechnic Institute) have 

first developed the building blocks and prepolymers on 

laboratory scale, answering the specifications for each of 

the targeted applications. Of the most promising building 

blocks, ITERG scaled up the different protocols. The biobased 

1,3-propanediol developed by Metabolic Explorer made it 

possible to synthesize 100% renewably sourced polyols. 

Oleon, also project leader, was in charge of the further 

upscaling to the final production on an industrial scale of 

the selected molecules after the technical screening in the 

different applications. 

Along with the project, the different partners have 

been supplied with several building blocks obtained from 

vegetable triglycerides (from high oleic sunflower oil to 

castor oil) for an extensive evaluation of the performance 

in the applications. One molecule per applications has been 

selected, namely, a polyester polyol derived from ricinoleic 

acid for use in insulating foam (building), a diol prepolymer 

as a precursor for gelling of an oil phase for cosmetic 

application and a polymer additive as impact modifier for 

poly-L-lactide (PLA) for packaging. 

At this stage, tests in real production conditions are still 

necessary in the case of insulating foams for construction, 

but the results so far are promissing. For the other 

applications, commercial development perspectives are 

quite achievable. The invention of the gelling agent has 

been secured by a patent and commercialisation is started. 

With respect to the polymer additive for packaging, a 

wide range of polyricinoleates have been tested in PLAblends. 

Toughness of the blends has been significantly 

improved, elongation at break reached values of 100%, with 

no decrease of the tensile maximum strength as shown in 

Fig. 1. The PLA impact resistance has been doubled thanks 

to the addition of 3 %wt of the polyricinoleate additive. This 

mayor improvement of the properties offers the possibility 

to inject new flexible and impact-resistant bioinspired 

packagings (tray, tops) based on PLA. 

The results of the project is therefore very satisfactory. 

Molecules from vegetable lipid resources can be just as 

powerful as petrochemical molecules. They give access 

to new performances and this thanks to environmentally 

friendly processes. 

Breaking 

barrier for 

clean 

& 

green 

BioPolyols 

Fig. 1: PLA-polymer dumbbell-shaped specimen after tensile 

testing, v = 5mm/min (top specimen: before testing, middle: PLA 

without polyricinoleate, bottom: PLA with 3% polyricinoleate) 

Fig.: 2: Examples of PLA packaging materials with polyricinoleate 

additive as impact modifier: 

www.oleon.com | www.iterg.com | www.lcpo.fr | www.soprema.fr | 

www.vegeplast.com | www.polymerexpert.fr | www.metabolic-explorer.com 


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Report 

Compostable sanitary napkins 

for India’s girls and women 

Menstruation, the most natural bio-physiological phenomenon 

in a woman’s life cycle, is considered dirty 

and impure throughout India. This is reflected in the 

way the entire concept of Menstrual Hygiene gets handled. 

The shame, the secrecy, lack of access to clean pads or 

toilet facilities further adds to the challenges. The implications 

are deeper and more pervasive than any statistic can 

attempt to portray. 

Issues such as lack of awareness, lack of access, and 

un-affordability force approximately 300 million women 

to rely on old rags, plastic, sand, and ash to address their 

sanitation needs during their menstrual cycle. 

The 12 % that do have access will throw away approximately 

433 million napkins every month (which equates to nearly 

150 kg of waste per woman/girl over her lifetime). Studies 

show that each sanitary pad could take 500-800 years to 

decompose. 

According to a report, it is estimated that these 433 

million pads annually generate a potential of 9,000 tonnes 

of sanitary waste in India. Furthermore, more than 80 % 

of this waste is either flushed down the toilet or ending up 

dumped in a landfill. Sanitary waste disposal is not merely 

a waste management issue, it’s a health and human rights 

issue that affects the entire country. As there is currently 

no standardized method of sustainable sanitary waste 

disposal, every menstrual product disposed contributes to 

either soil, air or water contamination. Any soiled sanitary 

products is a breeding ground for infections and diseases. 

Stagnant menstrual blood accumulates bacteria such as 

Escherichia coli, or E coli, which multiplies at an alarming 

rate. 

Through the Aakar Model, Aakar Innovations endeavour 

to break the silence around the issue of menstrual hygiene 

and provide knowledge and guidance to all stakeholders, 

especially adolescent girls. The idea is that something as 

natural as menstruation does not become a thing of shame, 

adolescent girls have access to pads, know how to use 

and dispose them, while the community and institutional 

systems are sensitised and support them in this process. 

Aakar is a hybrid social enterprise that enables women 

to produce and distribute affordable, high-quality, 100 % 

compostable sanitary napkins within their communities 

while simultaneously raising awareness and sensitization 

of menstrual hygiene management. In 2013, Aakar became 

India’s first company to launch a 100 % compostable 

sanitary pad under the brand name Anandi. 

To increase the efficiency of fluid (menstrual blood) 

absorption and make the pad thin, most of the sanitary 

napkins as produced by the MNCs (Multi National 

Companies) utilize gel-sheet of super absorbent polymer 

(SAP), dioxane, and other hazardous chemicals. SAP can 

sometimes suck the useful fluid which may cause serious 

infections and can lead to various diseases like cancer, skin 

diseases, etc. In fact, India is one of the countries with the 

highest rates of cervical cancer (it accounts for almost 23 % 

of all cancer in Indian women), and the studies shows a 

direct link between HPV (Human papillomavirus infection) 

infections (cause of cervical cancer) and poor menstrual 

hygiene. 

This situation necessitates the development of user and 

environmental friendly menstrual health products. ‘Anandi’ 

Fig 1 +2: Women produce compostable sanitary napkins 


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Beware of imitations. 

www.f-franceschetti.it 

Volume 8, May 2017 

By: 

Jaydeep Mandal 

Aakar Innovations Pvt. Ltd. 

CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, India 

(patent no.3129/MUM/2015) is 100 % compostable sanitary 

napkin using biobased compostable polymer film. It uses 

virgin soft pine wood pulp containing more than 97 % of 

cellulose and hemi-cellulose. The wood pulp as used has 

pure cellulose materials with complete uniformity of fibers 

allowing it to decompose easily. Activated by only ecofriendly 

Ozone treatment process and using compostable 

bioplastic. The root sources of the material used is from 

naturally available Corn starch. 

www.aakarinnovations.com 

Sanitary napkins made from biobased and compostable materials 

Anandi Eco+, compostable sanitary napkins 

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Biobased filler for SMC 

Introduction and motivation: In the market of glass-fiberreinforced 

polymer composites (GFRPC), Sheet Molding 

Compound (SMC) has high market relevance, as 20 % of 

all the glass fibers produced in Europe are handled in SMC 

processes [1]. Normally, SMC consists of a highly filled thermoset 

resins system, mostly based on unsaturated polyester 

resin, glass fi-bers, application specific additives and 

filler materials, see Figure 1. SMC is, based on its me-chanical 

properties, predestinated for the use in semi-structural 

parts or hang-on parts – e.g. for automotive applications. 

By a variation of the specific additives and the directly linked 

change of the composition of the semi-finished product, the 

scope of application can be diversified. The properties of the 

material itself can be changed from e.g. electrical applications 

for cabi-nets to parts with an equal thermal expansion 

coefficient as steel. Further advantages of the material are 

the advantageous price for the semi-finished product and 

the possibility for cost-efficient large-scale processing of 

the material in a parallel regulated compression molding 

pro-cess. 

Project approach: In a standard SMC, based on UP resin 

systems, approximately 40 % of the total weight of the SMC 

semi-finished product consists of mineral filler materials 

(Figure 1). These fillers can be divided into functional filler 

materials, e.g. aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3 as flame 

retardant with a density of 2.4 g/cm³) and non-functional 

filler materials, e.g. calcium carbonate ((CaCO3) with a 

density of 2.71 g/cm³). Within the scope of this research 

work, which was carried out at the Institute for Composite 

Materials (IVW) and the Institute for Bio-technology and 

Drug Research (IBWF) (both Kaiserslautern, Germany), the 

use of renewable and biobased filler materials replacing 

conventional filler materials was examined. Here, attention 

was paid to the fact that the biobased materials are a 

by-product of food industry and for-estry and should not be 

in direct contradiction. As biobased filler materials, wood 

flour out of regional soft- and hardwood, rapeseed meal, 

rice hulls and sunflower hull meal were used. The different 

fillers were subjected to different test series regarding their 

density, particle size distri-bution, dispensability, wettability, 

influence to resin paste viscosity and their tendency to 

fungus growth. This work will show an extract of the 

results which were achieved using grinded sun-flower 

hulls as a filler material for a standard SMC. In different 

test series, the non-functional filler material was replaced 

by an increasing proportion of biobased filler materials. 

Hereby, the focus was on the processability of the semifinished 

products. The semi-finished products should be 

processable with a conventional SMC production line and 

pressed with a conven-tional press cycle, see Table 1. 

Liquid 

components 

Figure 1: 

Composition of 

a typical SMC 

formulation (data 

in weight percent) 

Production and processing of SMC with biobased filler 

materials: The production of the SMC resin paste was 

carried out on a laboratory scale circular disc dissolver. The 

amount of biobased filler materials, replacing conventional 

filler materials, was raised in different test se-ries by steps 

of 25 %. The resin paste was processed to a SMC semi- 

Thermoplastic 

additiv 8 % 

UP-resin 

15 % 

Glass 

fibers 

30 % 

Application 

specific 

additives 7 % 

Filler 

materials 

40 % 

Powedery 

compomets 



By: 

Florian Gortner 1 ; Anja Schüffler 2 , 

Jochen Fischer 2 , Peter Mitschang 1 

1: Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe GmbH (IVW) 

2: Institut für Biotechnologie und Wirkstoff-Forschung gGmbH (IBWF) 

(both) Kaiserslautern, Germany 

finished material on the institutes’ own SMC production 

line under industry-oriented processing parameters. After 

a maturing time of 4 to 6 days, the semi-finished material 

was processed to specimen plates with conventional SMC 

processing parameters, see Table 1. 

Fungus/microorganism growth testing: All material 

samples with differing biobased filler concentrations 

were cut into square pieces (15 x 15 mm). The samples 

were photographed using a reflected-light microscope 

and afterwards incubated in microbiological growth 

medium inoculated with a Trichoderma species (Figure 2 

A1), a mixture of airborne organisms (Figure 2 A2) and a 

standardized humus soil (Figure 2 A3), respectively. All 

samples were incubated at 27°C in a laboratory incubator 

at 40 rpm to ensure oxygen supply. The samples were 

surface-analyzed for possible degradation after 6 weeks. 

Additionally the square pieces were incubated based on 

the “Mildew Resistance Test Procedure GMW3259” but 

incubation temperature was 37 °C, 45 ml PS tubes with 

lamella stopper as containers and supports made of plastic 

were used. 

Results of mechanical properties and density reduction: 

By the replacement of the con-ventional non-functional 

fillers with biobased fillers, a reduction of the density of the 

semi-finished products up till 9,4 % could be realized. The 

mechanical properties given in this work were determined 

on tensile test according to DIN EN ISO 527-4 specimen 

type 2 (250x15x4 mm³) and decrease slightly with increasing 

share of the biobased filler materials. With a content of 

biobased filler materials of 75 %, Young’s modulus was 

decreased by 18 %, tensile strength was decreased by 20 % 

(Figure 2). Taking the specific mechanical properties into 

account, the new materials are very well comparable to 

standard SMC. 

Results of fungus/microorganism growth testing: 

Although the cut edges of all material samples were covered 

with a biofilm (Figure 2 C) in the cultures inoculated with 

Trichoderma, airborne microorganisms and humus soil 

sample, no degradation was observed even when 100 % biofiller 

were used (exemplarily a sample with 75 % bio-filler is 

shown before (Figure 2 B) and after incubation with airborne 

organisms for six weeks (Figure 2 D)). Furthermore, the 

mate-rial samples incubated based on “GMW3259” did not 

possess any fungal growth nor moldy odor after two weeks. 

Conclusion: The good mechanical results and the 

biological durability show that the use of biobased materials 

as filler materials for SMC is a realistic option. By using 

a former by-product of food industry or forestry as a raw 

material in a composite material an ecological useful upcycling 

is enabled. 

www.ivw.uni-kl.de | www.ibwf.de 

Table 1: Processing parameter 

for the production and processing of SMC 

Figure 2: Influence of the biobased filler materials to the 

mechanical properties according to DIN EN ISO 527 

Manufacturing: 

14.000 — 

Tensile strength 

Young‘s Modulus 

— 100 

Resin paste viscosity for the 

processing on a SMC-line 

Processing: 

15 – 45 Pa∙s 

Tool temperature 135 – 145 °C 

Cycle time 

approx. 1 min per mm 

thickness of the part 

Pressure inside the mold 100 – 120 bar 

Young‘s Modulus [MPa] 

12.000 — 

10.000 — 

8.000 — 

6.000 — 

4.000 — 

2.000 — 

0 — 

100 % CaCO 3 

0 % bio-filler 

75 % CaCO 3 


50 % CaCO 3 


Variation of filler materials 

— 100 

— 80 

— 60 

— 40 

— 20 

— 0 

25 % CaCO 3 


Tensile strength [MPa] 

A B C D 

1 2 3 

Figure 3: Material samples incubated with Trichoderma sp. (A1), airborne organisms (A2) and humus soil (A3); magnification of a sample 

with 75 % bio-filler before (B), with biofilm after (C) and washed after incuba-tion with airborne organisms for 6 weeks 


Report 

Spanish project will develop 

customized materials 

New customized compostable materials for the manufacture 

of tableware, packages and single-use bags 

In recent years, the legislation regulating waste management 

has focused on reducing the environmental impact 

of packaging and its waste with specific provisions that 

foster the use of compostable bags, such as the French directive 

that, since the beginning of 2020, will ban the use of 

disposable tableware if not a minimum amount of 50 % of 

the material used for its manufacture is derived 

from renewable 

sources 

and the 

materials are 

not compostable 

in home 

composting. In 

Spain, a Royal 

Decree project will 

force to spread the 

concept of biodegradable 

to 

compostable. 

In this 

legislative 

context and 

a lack of a 

sufficiently 

w i d e 

range of 

materials 

covering 

the needs 

required by the 

(Generic picture) 

market and being 

an adequate alternative to conventional 

plastic materials, the Spanish project BIO+ will 

develop customized materials responding to these needs. 

The project Bio+ companies manufacturing singleuse 

products, led by the bag manufacturer PICDA and 

coordinated by AIMPLAS (both from Valencia, Spain) 

collaborate with other centres and universities. 

The main objective of the project is to develop customized 

compostable materials for mass-market single-use 

products complying with the current legislation and with 

the same functional requirements as products made 

from traditional plastic materials and at competitive cost. 

For that purpose, tasks are being carried out to realize 

the biodegradation of different products with view to their 

end of life. Thus, for single-use packages and disposable 

tableware, which are normally contaminated with food 

scraps, a compostability in ‘home compost’ conditions is 

to be achieved. For single-use bags that wrongly managed 

may end in the environment, rivers and subsequently the 

oceans, a biodegradability in marine environment is to be 

sought. 

The consortium of the project is led by PICDA specialized 

in extrusion of plastic bags of different formats, and 

Granzplast (Corbera, Valencia, Spain), engaged in the 

manufacture of customized plastic compounds for injection 

and extrusion technologies. In order to tackle 

the developments in disposable household 

items developed, the companies 

Nupik (Polinyà, Barcelona, Spain), 

leader in the manufacture of 

disposable household items and 

Perez Cerdá Plastics 

(Castalla, Alicante, 

Spain), specialized 

in tasks of plastics 

injection applied their 

knowledges in singleuse 

injected household 

items (cutlery and 

cups). The consortium 

is completed with 

companies addressing 

the developments in 

single-use packaging, 

such as Indesla (Biar, 

Alacant, Spain), 

manufacturer 

of packages 

for the fruit and 

vegetable and food 

sectors and Thermolympic 

(Utebo, Zaragoza, Spain), a company dedicated 

to the injection of thermoplastics that, in this project, will 

tackle the development of packages for catering. Moreover, 

the consortium has the support of three technology centres 

such as Aimplas, AITIIP and CETIM and the University of 

Santiago de Compostela (USC), which will provide scientific 

and technical support to the companies taking part in R&D 

tasks. 

The project BIO+ has been funded by the Spanish Ministry 

of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness through the 

Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) 

through the call aimed at funding the strategic programme 

for national business research consortia (CIEN 2017 

programme) and with grant number SOL-00103164. MT 

www.aimplas.net 


Materials 

Sun protection 

cosmetics made with 

PHB bioplastic 

Save the date 


Bio-on (Bologna, Italy), recently presented a brand-new 

line of cosmetic ingredients for sun protection made 

from its 100% natural and biodegradable PHB bioplastic. 

The new products are part of the minerv bio cosmetics 

family of bioplastic micro powders presented in spring 

2017 and designed for cosmetics that respect the environment 

and human health. This latest innovation is a series 

of high-performing SPF (Sun Protection Factor) Boosters 

designed to improve sun protection products. 

Increased awareness of the harm caused by exposure 

to sunlight is accelerating the number of products with UV 

filters released on the market. Their purpose is to screen 

against UV radiation: UV-B rays, the most common cause 

of sun erythema and sunburn, and UV-A rays, which are 

responsible for more serious long-term effects: blood 

vessel damage, photoaging, photocarcinogenesis. 

What people ignore is that, unfortunately, organic 

UV filters can be phototoxic and photounstable. The 

main goal of the scientific community is to find a way to 

limit their concentration in cosmetics formulas without 

compromising performance. This is where the new SPF 

Booster line developed for the minerv bio cosmetics brand 

comes in. These ingredients (micro powders made from 

biodegradable PHB microscopic spheres or capsules) are 

designed to significantly reduce the percentage 

of UV filters used in the sun protection product 

and boost waterresistance. 

The minerv bio cosmetics portfolio, which 

already includes texturizing powders for skin 

care and make-up, mattifiers, scrubs, and 

micro capsules for the controlled release 

of active substances, ideal for anti-ageing 

treatments, is now extended to include: 

• minervPHB Riviera an SPF Booster 

suitable for all solar formulations 

• minervPHB Riviera Plus an innovative 

SPF Booster, enriched with antioxidants, 

ideal for total care products (skin care, 

make-up, hair care). 

“Riviera represents another building 

block in our green cosmetics revolution,” 

says Marco Astorri, Bio-on Chairman and 

CEO, “to make the personal care market 

truly sustainable and fully respect the 

ocean and the land. By continuing to find 

new solutions for the cosmetics sector, our 

company is setting a new standard thanks 

to our PHBs bioplastic.” 

“The Riviera line is a success story from our Powder 

Boutique,” explains Paolo Saettone, Managing Director 

of the Bio-on CNS Business Unit, “a site dedicated to 

advanced research, where our scientists play with our 

versatile biopolymer like tailors play with fabrics, seeking 

out the perfect morphology and technology to maximise 

performance. This fine work has created the Riviera micro 

particles, which are the perfect scattering centre element 

for UV rays.” 

All the PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates) developed by Bio-on 

are made from renewable plant sources with no competition 

with food supply chains. They can replace a number of 

conventional polymers currently made with petrochemical 

processes using hydrocarbons; they guarantee the same 

thermo-mechanical properties as conventional plastics 

with the advantage of being completely eco-sustainable and 

100% naturally biodegradable. 

Starting in summer 2018, all minerv bio cosmetics 

products will be made by Bio-on Plants, Bio-on’s first 

industrial plant dedicated to the production of cosmetic 

ingredients. Located in Castel San Pietro Terme (Bologna), 

it will produce 1000 tons/year of PHB micro powders over 

an area of 3,000 m2 with an overall investment of 20 million 

Euro. MT 

www.minerv-biocosmetics.com | www.bio-on.it 



Astroplastic – 3D-printable PHB 

from human waste for 

use in space 

Governments and private enterprises alike are gearing 

up for travel across our Solar System. Plans to 

colonize nearby planets are underway, with Elon 

Musk spearheading the initiative to put a human colony on 

Mars by 2030. In a parallel vein, NASA is planning a manned 

exploratory mission to Mars as early as the 2030s. Several 

other space agencies have similar plans and timelines for 

their own Mars explorations. This exciting time in our history 

nonetheless comes with the challenges of long-term space 

travel. Two ecological and economic challenges arise: the 

sustainable management of waste produced on a spaceship 

and the high cost of shipping materials to space [1]. 

A current University of Calgary’s project involves using 

genetically engineered E. coli to turn human waste into 

bioplastics. The project is envisioned as a start-to-finish 

integrated system that can be used in space to generate 

items useful to astronauts during early Mars missions. This 

will solve the problem of waste management by upcycling 

solid human waste into a usable product. It will also reduce 

astronautical costs, as expensive fuel routinely used to ship 

materials to space can be saved. 

For the team of students testing a breakthrough 

biological plastic for 3D printing in space, the formula was 

the difference between using fake feculence or finding a 

volunteer to provide the real deal [2]. 

“We actually tried to pursue the route of using the real 

thing, but no one wanted to have it inside the lab,” laughs 

Alina Kunitskaya, a fourth-year chemical engineering 

student at the Schulich School of Engineering. 

UCalgary’s project, entitled Astroplastic: From Colon 

to Colony, tests the theory of using human waste as the 

foundation for a bioplastic that can then be used in 3D 

printers to build tools — a process that would be especially 

useful to astronauts on deep-space missions. 

The bioplastic material meant here is Poly(3- 

hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), a linear polyester and is a product 

of bacterial fermentation of some sugars or lipids. PHB is 

used by certain bacteria as carbon and energy storage. 

“With space travel, such as a three-year mission to 

Mars, there are major challenges to overcome,” explains 

Kunitskaya, who specializes in biomedical engineering. 

“Transporting material is difficult and expensive, and 

how do you anticipate every challenge and everything you 

need over three years on a trip to Mars? Recycling waste is 

another major challenge.” 

Making plastic out of poop could be the answer, and 

the Calgary team — composed of 14 undergraduate 

students from the Faculty of Science, the Cumming School 

of Medicine, and the Schulich School of Engineering, 

with mentoring from six faculty advisers from the three 

disciplines — decided to find out. 

“We got the team together at the beginning of the winter 

semester (2016) and started brainstorming ideas, and each 

person came up with their own idea,” says Kunitskaya. 

“The only criteria is having synthetic biology which is 

engineering bacteria to do something useful. And at first, 

our idea was to make plastic out of wastewater.” 

A visit to Calgary’s wastewater treatment plant and 

further brainstorming refined that idea into a solution for 

deep-space astronauts. And, armed with the advice of 



Save the date 


real space travellers like Chris Hadfield and University of 

Calgary Chancellor Robert Thirsk, the team had its mission. 

“This year, the University of Calgary’s project involves 

using genetically engineered E. coli to turn human waste 

into PHB,” reads the team summary of the project. 

“We envision our project as a start-to-finish integrated 

system that can be used in space to generate items useful 

to astronauts during early Mars missions. This will solve the 

problem of waste management by upcycling solid human 

waste into a usable product.” 

And yes, it works. More than just an exercise on paper, 

the team actually produced PHB in the Bachelor of Health 

Sciences laboratory, where the team worked all spring 

and summer, carefully documenting every detail of their 

collaborative work on a wiki website [1]. 

The detailed research and stringent attention to the 

iGEM requirements earned the team a gold medal at the 

International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) 

Foundation’s Giant Jamboree in Boston, where nearly 5,000 

students representing 330 universities presented their 

best ideas on synthetic biology. In addition the Astroplastic 

project was nominated for Best Manufacturing Project at 

the Boston event — the world’s premiere student team 

competition in synthetic biology. 

“The jamboree was their time to shine, and shine they 

did — for the University of Calgary,” says Mayi Arcellana- 

Panlilio, senior instructor in biochemistry and molecular 

biology at Cumming School of Medicine, and lead faculty 

adviser of the iGEM team. MT 

Sources: 

[1] Astroplastic-wiki: http://2017.igem.org/Team:Calgary 

[2] https://tinyurl.com/astroplastic 

www.ucalgary.ca 


Materials 

Thermoplastic 

starch from the 

heart of Europe 

By: 

Gottfried Krapfenbauer (Sales Director Technical Specialities) and 

Barbara Fahrngruber (Teamlead R&D) 

AGRANA STÄRKE 

Vienna, Austria 

The need for green ingredients in bioplastics is becoming 

an important topic. Efficient resource management 

that addresses renewable materials and waste 

recovery is a crucial future step towards a circular economy. 

Thermoplastic starch (TPS) produced by AGRANA can help 

to fulfill these requirements. 

AMITROPLAST ® 

Starch, itself consisting of the two polymers amylose and 

amylopectin, is an amazing and very versatile material, 

making it an important base for modern bioplastics. In the 

production of bioplastics, Agrana uses its many years of 

expertise in the production and processing of starch and 

supplements this with the knowledge of the needs of the 

plastics industry. 

With the Amitroplast product family, Agrana provides 

user-friendly TPS (Thermoplastic Starch) for extrusion, film 

blowing, injection moulding and 3D printing. 

Amitroplast is bio-based, biodegradable and can be 

disposed of in a home or industrial composting environment. 

All Amitroplast products allow users to incorporate 

significant amounts of TPS and thus, to create tailor-made 

Starch TPS Blend Final Product 

• Nongenetically 

modified 

• Renewable 

raw material 

• Biodegradable 

• Compostable 

• Biobased 

• Made in 

Austria 

Material 

adaptation 

specifically to 

requirements 

by 

combination 

with other 

bio-polymers 

and additives 

Products with 

the previously 

customdetermined 

properties 

polymer compounds that are processable by using standard 

polymer equipment and capable of adding extra value to 

innovative products. 

The material properties of a 25 µm film, based on a 

compound that consists of 50 % Amitroplast and 50 % PBAT 

(polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate), results typically 

in an extensibility of approximately 350 % and a tensile 

strength of 20-25 MPa. 

Furthermore, the new technology of Amitroplast 

significantly reduces the development of fumes during film 

blowing. 

Amitroplast is produced from renewable and regional raw 

material. All ingredients are derived from non-geneticallymodified 

sources. 

R&D at Agrana 

The journey of implementing sustainable solutions to 

ensure the fulfillment of today´s and future demands is not 

yet over. Agrana employs a significant number of scientists 

and technicians who conduct applied research and 

customer-oriented product development. Strengthening 

sustainable partnerships is their motivation, whereby 

confidentiality and technical support are guaranteed. 

Agrana worldwide 

Agrana is an international company headquartered in 

Vienna, Austria. Founded in 1988, Agrana today achieves 

a turnover of 2.6 billion EUR with 8900 employees. The 

main areas are starch, fruit and sugar with more than 1000 

products across the divisions. Agrana is the leading sugar 

company in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the 

global leader in fruit preparations and a major producer of 

fruit juice concentrates in Europe. 

Agrana Starch specialises in processing and adding value 

to high quality agricultural commodities such as corn, 

potato and wheat to make a wide range of starch product. 

Tailored to different industrial uses from top quality 

foodstuffs to numerous industrial upstream products 

as well as bioethanol, AGRANA STARCH has a long and 

exceptionally successful track record in the development 

and marketing of starch products. More details at 

www.agrana.com/en/products/starch-portfolio/productsfor-technical-applications/ 

www.agrana.com 


Automotive 

PRESENTS 

The Bioplastics Award will be presented 

during the 13 th European Bioplastics Conference 

December 04-05, 2018, Berlin, Germany 

THE THIRTEENTH 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 

2018 

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 4 th , 2018. 

More details and an entry form can be downloaded from 

www.bioplasticsmagazine.de/award 

supported by 


NPE 2018 

The Plastics Show, May 7-11, Orlando, Florida, USA, was again the largest plastics show in North America that 

attracted plastics producers converters, scientists and otherwise involved visitors from around the world. This 

show was the largest in history, with more than 2,180 exhibiting companies showcasing innovations in plastics 

in more than 111,000 m² of exhibit space on the tradeshow floor. PLASTICS, the US Plastics Industry Association 

estimated a total of about 65,000 attendees. 

And bioplastics were again well represented. Of course, a handful of the good 50 exhibitors that we announced 

in the last issue didn’t have anything about bioplastics in their portfolio, although listed in the official catalogue… . 

But those that did show bioplastics related products and services were well known protagonists as well as 

newcomers in this industry. In the following paragraphs we will introduce just a few highlights. 


NPE Review 

Danimer Scientific 

Danimer Scientific, Bainbridge, Georgia, 

USA, is a pioneer in creating more sustainable, 

more natural ways to make plastic products. 

For more than a decade, their renewable and 

sustainable biopolymers have helped create 

plastic products that are biodegradable and 

compostable. 

One product Danimer presented at NPE 

that, among many others, caught the attention 

of bioplastics MAGAZINE, was a flexible snack 

packaging for PepsiCo. It is the 2nd generation 

made of a proprietary formulation 

from Danimer which contains PLA and 

other biopolymers and it is industrially 

compostable. 

Brad Rodgers, Global R&D Director 

– Food Packaging Discovery of PepsiCo 

however mentioned that it’s working 

with Danimer Scientific to create a biobased 

film from polyhydroxyalkanoate 

(PHA) – the 3 rd generation – so to say. 

Brad stated that PepsiCo has been researching 

and developing biobased flexible packaging 

for more than 10 years. And the results of 

their research made them believe that PHA 

will have some significant performance and 

environmental advantages once it’s at scale. 

“We are pleased and honored that PepsiCo 

has chosen to work with Danimer Scientific for 

their packaging applications,” said Scott Tuten, 

Chief Marketing Officer at Danimer Scientific, 

“the future for biopolymers continues to grow 

tremendously with forward thinking companies 

like PepsiCo leading the way. 

Save the date 

c2renew 

c2renew Corporation (Colfax, North Dakota, USA) develops 

proprietary biocomposite formulations that satisfy demanding 

engineering specifications. With their technology customers can 

take advantage of lower-cost, renewable resources while meeting, 

maintaining, and even improving upon the mechanical properties 

required. With biocomposite materials made of recycled plastics and 

locally sourced agricultural byproducts, c2renew materials support 

both the environment and the community. 

On top of designing the material, the company also provides a range 

of engineering services. Their team of experienced engineers will 

guide businesses through every step of the design, manufacturing, 

and testing process, ensuring the plastic or composites components 

are developed effectively and to the customer’s specifications. 

At NPE c3renew showed, among others, a few unique formulations 

demonstrated with equally unique samples. 

c2PLA – Coffee is a PLA compound with coffee residuals (coffee 

chaff, the dried skin of coffee beans, the husk, which comes off during 

the roasting process). The compound is up to 40 % filled and provides 

an aromatic hint of coffee that emanates from the compound. The 

coffee mug on the picture is made of this material. 

The beer stein is made of a similar compound filled with residues 

from the beer brewing process. Dried Destillers Grains? “Something 

similar,” as CEO Corey Kratcha told bioplastics MAGAZINE at their 

booth. 

Other compounds include c2PLA-Blue (PLA/flax shive, coloured) 

and c2PLA-Natural (PLA/flax shive), and c2HIPS (HIPS / heat 

stabilized biomass), that can be used up 

to the degradation temperature of HIPS 

(high impact polystyrene) without any 

off-degassing. 

www.c2renew.com 

www.danimerscientific.com 



NPE Review 

NatureWorks 

From coffee capsules to food serviceware, home 

appliances, and innovative 3D printing solutions, 

NatureWorks (Minnetonka, Minneapolis, USA) has been 

leading application innovations from biomaterials since 

1989. 

The products NatureWorks displayed at NPE 

demonstrated how Ingeo PLA can be tailored to 

enhance performance attributes critical to performance. 

These attributes include barrier properties, heat and 

impact resistance, and thermoformability, all while 

embracing the concepts of a low-carbon circular 

economy. Recently, NatureWorks reached the milestone 

of 900,000 tonnes (2 bn pounds) of Ingeo biopolymer sold 

globally via its comprehensive portfolio of 33 grades. 

These grades are converted into thousands of consumer 

and industrial products across dozens of industries. 

A project, that NatureWorks (Minnetonka, Minneapolis, 

USA) have worked on for a couple of years was presented 

at NPE: Thermoformed refrigerator liners made of from 

Ingeo PLA. While keeping the insulation polyurethane 

foam the same, Oak Ridge National Laboratories found 

that by replacing the HIPS-liner with a new Ingeo 

PLA liner, the energy consumption is reduced by 7 to 

13%. Over the lifetime of a refrigerator this will save a 

significant amount of energy. “If all refrigerators sold in 

the USA in 2018 used INGEO liners, the lifetime energy 

savings are equal to running an average power plant for 

3.2 years”, says Frank Diodato of NatureWorks. 

Fostag, Viappiani 

Viappiani Printing presented 

an innovative application for 

the production of IML labeled 

compostable coffee capsules. 

The exhibit was run on a 

Netstal injection machine with a mould from Fostag, a 

robot from Beck Automation and IML labels from Viappiani 

Printing. 

The coffee capsule is injection moulded with PLA. To close 

the green circle of sustainability, the capsule is decorated 

with an in-mould label which is printed by Viappiani on a 

special PLA film. This way a mono component PLA capsule 

is obtained, which is fully conform to the EN 13432 norm 

regarding industrial composting. 

The exhibit combines the need for a green alternative 

for capsules, with an improved packaging performance 

compared to commonly used plastic materials in terms of 

both mechanical and barrier properties. The combination 

with high-end decoration given by the IML technology fully 

integrates the PLA label into the frame of compostability 

needs, and provides 360 degree labelling with highest 

offset quality. 

Viappiani Printing is specialized in the production of IML 

labels which are successfully sold all over the world since 

more than 35 years. 

www.fostag.com | www.biomebioplastics.com | www.viappiani.it 

780 

[kWh/yr] 

Total Energy Use 

740 

700 

660 

620 

0 3 6 9 12 15 

Energy consumption was modeled under two assumptions: 

Unchanged (UC):The Ingeo liner unless punctured will retain a 

flat, low level of conductivity through the life of the refrigerator. 

Exponential (Exp): The Ingeo liner will eventually reach the 

higher level of conductivity performance associated with HIPS. 

In addition, there is no sacrificing of the inner capacity 

of the refrigerators. The PLA liner is ten times glossier 

than the HIPS version and it offers improved resistance to 

food oils and fats. The inherent stiffness of PLA provides 

additional structural integrity to the liners. Ingeo PLA 

systems do not contain styrene or any chemicals of 

concern. 

www.natureworksllc.com 

Years 

HIPS 

Ingeo EXP. 

Ingeo UC 

Croda 

Croda Polymer Additives, headquartered in Snaith, UK, 

presented additives for biopolymers. 

Depending on the polymer type and grade, biopolymers 

can exhibit a number of problems including high friction 

(adhesion), limited impact properties and heat resistance, 

and they can require enhancements in melt strength and 

other properties. 

Croda offer a range of additives that are suitable for 

use in biobased polymers that can help overcome most of 

these issues, including slip and anti-block, mould release, 

torque release, anti-static, anti-fog and UV-absorption. 

Croda’s slip additives for polyester based biopolymers for 

example can improve overall processability in PLA film 

and sheet manufacturing and during injection moulding 

by decreasing friction up to 50%, improving mould release 

and packaging density of moulded parts. The scratch and 

scuff resistance can be improved as well as the surface 

quality. And final also the pigment dispersion and melt 

flow during processing can be improved. 

All these additives have minimal impact on colour, 

clarity and physical properties of the biopolymers. 

www.crodapolymeradditives.com 


NPE Review 

Mitsubishi Chemical 

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (headquartered 

in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) presented two applications for 

their a new grade of biobased engineering plastic 

DURABIO that can be applied to large automotive 

exterior components. One is a front grill of a Mazda 

vehicle and the other an interior door panel cover part. 

The biobased engineering plastic Durabio is made 

from isosorbide deriving from renewable plants. The 

material features superior properties compared to 

general biobased engineering plastics in terms of 

impact resistance, heat resistance and weathering, 

among other aspects. It also has good color-capability 

and, simply by adding pigments, creates a mirror-like 

smooth surface and deep color tone surpassing painted 

products with similar properties. 

China XD 

China XD Plastics Company Limited (Harbin, China), is 

a specialty chemical company. The Company is engaged 

in the research, development, manufacture and sale 

of modified plastics for automotive applications in 

China and to a lesser extent, in Dubai, the United Arab 

Emirates (UAE). On their big booth they also displayed 

different PLA grades and biocomposites. 

One example was an automotive dome light cover, 

made of PLA filled with talc. 

www.mcpp-global.com 

Automotive dome light 

cover (PLA/talc) 


New 

wood-based 

biocomposite 

Stora Enso (Stockholm & Helsinki) is launching its 

wood-based biocomposites, DuraSense. This is another 

major step on the group’s journey to replacing fossilbased 

materials with renewable solutions. 

DuraSense enables the use of renewable fibres, such 

as wood, to substitute for a large portion of fossil-based 

plastic. The production of biocomposites began in 2018 at 

Stora Enso’s Hylte Mill in Sweden, following the EUR 12 

million investment announced in 2017. At full production, 

the mill’s annual production capacity is 15,000 tonnes, 

which is the largest capacity in Europe dedicated to wood 

fibre composites. 

“Reducing the amount of plastic and replacing it 

with renewable and traceable materials is a gradual 

process. With DuraSense, we can offer customers a wood 

fibre-based alternative which improves sustainability 

performance and, depending on the product, significantly 

reduces the carbon footprint – all the way up to 80%,” says 

Jari Suominen, Head of Wood Products at Stora Enso. 

The DuraSense product family is suitable for a wide 

range of applications from consumer goods to industrial 

applications. Typical applications include, for example, 

furniture, pallets, hand tools, automotive parts, beauty 

and lifestyle products, toys and items, such as kitchen 

utensils and bottle caps, among other uses. 

The DuraSense granules are a combination of 

natural wood fibres, polymers and additives offering 

the mouldability of plastic with the sustainability and 

workability of wood. With DuraSense, it is also possible 

to combine fibres with recycled or bio-based polymers 

to further enhance environmental values. For example, 

DuraSense Eco100, which is one of the product grades 

and based on wood fibres and biopolymers, is a costcompetitive 

way to fully replace fossil-based plastics. 

“Affordable sustainability and the environment are 

climbing upwards on consumer agendas,” says Patricia 

Oddshammar, Head of Biocomposites at Stora Enso. 

“DuraSense can reduce the consumption of plastic 

materials by up to 60%, ensuring less microplastics end 

up in the environment. Stora Enso’s biocomposites can 

be reused as a material up to seven times or or recycled 

along with other plastic materials or, alternatively, used for 

energy recovery at their end of life.” MT 

www.storaenso.com 

Join us at the 

13th European Bioplastics 

Conference 

– the leading business forum for the 

bioplastics industry. 

4/5 December 2018 

Titanic Chaussee Hotel 

Berlin, Germany 

REGISTER 

NOW! 

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT 

UNTIL 30 JUNE 2018 

@EUBioplastics #eubpconf 

www.european-bioplastics.org/events 

For more information email: 

conference@european-bioplastics.org 


Report 

The journey of bioplastics 

in the Indian subcontinent 

Bioplastics or biopolymers was a word never heard of 

on the Indian subcontinent, till a serial entrepreneur 

and environmentalist, Perses Bilimoria, founded 

Earthsoul India, in the year 2002. bioplastics MAGAZINE spoke 

to Perses, when he visited the editorial office in Mönchengladbach 

in April 2018. 

“My task was not only challenging, but almost born to die, 

as Indians did not have a care in the world, in those days, for 

waste disposal systems and had a passionate ongoing love 

affair, with synthetic polymers, or plastic.” 

In the early days of Earthsoul India, Perses visited one of 

the world’s pioneering bioplastic manufacturing companies, 

Novamont SRL (Mater-Bi) in Italy and at his first meet with 

the CEO, Catia Bastioli, was told that this venture was not 

a model for the Indian sub-continent at all, on account of 

raw material costing tenfold more than comparable fossilbased 

plastic. 

However Perses’ commitment, his passion for the 

environment and his persistent attitude, encouraged him 

over the next sixteen years to educate, tutor and plant 

the seed of biopolymers to the members of the Ministry 

of Environment and Forests, Central / State Pollution 

Control Boards, Central Institute of Plastic Engineering & 

Technology (CIPET), Bureau of Indian Standards, various 

agricultural institutes, etc., on the merits and sustainability 

of this next generation material, an alternative to synthetic 

plastics made from fossil fuels resources and hence not 

renewable. 

“During the past sixteen years, India has witnessed a few 

start-ups in the bioplastic products arena,” Perses said, 

“and sadly a lot of fake” bioplastic and oxo-degradable 

product manufacturers, most of whom have tremendous 

political and financial clout in India to misrepresent and fool 

uneducated consumers.” 

Perses Bilimoria also mentioned that Professor Ramani 

Narayan of Michigan State University is one of the pioneering 

scientist of bioplastics globally and a company he is involved 

with, has its roots in India, but not yet a manufacturing 

facility. 

In the past years many states in India, today nearly 18 

states, have actually banned fossil-based plastics, but 

sadly no implementation or policing laws in place, have 

made the ban a tool to fight widespread corruption and 

misinformation. 

“I must however mention that Maharashtra state have 

taken a lead in providing a focused vision of implementing 

the plastic ban,” Perses said. “Furthermore, the government 

of India has an extremely high rate of import duties on the 

raw materials imported which makes the products further 

unviable in a developing economy.” 

Unlike India’s neighbours China and Thailand which 

have set up a bioplastics association and research and 

development cells, along with various raw material 

manufacturing facilities, India is still a laggard, “although 

we have all the natural resources to produce the raw 


Report 

By: 


Jaydeep Mandal (cf. pp.32), Perses Bilomoria, and Michael Thielen 

materials for biopolymers. This is extremely unfortunate 

and will hopefully change very soon under our current 

government’s make in India initiative,” he added 

In the year 2010 India adopted the ISO 17088 standard for 

compostable biopolymers through its local Bureau of Indian 

Standards and this has encouraged a few compostable 

product manufacturers to enter the market in 2012. 

However, the market was still uneducated and resistant to 

the high pricing and availability of local raw materials. 

Fast forward to the year 2016 and the Ministry of 

Environment and Forests structured a plastic waste 

management law, which promoted the use of compostable 

bags below 50 µm thickness in all Indian states. 

As India is a federal structure this law was viewed with 

suspicion and 18 states have implemented it as of yet, a few 

with changes in the structure. 

Dr. Mohanty of CIPET (Central Institute of Plastics 

Engineering & Technology) the only test certification agency 

in India for products with ISO 17088, has mentioned that 

there is an urgent need for test protocols to be streamlined 

with regards to IS/ISO 17088. “It is unbelievable that still 

several raw materials with 60 % starch are blended with 

polyethylene and sold as compostable products currently,” 

Perses said angrily. 

Large multinationals like BASF, Cargill, sought entry into 

the Indian market with a fair amount of spends on education 

and awareness on certified compostable products, but the 

price factor still remained a very big problem. 

In the year 2017 the Indian Government reduced the 

import duties to 15 %, from prevailing 23 % and this saw a 

window of opportunity for new entrepreneurs, to query the 

pitch. 

“As the pioneer of bioplastics in India, my wish would be 

to have multiple international raw material manufacturers 

set up facilities in India and invest in the infrastructure, to 

create a model of self-local sustainability for the long term.” 

However, before this is embarked upon the market must 

mature and be ready to embrace bioplastics in the fields of 

retail, agriculture, medical amongst other industry. 

It is also critical to have an implementation and policing 

policy for genuine certified compostable products, which 

will be key to the success of all the new entrepreneurs in 

this industry. 

It will be interesting to see one of the fastest growing 

economies of the world embrace bioplastics and hopefully 

will soon become the fastest growing bioplastics market of 

the world. 

It is noteworthy to mention the fact that June 5th, 2018 – 

World Environment Day will be celebrated in India and the 

focus will be Reduction and Elimination of Plastic Waste. 

“My dream will then be fulfilled as India’s Bioplastic man, 

Perses concluded, still optimistic. www.earthsoulindia.com 

(Photo: MichaelThielen) 


Brand Owner 

Save the date 


Brand-Owner’s perspective 

on bioplastics and how to 

unleash its full potential 

PepsiCo continues to invest in research to help drive the development of 

bioplastics for use in food packaging. Last year we announced our partnership 

with Danimer Scientific. The companies’ agreement builds on a long-standing 

relationship including the development of biobased compostable packaging 

for PepsiCo’s snack brands and will facilitate the expansion of Danimer 

Scientifics’ Nodax PHA plant. Danimer Scientifics’ PHA received the first 

ever OK Marine Biodegradable certification from Vinçotte International, 

validating that the biopolymer safely biodegrades in salt water environments, 

leaving no toxins behind. 

Brad Rodgers 

R&D Director for Discovery & Sustainability, 

PepsiCo Global Foods Packaging 

PepsiCo’s packaging goals are to reduce our greenhouse gas 

footprint and to design our packaging to be recyclable, compostable or 

biodegradable. Snack food packaging represents an opportunity to design a film 

for composting along with other organic waste. Utilizing biobased feedstocks 

to produce the packaging material can also help us lower our GHG footprint. 

Use of the bioplastics under development with Danimer will help us meet both goals. 

www.pepsico.com 

How about going bio? 

For almost every conventional plastic, there is a bioplastic alternative. 

Our PLA masterbatches can help introduce PLA into your portfolio. 

Make the switch today. 



© 

© 

-Institut.eu | 2018 

-Institut.eu | 2017 

Full study available at www.bio-based.eu/reports 

Full study available at www.bio-based.eu/reports 

© 

-Institut.eu | 2017 

Full study available at www.bio-based.eu/markets 

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2011 

2012 

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acid 

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E-mail: j.ravenstijn@kpnmail.nl 

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

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Author: Jan Ravenstijn, Jan Ravenstijn Consulting, the Netherlands 

April 2017 



Policies impacting bio-based 

plastics market development 

and plastic bags legislation in Europe 

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Market study on the consumption 

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Share of Asian production capacity on global production by polymer in 2016 

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Automotive 

Mate 

ORDER 

NOW! 

BOOK 

STORE 

www.bioplasticsmagazine.com/en/books 

email: books@bioplasticsmagazine.com 

phone: +49 2161 6884463 

50 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/18] Vol. 13 

Visit our bookstore for prices and many more books!

Automotive 

rials 

10 

Years ago 

tinyurl.com/bm-add-0308 

„Green“ 

packaging for electronic 

components 

Article contributed by 

Thomas Weigl, Managing Director, 

Sukano Products Ltd., Schindellegi, 

Switzerland 

E 


Transparent antistatic masterbatch for PLA 

ven electronic components can be attractively packaged in 

compostable plastic - at least they can if Sukano‘s transparent 

antistatic PLA (polylactic acid) masterbatch is used. 

The highly transparent materials compare well, both technically 

and economically, with conventional alternatives, and have the added 

advantage of being biodegradable. And to be sure that the product 

in the pack is not only presented in an environmentally friendly and 

attractive way, but also securely protected, Sukano calls once again 

on its experienced research team: SUKANO ® PLA as S546 transparent 

antstatic masterbatch significantly reduces the surface electrical 

resistance and so prevents the build-up of a static charge on film, 

sheet and injection-moulded parts. The packaging attracts less dust 

and the risk of damage to any sensitive components by electrical discharge 

is extremely small. 

On PLA film extruded in the Sukano test laboratory using 4 to 

6% (monofilm) and also 5 to 7% (outer layer of laminated film) of 

SUKANO ® PLA as S546 and 2% SUKANO ® PLA dc S511 slip/antiblock 

masterbatch, a surface resistance of █1011 ohms was measured and 

any electrostatic charge was dissipated after a few seconds. 

In order that plastics processors can achieve optimum performance 

for each application Sukano offers, in addition to the antistatic 

masterbatch, a wide range of functional and visually enhancing 

masterbatches and compounds. These include the recently launched 

and highly successful SUKANO ® PLA im S550 impact modifier, plus 

slip/antiblock, UV and color masterbatches, to mention just a few. All 

SUKANO ® PLA masterbatches are biodegradable and the majority 

of them are approved for food contact. They can also be supplied by 

the manufacturer in combination, i.e. as special tailor-made masterbatches 

to provide processors with an ideal performance profile. 

Published in 

bioplastics MAGAZINE 

In May 2018, Daniel Ganz, Global R&D product 

leader for Bioplastics masterbatches at 

Sukano says: 

Sukano is proud to have embarked in the 

bioplastic challenging journey already since 

2005, and witness the progress over the years 

of our bioplastics portfolio. Back 10 years 

ago, Sukano was promoting its PLA transparent 

impact modifier, and its antistatic masterbatches 

for PLA electronics packaging, 

launched around the same period, which now 

became a reference in the market. Since then, 

Sukano´s portfolio has grown significantly 

with the market and its demand, from a product range for 

any kind of polylactic acid (PLA), as well as polybutene 

succinate (PBS) and bio PET. 

From these days till today, the company has defined 

its bioplastics platform of masterbatches as core and 

strategic, established presence and proactive engagement 

and collaboration with leading companies in the 

bioplastics supply chain for the full PLA and PBS bioplastics 

market (cf. p. 18). 

This decision has proven to be successful both in 

generating industry-leading technical know-how 

about bioplastics processing for our technical experts 

and dedicated R&D team, resulting in new products 

brought to the market. 

Companies can now use our masterbatches certain 

that the integrity of their claims, certifications 

on compostability and biodegradability will be supported 

by our products. Just as well as mechanical 

and visual properties will be very close to conventional 

oil-based plastics allowing manufacturers 

to use bio-materials that meet all their processing 

requirements and which can be adapted to each 

packaging and production practices. 

Such as for BOPLA, creating lighter weight 

packages with a greater proportion of biobased 

content. 

Or the launch of new PBS-based masterbatches 

for flexible packaging manufacturers 

to design new multi-layer packaging structures 

– addressing the consumer demand for lower 

environmental impact through smart product 

design and packaging. 

And we are extremely active in this field, 

aiming to continue to bring the bioplastics applications 

to more diverse markets and processing 

conditions. 

30 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/08] Vol. 3 


Basics 

Castor oil 

By: 


Castor oil is the raw material of choice for the production 

of biobased sebacic acid. A number of biobased 

plastics, for example several partly or fully biobased 

polyamides are manufactured using sebacic acid as a monomer 

or as a chemical building block. Another monomer 

based on castor oil is 11-aminoundecanoic acid. 

About the castor plant 

The Castor plant (Ricinus communis) is from the family 

Euphorbiaceae and grows wild in varied climatic conditions. 

It produces seeds that contain up to 50 % wt castor oil. 

The oil can easily be extracted from castor seeds and find 

its use in a multitude of sectors such as a building block 

for bioplastics (mainly biobased polyamides), medicine, 

chemicals industry and in other technologies [4]. 

India is the largest producer of Castor oil in the world. 

The expected harvest for 2018 is 1.4 to 1.5 million tonnes 

of castor seeds,” as K.S. Najappa, CEO of Planters 

International (Indiranagar Bengaluru, Karnataka, India) told 

bioplastics MAGAZINE, “which will yield to approximately 

700,000 tonnes of Castor oil” [5]. 

Approximately 86% of the castor seed production in India 

is concentrated in Gujarat, followed by Andhra Pradesh 

and Rajasthan. Specifically, the regions of Mehsana, 

Banaskantha, and Saurashtra/Kutch in Gujarat and the 

districts of Nalgonda and Mahboobnagar of Andhra Pradesh 

are the major areas of castor oil production in India. The 

economic success of castor crops in Gujarat in the 1980s 

and thereafter can be attributed to a combination of a 

good breeding program, a good extension model, coupled 

with access to well-developed national and international 

markets [12]. 

Other countries that produce castor oil include Brazil and 

China. China, however, “does not produce enough castor 

oil for their own needs,” says Najappa, “so that they import 

from India.” 

With view to bioplastics, the main derivative product 

of castor oil is sebacic acid. The main countries to 

produce sebacic acid are again India and China. Najappa: 

“Unfortunately India cannot seriously compete with China, 

because the Chinese Government gives their manufacturers 

a lot of incentives” [5]. 

The world castor seed production has increased from 

1.055 million tons in 2003 to 1.440 million tons in 2013 with 

India being the leading producer and accounts for over 75 

% of the total production followed by China and Brazil each 

accounting for 12.5 and 5.5 % respectively [13] 

Throughout the growth season, the castor plant 

responds well to temperatures between 20 – 26°C with a 

low humidity and grows best in loamy soils with medium 

texture. Nonetheless, castor plants are renowned as a low 

maintenance crop with the ability to be cultivated especially 

on marginal lands and can tolerate various weather 

conditions. 

Biochemicals from castor oil do not affect food production 

or cause any land use change. Castor oil is toxic and thus 

not part of food chain, a characteristic that is drawing more 

and more attention lately. The castor plants grow on arid to 

marginal lands with little or no agrochemicals needed [7]. 

From castor oil to bioplastic 

Castor oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the castor 

bean (or better from the castor seed as the castor plant, 

Ricinus communis, is not a member of the bean family 

Fabaceae; it is a member of the Euphorbiaceae). Castor oil 

ranges from colorless to very pale yellow liquid with mild or 

no odor or taste. Its boiling point is 313°C and its density is 

0.961 kg/cm3 [1]. 

After the oil extraction, the Castor meal (also known 

as Castor cake) is separated and the oil is subsequently 

hydrolyzed to a mixture of glycerine and ricinoleic acid in 

the refining process. 

Ricinoleic acid, a monounsaturated, 18-carbon fatty acid, 

is unusual compared to other fatty acids due to its hydroxyl 

functional group on the 12th carbon. This functional group 

renders ricinoleic acid unusually polar, and also increases 

its chemical reactivity, a property that is unique when 

compared with most of the others vegetable oils. It is the 

hydroxyl group which makes castor oil and ricinoleic acid 

susceptible of an easy chemical derivatization, thus a 

valuable chemical feedstocks [2]. 

In a next step the ricinoleic acid is converted into either 

undecenoic acid (monomer for PA11) or sebacic acid (one of 

the monomers for PA6.10 and PA10.10). 

This sebacic acid (or decanedioic acid (the IUPAC 

name), or 1,8-octanedicarboxylic acid or C10H18O4 

or [HOOC(CH2)8COOH]) is a dicarboxylic acid that can 

for example be used as monomer for different types of 

polyamides [3]. In the commercially available polyamides 

PA 4.10, 5.10 and PA 6.10, the ‘10’-component is based on 

this dicarboxylic acid with 10 carbon atoms. 

Since the other component (the diamine) in these resins 

usually is not made from renewable resources, these partly 

biobased polyamides have 63% (PA 6.10) biobased content. 

Polyamides 4.10, 5.10, PA 10.10 and PA 10.12 can be 

100% biobased as here the diamine can be derived from 

renewable resources as well. In the case of PA 10.10 both 

monomers (1,10-decamethylene diamine and sebacic acid) 

are derived from castor oil [8]. 

A third example is PA 11. Here a single monomer is being 

used. First the ricinoleic acid from the castor oil is converted 

into undecanoic acid [H2C=CH-(CH2)-COOH] via a catalytic 

reaction (methanolysis). This is then further converted into 

11-aminoundecanoic acid in a subsequent catalytically 

supported reaction with ammonia [9]. This 100% biobased 

polyamide has been discovered and marketed since as far 

back as 1947 [3]. 

Sebacic acid is also found as ingredient in the cosmetic 

industry, as thickeners for coatings and lubricants, as 

antifreeze for lubricants, as plastizers, stabilizers, anticorrosion 

chemicals or other polymers such as polyols and 

polyesters and many other uses. 


Basics 

References 

[1] Aldrich Handbook of Fine Chemicals and Laboratory Equipment, Sigma- 

Aldrich, 2003 (found in Wikipedia) 

[2] Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castor_oil 

[3] Basics of Bio-polyamides, bioplastics MAGAZINE, vol 5, issue 03/2010 

[4] Ogunniyi DS (2006) Castor oil: a vital industrial raw material. Bioresour 

Technol 97:1086–1089 

[5] Najappa K.S: personal information May 2018, Planters International 

(Indiranagar Bengaluru, Karnataka, India) 

[6] FAOSTAT, 2006-2009, FAO data based on imputation methodology 

[7] Wang, M.S., Huang, J.C., 1994, Nylon 1010 properties and applications, 

J. Pol. Eng., 13 (2), pp155-174 & New Crop Resource Online Program, 

Purdue University, www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/default.html 

[8] VESTAMID® Terra - Because we care (brochure of Evonik, Marl 

Germany), 2012 

[9] Endres, H.-J., Siebert-Raths, Engineering Biopolymers, Carl Hanser 

Verlag, 2011 

[10] www.usitc.gov/publications/701_731/pub3775.pdf 

[11] Thielen, M. Castor oil, an important source for bioplastics, bioplastics 

MAGAZINE 03/2012 (with the help of Evonik and nova-Institute) 

[12] Patel, V.R. et. al.: Castor Oil: Properties, Uses, and Optimization of 

Processing Parameters in Commercial Production, Lipid Insights. 2016; 

9: 1–12. 

[13] Severino L.S. et.al.: Review on the challenges for increased production 

of castor. Agron J 104:853–880, (2012) 

Castor bean 

OVENS & FURNACES 

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Castor oil is the most versatile vegetable oil in the 

world. lt is biodegradable and is a renewable resource. 

lts applications reach across numerous industries. 

The bioplastics industry has been experiencing an 

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Castor plant 

The annual conference of the International Castor oil Association brings 

together major participants in the industry to exchange views and discuss 

latest news and trends about castor oil. 

The next conference will be held June 6-8, 2018 in 

Stockholm, Sweden. 

Visit the ICOA website for conference details. 

www.icoa.org 


Basics 

Glossary 4.2 last update issue 02/2016 

In bioplastics MAGAZINE again and again 

the same expressions appear that some of our readers 

might not (yet) be familiar with. This glossary shall help 

with these terms and shall help avoid repeated explanations 

such as PLA (Polylactide) in various articles. 

Bioplastics (as defined by European Bioplastics 

e.V.) is a term used to define two different 

kinds of plastics: 

a. Plastics based on → renewable resources 

(the focus is the origin of the raw material 

used). These can be biodegradable or not. 

b. → Biodegradable and → compostable 

plastics according to EN13432 or similar 

standards (the focus is the compostability of 

the final product; biodegradable and compostable 

plastics can be based on renewable 

(biobased) and/or non-renewable (fossil) resources). 

Bioplastics may be 

- based on renewable resources and biodegradable; 

- based on renewable resources but not be 

biodegradable; and 

- based on fossil resources and biodegradable. 

1 st Generation feedstock | Carbohydrate rich 

plants such as corn or sugar cane that can 

also be used as food or animal feed are called 

food crops or 1 st generation feedstock. Bred 

my mankind over centuries for highest energy 

efficiency, currently, 1 st generation feedstock 

is the most efficient feedstock for the production 

of bioplastics as it requires the least 

amount of land to grow and produce the highest 

yields. [bM 04/09] 

2 nd Generation feedstock | refers to feedstock 

not suitable for food or feed. It can be either 

non-food crops (e.g. cellulose) or waste materials 

from 1 st generation feedstock (e.g. 

waste vegetable oil). [bM 06/11] 

3 rd Generation feedstock | This term currently 

relates to biomass from algae, which – having 

a higher growth yield than 1 st and 2 nd generation 

feedstock – were given their own category. 

It also relates to bioplastics from waste 

streams such as CO 2 

or methane [bM 02/16] 

Aerobic digestion | Aerobic means in the 

presence of oxygen. In →composting, which is 

an aerobic process, →microorganisms access 

the present oxygen from the surrounding atmosphere. 

They metabolize the organic material 

to energy, CO 2 

, water and cell biomass, 

whereby part of the energy of the organic material 

is released as heat. [bM 03/07, bM 02/09] 

Since this Glossary will not be printed 

in each issue you can download a pdf version 

from our website (bit.ly/OunBB0) 

bioplastics MAGAZINE is grateful to European Bioplastics for the permission to use parts of their Glossary. 

Version 4.0 was revised using EuBP’s latest version (Jan 2015). 

[*: bM ... refers to more comprehensive article previously published in bioplastics MAGAZINE) 

Anaerobic digestion | In anaerobic digestion, 

organic matter is degraded by a microbial 

population in the absence of oxygen 

and producing methane and carbon dioxide 

(= →biogas) and a solid residue that can be 

composted in a subsequent step without 

practically releasing any heat. The biogas can 

be treated in a Combined Heat and Power 

Plant (CHP), producing electricity and heat, or 

can be upgraded to bio-methane [14] [bM 06/09] 

Amorphous | non-crystalline, glassy with unordered 

lattice 

Amylopectin | Polymeric branched starch 

molecule with very high molecular weight 

(biopolymer, monomer is →Glucose) [bM 05/09] 

Amylose | Polymeric non-branched starch 

molecule with high molecular weight (biopolymer, 

monomer is →Glucose) [bM 05/09] 

Biobased | The term biobased describes the 

part of a material or product that is stemming 

from →biomass. When making a biobasedclaim, 

the unit (→biobased carbon content, 

→biobased mass content), a percentage and 

the measuring method should be clearly stated [1] 

Biobased carbon | carbon contained in or 

stemming from →biomass. A material or 

product made of fossil and →renewable resources 

contains fossil and →biobased carbon. 

The biobased carbon content is measured via 

the 14 C method (radio carbon dating method) 

that adheres to the technical specifications as 

described in [1,4,5,6]. 

Biobased labels | The fact that (and to 

what percentage) a product or a material is 

→biobased can be indicated by respective 

labels. Ideally, meaningful labels should be 

based on harmonised standards and a corresponding 

certification process by independent 

third party institutions. For the property 

biobased such labels are in place by certifiers 

→DIN CERTCO and →Vinçotte who both base 

their certifications on the technical specification 

as described in [4,5] 

A certification and corresponding label depicting 

the biobased mass content was developed 

by the French Association Chimie du Végétal 

[ACDV]. 

Biobased mass content | describes the 

amount of biobased mass contained in a material 

or product. This method is complementary 

to the 14 C method, and furthermore, takes 

other chemical elements besides the biobased 

carbon into account, such as oxygen, nitrogen 

and hydrogen. A measuring method has 

been developed and tested by the Association 

Chimie du Végétal (ACDV) [1] 

Biobased plastic | A plastic in which constitutional 

units are totally or partly from → 

biomass [3]. If this claim is used, a percentage 

should always be given to which extent 

the product/material is → biobased [1] 

[bM 01/07, bM 03/10] 

Biodegradable Plastics | Biodegradable Plastics 

are plastics that are completely assimilated 

by the → microorganisms present a defined 

environment as food for their energy. The 

carbon of the plastic must completely be converted 

into CO 2 

during the microbial process. 

The process of biodegradation depends on 

the environmental conditions, which influence 

it (e.g. location, temperature, humidity) and 

on the material or application itself. Consequently, 

the process and its outcome can vary 

considerably. Biodegradability is linked to the 

structure of the polymer chain; it does not depend 

on the origin of the raw materials. 

There is currently no single, overarching standard 

to back up claims about biodegradability. 

One standard for example is ISO or in Europe: 

EN 14995 Plastics- Evaluation of compostability 

- Test scheme and specifications 

[bM 02/06, bM 01/07] 

Biogas | → Anaerobic digestion 

Biomass | Material of biological origin excluding 

material embedded in geological formations 

and material transformed to fossilised 

material. This includes organic material, e.g. 

trees, crops, grasses, tree litter, algae and 

waste of biological origin, e.g. manure [1, 2] 

Biorefinery | the co-production of a spectrum 

of bio-based products (food, feed, materials, 

chemicals including monomers or building 

blocks for bioplastics) and energy (fuels, power, 

heat) from biomass.[bM 02/13] 

Blend | Mixture of plastics, polymer alloy of at 

least two microscopically dispersed and molecularly 

distributed base polymers 

Bisphenol-A (BPA) | Monomer used to produce 

different polymers. BPA is said to cause 

health problems, due to the fact that is behaves 

like a hormone. Therefore it is banned 

for use in children’s products in many countries. 

BPI | Biodegradable Products Institute, a notfor-profit 

association. Through their innovative 

compostable label program, BPI educates 

manufacturers, legislators and consumers 

about the importance of scientifically based 

standards for compostable materials which 

biodegrade in large composting facilities. 

Carbon footprint | (CFPs resp. PCFs – Product 

Carbon Footprint): Sum of →greenhouse 

gas emissions and removals in a product system, 

expressed as CO 2 

equivalent, and based 

on a →life cycle assessment. The CO 2 

equivalent 

of a specific amount of a greenhouse gas 

is calculated as the mass of a given greenhouse 

gas multiplied by its →global warmingpotential 

[1,2,15] 


Basics 

Carbon neutral, CO 2 

neutral | describes a 

product or process that has a negligible impact 

on total atmospheric CO 2 

levels. For 

example, carbon neutrality means that any 

CO 2 

released when a plant decomposes or 

is burnt is offset by an equal amount of CO 2 

absorbed by the plant through photosynthesis 

when it is growing. 

Carbon neutrality can also be achieved 

through buying sufficient carbon credits to 

make up the difference. The latter option is 

not allowed when communicating → LCAs 

or carbon footprints regarding a material or 

product [1, 2]. 

Carbon-neutral claims are tricky as products 

will not in most cases reach carbon neutrality 

if their complete life cycle is taken into consideration 

(including the end-of life). 

If an assessment of a material, however, is 

conducted (cradle to gate), carbon neutrality 

might be a valid claim in a B2B context. In this 

case, the unit assessed in the complete life 

cycle has to be clarified [1] 

Cascade use | of →renewable resources means 

to first use the →biomass to produce biobased 

industrial products and afterwards – due to 

their favourable energy balance – use them 

for energy generation (e.g. from a biobased 

plastic product to →biogas production). The 

feedstock is used efficiently and value generation 

increases decisively. 

Catalyst | substance that enables and accelerates 

a chemical reaction 

Cellophane | Clear film on the basis of →cellulose 

[bM 01/10] 

Cellulose | Cellulose is the principal component 

of cell walls in all higher forms of plant 

life, at varying percentages. It is therefore the 

most common organic compound and also 

the most common polysaccharide (multisugar) 

[11]. Cellulose is a polymeric molecule 

with very high molecular weight (monomer is 

→Glucose), industrial production from wood 

or cotton, to manufacture paper, plastics and 

fibres [bM 01/10] 

Cellulose ester | Cellulose esters occur by 

the esterification of cellulose with organic 

acids. The most important cellulose esters 

from a technical point of view are cellulose 

acetate (CA with acetic acid), cellulose propionate 

(CP with propionic acid) and cellulose 

butyrate (CB with butanoic acid). Mixed polymerisates, 

such as cellulose acetate propionate 

(CAP) can also be formed. One of the most 

well-known applications of cellulose aceto 

butyrate (CAB) is the moulded handle on the 

Swiss army knife [11] 

Cellulose acetate CA | → Cellulose ester 

CEN | Comité Européen de Normalisation 

(European organisation for standardization) 

Certification | is a process in which materials/products 

undergo a string of (laboratory) 

tests in order to verify that the fulfil certain 

requirements. Sound certification systems 

should be based on (ideally harmonised) European 

standards or technical specifications 

(e.g. by →CEN, USDA, ASTM, etc.) and be 

performed by independent third party laboratories. 

Successful certification guarantees 

a high product safety - also on this basis interconnected 

labels can be awarded that help 

the consumer to make an informed decision. 

Compost | A soil conditioning material of decomposing 

organic matter which provides nutrients 

and enhances soil structure. 

[bM 06/08, 02/09] 

Compostable Plastics | Plastics that are 

→ biodegradable under →composting conditions: 

specified humidity, temperature, 

→ microorganisms and timeframe. In order 

to make accurate and specific claims about 

compostability, the location (home, → industrial) 

and timeframe need to be specified [1]. 

Several national and international standards 

exist for clearer definitions, for example EN 

14995 Plastics - Evaluation of compostability - 

Test scheme and specifications. [bM 02/06, bM 01/07] 

Composting | is the controlled →aerobic, or 

oxygen-requiring, decomposition of organic 

materials by →microorganisms, under controlled 

conditions. It reduces the volume and 

mass of the raw materials while transforming 

them into CO 2 

, water and a valuable soil conditioner 

– compost. 

When talking about composting of bioplastics, 

foremost →industrial composting in a 

managed composting facility is meant (criteria 

defined in EN 13432). 

The main difference between industrial and 

home composting is, that in industrial composting 

facilities temperatures are much 

higher and kept stable, whereas in the composting 

pile temperatures are usually lower, 

and less constant as depending on factors 

such as weather conditions. Home composting 

is a way slower-paced process than 

industrial composting. Also a comparatively 

smaller volume of waste is involved. [bM 03/07] 

Compound | plastic mixture from different 

raw materials (polymer and additives) [bM 04/10) 

Copolymer | Plastic composed of different 

monomers. 

Cradle-to-Gate | Describes the system 

boundaries of an environmental →Life Cycle 

Assessment (LCA) which covers all activities 

from the cradle (i.e., the extraction of raw materials, 

agricultural activities and forestry) up 

to the factory gate 

Cradle-to-Cradle | (sometimes abbreviated 

as C2C): Is an expression which communicates 

the concept of a closed-cycle economy, 

in which waste is used as raw material 

(‘waste equals food’). Cradle-to-Cradle is not 

a term that is typically used in →LCA studies. 

Cradle-to-Grave | Describes the system 

boundaries of a full →Life Cycle Assessment 

from manufacture (cradle) to use phase and 

disposal phase (grave). 

Crystalline | Plastic with regularly arranged 

molecules in a lattice structure 

Density | Quotient from mass and volume of 

a material, also referred to as specific weight 

DIN | Deutsches Institut für Normung (German 

organisation for standardization) 

DIN-CERTCO | independant certifying organisation 

for the assessment on the conformity 

of bioplastics 

Dispersing | fine distribution of non-miscible 

liquids into a homogeneous, stable mixture 

Drop-In bioplastics | chemically indentical 

to conventional petroleum based plastics, 

but made from renewable resources. Examples 

are bio-PE made from bio-ethanol (from 

e.g. sugar cane) or partly biobased PET; the 

monoethylene glykol made from bio-ethanol 

(from e.g. sugar cane). Developments to 

make terephthalic acid from renewable resources 

are under way. Other examples are 

polyamides (partly biobased e.g. PA 4.10 or PA 

6.10 or fully biobased like PA 5.10 or PA10.10) 

EN 13432 | European standard for the assessment 

of the → compostability of plastic 

packaging products 

Energy recovery | recovery and exploitation 

of the energy potential in (plastic) waste for 

the production of electricity or heat in waste 

incineration pants (waste-to-energy) 

Environmental claim | A statement, symbol 

or graphic that indicates one or more environmental 

aspect(s) of a product, a component, 

packaging or a service. [16] 

Enzymes | proteins that catalyze chemical 

reactions 

Enzyme-mediated plastics | are no →bioplastics. 

Instead, a conventional non-biodegradable 

plastic (e.g. fossil-based PE) is enriched 

with small amounts of an organic additive. 

Microorganisms are supposed to consume 

these additives and the degradation process 

should then expand to the non-biodegradable 

PE and thus make the material degrade. After 

some time the plastic is supposed to visually 

disappear and to be completely converted to 

carbon dioxide and water. This is a theoretical 

concept which has not been backed up by 

any verifiable proof so far. Producers promote 

enzyme-mediated plastics as a solution to littering. 

As no proof for the degradation process 

has been provided, environmental beneficial 

effects are highly questionable. 

Ethylene | colour- and odourless gas, made 

e.g. from, Naphtha (petroleum) by cracking or 

from bio-ethanol by dehydration, monomer of 

the polymer polyethylene (PE) 

European Bioplastics e.V. | The industry association 

representing the interests of Europe’s 

thriving bioplastics’ industry. Founded 

in Germany in 1993 as IBAW, European 

Bioplastics today represents the interests 

of about 50 member companies throughout 

the European Union and worldwide. With 

members from the agricultural feedstock, 

chemical and plastics industries, as well as 

industrial users and recycling companies, European 

Bioplastics serves as both a contact 

platform and catalyst for advancing the aims 

of the growing bioplastics industry. 

Extrusion | process used to create plastic 

profiles (or sheet) of a fixed cross-section 

consisting of mixing, melting, homogenising 

and shaping of the plastic. 

FDCA | 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, an intermediate 

chemical produced from 5-HMF. 

The dicarboxylic acid can be used to make → 

PEF = polyethylene furanoate, a polyester that 

could be a 100% biobased alternative to PET. 

Fermentation | Biochemical reactions controlled 

by → microorganisms or → enyzmes (e.g. 

the transformation of sugar into lactic acid). 

FSC | Forest Stewardship Council. FSC is an 

independent, non-governmental, not-forprofit 

organization established to promote the 

responsible and sustainable management of 

the world’s forests. 


Basics 

Gelatine | Translucent brittle solid substance, 

colorless or slightly yellow, nearly tasteless 

and odorless, extracted from the collagen inside 

animals‘ connective tissue. 

Genetically modified organism (GMO) | Organisms, 

such as plants and animals, whose 

genetic material (DNA) has been altered 

are called genetically modified organisms 

(GMOs). Food and feed which contain or 

consist of such GMOs, or are produced from 

GMOs, are called genetically modified (GM) 

food or feed [1]. If GM crops are used in bioplastics 

production, the multiple-stage processing 

and the high heat used to create the 

polymer removes all traces of genetic material. 

This means that the final bioplastics product 

contains no genetic traces. The resulting 

bioplastics is therefore well suited to use in 

food packaging as it contains no genetically 

modified material and cannot interact with 

the contents. 

Global Warming | Global warming is the rise 

in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere 

and oceans since the late 19th century 

and its projected continuation [8]. Global 

warming is said to be accelerated by → green 

house gases. 

Glucose | Monosaccharide (or simple sugar). 

G. is the most important carbohydrate (sugar) 

in biology. G. is formed by photosynthesis or 

hydrolyse of many carbohydrates e. g. starch. 

Greenhouse gas GHG | Gaseous constituent 

of the atmosphere, both natural and anthropogenic, 

that absorbs and emits radiation at 

specific wavelengths within the spectrum of 

infrared radiation emitted by the earth’s surface, 

the atmosphere, and clouds [1, 9] 

Greenwashing | The act of misleading consumers 

regarding the environmental practices 

of a company, or the environmental benefits 

of a product or service [1, 10] 

Granulate, granules | small plastic particles 

(3-4 millimetres), a form in which plastic is 

sold and fed into machines, easy to handle 

and dose. 

HMF (5-HMF) | 5-hydroxymethylfurfural is an 

organic compound derived from sugar dehydration. 

It is a platform chemical, a building 

block for 20 performance polymers and over 

175 different chemical substances. The molecule 

consists of a furan ring which contains 

both aldehyde and alcohol functional groups. 

5-HMF has applications in many different 

industries such as bioplastics, packaging, 

pharmaceuticals, adhesives and chemicals. 

One of the most promising routes is 2,5 

furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), produced as an 

intermediate when 5-HMF is oxidised. FDCA 

is used to produce PEF, which can substitute 

terephthalic acid in polyester, especially polyethylene 

terephthalate (PET). [bM 03/14, 02/16] 

Home composting | →composting [bM 06/08] 

Humus | In agriculture, humus is often used 

simply to mean mature →compost, or natural 

compost extracted from a forest or other 

spontaneous source for use to amend soil. 

Hydrophilic | Property: water-friendly, soluble 

in water or other polar solvents (e.g. used 

in conjunction with a plastic which is not water 

resistant and weather proof or that absorbs 

water such as Polyamide (PA). 

Hydrophobic | Property: water-resistant, not 

soluble in water (e.g. a plastic which is water 

resistant and weather proof, or that does not 

absorb any water such as Polyethylene (PE) 

or Polypropylene (PP). 

Industrial composting | is an established 

process with commonly agreed upon requirements 

(e.g. temperature, timeframe) for transforming 

biodegradable waste into stable, sanitised 

products to be used in agriculture. The 

criteria for industrial compostability of packaging 

have been defined in the EN 13432. Materials 

and products complying with this standard 

can be certified and subsequently labelled 

accordingly [1,7] [bM 06/08, 02/09] 

ISO | International Organization for Standardization 

JBPA | Japan Bioplastics Association 

Land use | The surface required to grow sufficient 

feedstock (land use) for today’s bioplastic 

production is less than 0.01 percent of the 

global agricultural area of 5 billion hectares. 

It is not yet foreseeable to what extent an increased 

use of food residues, non-food crops 

or cellulosic biomass (see also →1 st /2 nd /3 rd 

generation feedstock) in bioplastics production 

might lead to an even further reduced 

land use in the future [bM 04/09, 01/14] 

LCA | is the compilation and evaluation of the 

input, output and the potential environmental 

impact of a product system throughout its life 

cycle [17]. It is sometimes also referred to as 

life cycle analysis, ecobalance or cradle-tograve 

analysis. [bM 01/09] 

Littering | is the (illegal) act of leaving waste 

such as cigarette butts, paper, tins, bottles, 

cups, plates, cutlery or bags lying in an open 

or public place. 

Marine litter | Following the European Commission’s 

definition, “marine litter consists of 

items that have been deliberately discarded, 

unintentionally lost, or transported by winds 

and rivers, into the sea and on beaches. It 

mainly consists of plastics, wood, metals, 

glass, rubber, clothing and paper”. Marine 

debris originates from a variety of sources. 

Shipping and fishing activities are the predominant 

sea-based, ineffectively managed 

landfills as well as public littering the main 

land-based sources. Marine litter can pose a 

threat to living organisms, especially due to 

ingestion or entanglement. 

Currently, there is no international standard 

available, which appropriately describes the 

biodegradation of plastics in the marine environment. 

However, a number of standardisation 

projects are in progress at ISO and ASTM 

level. Furthermore, the European project 

OPEN BIO addresses the marine biodegradation 

of biobased products.[bM 02/16] 

Mass balance | describes the relationship between 

input and output of a specific substance 

within a system in which the output from the 

system cannot exceed the input into the system. 

First attempts were made by plastic raw material 

producers to claim their products renewable 

(plastics) based on a certain input 

of biomass in a huge and complex chemical 

plant, then mathematically allocating this 

biomass input to the produced plastic. 

These approaches are at least controversially 

disputed [bM 04/14, 05/14, 01/15] 

Microorganism | Living organisms of microscopic 

size, such as bacteria, funghi or yeast. 

Molecule | group of at least two atoms held 

together by covalent chemical bonds. 

Monomer | molecules that are linked by polymerization 

to form chains of molecules and 

then plastics 

Mulch film | Foil to cover bottom of farmland 

Organic recycling | means the treatment of 

separately collected organic waste by anaerobic 

digestion and/or composting. 

Oxo-degradable / Oxo-fragmentable | materials 

and products that do not biodegrade! 

The underlying technology of oxo-degradability 

or oxo-fragmentation is based on special additives, 

which, if incorporated into standard 

resins, are purported to accelerate the fragmentation 

of products made thereof. Oxodegradable 

or oxo-fragmentable materials do 

not meet accepted industry standards on compostability 

such as EN 13432. [bM 01/09, 05/09] 

PBAT | Polybutylene adipate terephthalate, is 

an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester that has the 

properties of conventional polyethylene but is 

fully biodegradable under industrial composting. 

PBAT is made from fossil petroleum with 

first attempts being made to produce it partly 

from renewable resources [bM 06/09] 

PBS | Polybutylene succinate, a 100% biodegradable 

polymer, made from (e.g. bio-BDO) 

and succinic acid, which can also be produced 

biobased [bM 03/12]. 

PC | Polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyester, 

petroleum based and not degradable, used 

for e.g. baby bottles or CDs. Criticized for its 

BPA (→ Bisphenol-A) content. 

PCL | Polycaprolactone, a synthetic (fossil 

based), biodegradable bioplastic, e.g. used as 

a blend component. 

PE | Polyethylene, thermoplastic polymerised 

from ethylene. Can be made from renewable 

resources (sugar cane via bio-ethanol) [bM 05/10] 

PEF | polyethylene furanoate, a polyester 

made from monoethylene glycol (MEG) and 

→FDCA (2,5-furandicarboxylic acid , an intermediate 

chemical produced from 5-HMF). It 

can be a 100% biobased alternative for PET. 

PEF also has improved product characteristics, 

such as better structural strength and 

improved barrier behaviour, which will allow 

for the use of PEF bottles in additional applications. 

[bM 03/11, 04/12] 

PET | Polyethylenterephthalate, transparent 

polyester used for bottles and film. The 

polyester is made from monoethylene glycol 

(MEG), that can be renewably sourced from 

bio-ethanol (sugar cane) and (until now fossil) 

terephthalic acid [bM 04/14] 

PGA | Polyglycolic acid or Polyglycolide is a biodegradable, 

thermoplastic polymer and the 

simplest linear, aliphatic polyester. Besides 

ist use in the biomedical field, PGA has been 

introduced as a barrier resin [bM 03/09] 

PHA | Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) or the 

polyhydroxy fatty acids, are a family of biodegradable 

polyesters. As in many mammals, 

including humans, that hold energy reserves 

in the form of body fat there are also bacteria 

that hold intracellular reserves in for of 

of polyhydroxy alkanoates. Here the microorganisms 

store a particularly high level of 


Basics 

energy reserves (up to 80% of their own body 

weight) for when their sources of nutrition become 

scarce. By farming this type of bacteria, 

and feeding them on sugar or starch (mostly 

from maize), or at times on plant oils or other 

nutrients rich in carbonates, it is possible to 

obtain PHA‘s on an industrial scale [11]. The 

most common types of PHA are PHB (Polyhydroxybutyrate, 

PHBV and PHBH. Depending 

on the bacteria and their food, PHAs with 

different mechanical properties, from rubbery 

soft trough stiff and hard as ABS, can be produced. 

Some PHSs are even biodegradable in 

soil or in a marine environment 

PLA | Polylactide or Polylactic Acid (PLA), a 

biodegradable, thermoplastic, linear aliphatic 

polyester based on lactic acid, a natural acid, 

is mainly produced by fermentation of sugar 

or starch with the help of micro-organisms. 

Lactic acid comes in two isomer forms, i.e. as 

laevorotatory D(-)lactic acid and as dextrorotary 

L(+)lactic acid. 

Modified PLA types can be produced by the 

use of the right additives or by certain combinations 

of L- and D- lactides (stereocomplexing), 

which then have the required rigidity for 

use at higher temperatures [13] [bM 01/09, 01/12] 

Plastics | Materials with large molecular 

chains of natural or fossil raw materials, produced 

by chemical or biochemical reactions. 

PPC | Polypropylene Carbonate, a bioplastic 

made by copolymerizing CO 2 

with propylene 

oxide (PO) [bM 04/12] 

PTT | Polytrimethylterephthalate (PTT), partially 

biobased polyester, is similarly to PET 

produced using terephthalic acid or dimethyl 

terephthalate and a diol. In this case it is a 

biobased 1,3 propanediol, also known as bio- 

PDO [bM 01/13] 

Renewable Resources | agricultural raw materials, 

which are not used as food or feed, 

but as raw material for industrial products 

or to generate energy. The use of renewable 

resources by industry saves fossil resources 

and reduces the amount of → greenhouse gas 

emissions. Biobased plastics are predominantly 

made of annual crops such as corn, 

cereals and sugar beets or perennial cultures 

such as cassava and sugar cane. 

Resource efficiency | Use of limited natural 

resources in a sustainable way while minimising 

impacts on the environment. A resource 

efficient economy creates more output 

or value with lesser input. 

Seedling Logo | The compostability label or 

logo Seedling is connected to the standard 

EN 13432/EN 14995 and a certification process 

managed by the independent institutions 

→DIN CERTCO and → Vinçotte. Bioplastics 

products carrying the Seedling fulfil the 

criteria laid down in the EN 13432 regarding 

industrial compostability. [bM 01/06, 02/10] 

Saccharins or carbohydrates | Saccharins or 

carbohydrates are name for the sugar-family. 

Saccharins are monomer or polymer sugar 

units. For example, there are known mono-, 

di- and polysaccharose. → glucose is a monosaccarin. 

They are important for the diet and 

produced biology in plants. 

Semi-finished products | plastic in form of 

sheet, film, rods or the like to be further processed 

into finshed products 

Sorbitol | Sugar alcohol, obtained by reduction 

of glucose changing the aldehyde group 

to an additional hydroxyl group. S. is used as 

a plasticiser for bioplastics based on starch. 

Starch | Natural polymer (carbohydrate) 

consisting of → amylose and → amylopectin, 

gained from maize, potatoes, wheat, tapioca 

etc. When glucose is connected to polymerchains 

in definite way the result (product) is 

called starch. Each molecule is based on 300 

-12000-glucose units. Depending on the connection, 

there are two types → amylose and → 

amylopectin known. [bM 05/09] 

Starch derivatives | Starch derivatives are 

based on the chemical structure of → starch. 

The chemical structure can be changed by 

introducing new functional groups without 

changing the → starch polymer. The product 

has different chemical qualities. Mostly the 

hydrophilic character is not the same. 

Starch-ester | One characteristic of every 

starch-chain is a free hydroxyl group. When 

every hydroxyl group is connected with an 

acid one product is starch-ester with different 

chemical properties. 

Starch propionate and starch butyrate | 

Starch propionate and starch butyrate can be 

synthesised by treating the → starch with propane 

or butanic acid. The product structure 

is still based on → starch. Every based → glucose 

fragment is connected with a propionate 

or butyrate ester group. The product is more 

hydrophobic than → starch. 

Sustainable | An attempt to provide the best 

outcomes for the human and natural environments 

both now and into the indefinite future. 

One famous definition of sustainability is the 

one created by the Brundtland Commission, 

led by the former Norwegian Prime Minister 

G. H. Brundtland. The Brundtland Commission 

defined sustainable development as 

development that ‘meets the needs of the 

present without compromising the ability of 

future generations to meet their own needs.’ 

Sustainability relates to the continuity of economic, 

social, institutional and environmental 

aspects of human society, as well as the nonhuman 

environment). 

Sustainable sourcing | of renewable feedstock 

for biobased plastics is a prerequisite 

for more sustainable products. Impacts such 

as the deforestation of protected habitats 

or social and environmental damage arising 

from poor agricultural practices must 

be avoided. Corresponding certification 

schemes, such as ISCC PLUS, WLC or Bon- 

Sucro, are an appropriate tool to ensure the 

sustainable sourcing of biomass for all applications 

around the globe. 

Sustainability | as defined by European Bioplastics, 

has three dimensions: economic, social 

and environmental. This has been known 

as “the triple bottom line of sustainability”. 

This means that sustainable development involves 

the simultaneous pursuit of economic 

prosperity, environmental protection and social 

equity. In other words, businesses have 

to expand their responsibility to include these 

environmental and social dimensions. Sustainability 

is about making products useful to 

markets and, at the same time, having societal 

benefits and lower environmental impact 

than the alternatives currently available. It also 

implies a commitment to continuous improvement 

that should result in a further reduction 

of the environmental footprint of today’s products, 

processes and raw materials used. 

Thermoplastics | Plastics which soften or 

melt when heated and solidify when cooled 

(solid at room temperature). 

Thermoplastic Starch | (TPS) → starch that 

was modified (cooked, complexed) to make it 

a plastic resin 

Thermoset | Plastics (resins) which do not 

soften or melt when heated. Examples are 

epoxy resins or unsaturated polyester resins. 

Vinçotte | independant certifying organisation 

for the assessment on the conformity of bioplastics 

WPC | Wood Plastic Composite. Composite 

materials made of wood fiber/flour and plastics 

(mostly polypropylene). 

Yard Waste | Grass clippings, leaves, trimmings, 

garden residue. 

References: 

[1] Environmental Communication Guide, 

European Bioplastics, Berlin, Germany, 

2012 

[2] ISO 14067. Carbon footprint of products - 

Requirements and guidelines for quantification 

and communication 

[3] CEN TR 15932, Plastics - Recommendation 

for terminology and characterisation 

of biopolymers and bioplastics, 2010 

[4] CEN/TS 16137, Plastics - Determination 

of bio-based carbon content, 2011 

[5] ASTM D6866, Standard Test Methods for 

Determining the Biobased Content of 

Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using 

Radiocarbon Analysis 

[6] SPI: Understanding Biobased Carbon 

Content, 2012 

[7] EN 13432, Requirements for packaging 

recoverable through composting and biodegradation. 

Test scheme and evaluation 

criteria for the final acceptance of packaging, 

2000 

[8] Wikipedia 

[9] ISO 14064 Greenhouse gases -- Part 1: 

Specification with guidance..., 2006 

[10] Terrachoice, 2010, www.terrachoice.com 

[11] Thielen, M.: Bioplastics: Basics. Applications. 

Markets, Polymedia Publisher, 

2012 

[12] Lörcks, J.: Biokunststoffe, Broschüre der 

FNR, 2005 

[13] de Vos, S.: Improving heat-resistance of 

PLA using poly(D-lactide), 

bioplastics MAGAZINE, Vol. 3, Issue 02/2008 

[14] de Wilde, B.: Anaerobic Digestion, bioplastics 

MAGAZINE, Vol 4., Issue 06/2009 

[15] ISO 14067 onb Corbon Footprint of 

Products 

[16] ISO 14021 on Self-declared Environmental 

claims 

[17] ISO 14044 on Life Cycle Assessment 


Suppliers Guide 

1. Raw Materials 

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: 

AGRANA Starch 

Bioplastics 

Conrathstraße 7 

A-3950 Gmuend, Austria 

bioplastics.starch@agrana.com 

www.agrana.com 

BASF SE 

Ludwigshafen, Germany 

Tel: +49 621 60-9995 

martin.bussmann@basf.com 

www.ecovio.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 

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 

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 

39 mm 

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 

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 

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 

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 

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 

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 


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 

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 

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 

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 

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 

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 

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 

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 

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 

GRAFE-Group 



Tel. +49 36459 45 0 

www.grafe.com 

Bio4Pack GmbH 

D-48419 Rheine, Germany 

Tel.: +49 (0) 5975 955 94 57 

info@bio4pack.com 

www.bio4pack.com 

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 

weforyou PLA & Applications 

office@weforyou.pro 

www.weforyou.pro 

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 

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 

3. Semi finished products 

3.1 films 

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 

D-09, Jalan Tanjung A/4, 

Free Trade Zone 

Port of Tanjung Pelepas 

81560 Johor, Malaysia 

T. +607-507 1585 

marketing@icbp.com.my 

www.icbp.com.my 

Molds, Change Parts and Turnkey 

Solutions for the PET/Bioplastic 

Container Industry 

284 Pinebush Road 

Cambridge Ontario 

Canada N1T 1Z6 

Tel. +1 519 624 9720 

Fax +1 519 624 9721 

info@hallink.com 

www.hallink.com 

6.2 Laboratory Equipment 

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 

1.5 PHA 

Bio-on S.p.A. 

Via Santa Margherita al Colle 10/3 

40136 Bologna - ITALY 

Tel.: +39 051 392336 

info@bio-on.it 

www.bio-on.it 

Infiana Germany GmbH & Co. KG 

Zweibrückenstraße 15-25 

91301 Forchheim 

Tel. +49-9191 81-0 

Fax +49-9191 81-212 

www.infiana.com 

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 

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 



‘Basics‘ book 

on bioplastics 

110 pages full 

color, paperback 

ISBN 978-3- 

9814981-1-0: 

Bioplastics 

ISBN 978-3- 

9814981-2-7: 

Biokunststoffe 

2. überarbeitete 

Auflage 

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. 

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 

narocon 

Dr. Harald Kaeb 

Tel.: +49 30-28096930 

kaeb@narocon.de 

www.narocon.de 

9. Services (continued) 

nova-Institut GmbH 

Chemiepark Knapsack 

Industriestrasse 300 

50354 Huerth, Germany 

Tel.: +49(0)2233-48-14 40 

E-Mail: contact@nova-institut.de 

www.biobased.eu 

European Bioplastics e.V. 

Marienstr. 19/20 

10117 Berlin, Germany 

Tel. +49 30 284 82 350 

Fax +49 30 284 84 359 

info@european-bioplastics.org 

www.european-bioplastics.org 

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 

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. 

Bioplastics Consulting 

Tel. +49 2161 664864 

info@polymediaconsult.com 

10. Institutions 

10.1 Associations 

Green Serendipity 

Caroli Buitenhuis 

IJburglaan 836 

1087 EM Amsterdam 

The Netherlands 

Tel.: +31 6-24216733 

www.greenseredipity.nl 

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 Germany only) 

BPI - The Biodegradable 

Products Institute 

331 West 57th Street, Suite 415 

New York, NY 10019, USA 

Tel. +1-888-274-5646 

info@bpiworld.org 


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05.06.2018 - 08.06.2018 - Bangkok, Thailand 

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14.06.2018 - Wageningen, Netherlands 

22.04.2018 - Geleen, Niederlande 

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Plastics Tomorrow via Biobased Chemicals & Recycling 

25.06.2018 - 28.06.2018 - New York City Area, USA 

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BIO World Congress 

16.07.2018 - 19.07.2018 - Philadelphia PA, USA 

www.bio.org/worldcongress 

The 15 th ISBBB 

24.07.2018 - 27.07.2018 - Guelph, Canada 

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15.08.2018 - 17.08.2018 - (Troy, New York) 

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10.09.2018 - 12.09.2018 - San Diego (CA), USA 

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bioplastics MAGAZINE 

Highlights 

Thermoforming | 10 

Toys | 18 

Basics 

Mechanical Recycling | 52 

Cover Story: 

Toy bricks from bio-PE 

| 22 

Preview: 


Basics 


Highlights 





Cover Story: 



16 th International Symposium on Biopolymers 2018 

(ISBP 2018) 

21.10.2018 - 24.10.2018 - Beijing, China 

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r3_03.2018 

07/03/18 12:53 

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bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/18] Vol. Vol. 13 13 61

Companies in this issue 

Company Editorial Advert Company Editorial Advert Company Editorial Advert 

Aakar Innovations 32 

Agrana Starch Bioplastics 40 15, 58 

AIMPLAS 12, 13 

AITIIP 36 

AMIBM 10 

API 58 

Archer Daniels Midland 6 

Arctic Biomaterials 12 

BASF 12, 47 58 

Bio4Pack 1, 3 59 

BioAmber 7 

Biomer 10, 43 

Bio-on 37 59 

BioSolutions 24 

Biotec 10 59, 63 

Bluepha 10 

Bordeaux National Polytechnic Inst. 30 

Buss 21, 59 

c2renew 42 

Cardia Bioplastics 58 

Caprowachs, Albrecht Dinkelaker 23 59 

Cardiolite Corporation 12 

CIPET 46 

CETIM 36 

China VX 44 

Clariant 22 

Croda Polymer Additives 43 

Danimer Scientific 10, 42 

Dr. Heinz Gupta Verlag 33 

DuPont 6 

Earthsoul India 46 

Ellen MacArthur Foundation 10 

Emery Oleochemicals 20 19 

Eranova 7 

Erema 9, 59 

European Bioplastics 45, 60 

FKuR 10, 13 2, 58 

Ford Motor Company 17 

Fostag 43 

Fraunhofer IGB 6 

Fraunhofer IVV 5 

Fraunhofer UMSICHT 60 

Friesland Campina 27 

FullCycle Bioplastics 10 

Global Biopolymers 58 

Grafe 58, 59 

Green Serendipity 60 

Grieve 53 

Hallink 59 

Hasselt University 10 

Helian 10 

Hydal/Nafigate 10 

ICOA 53 

IKT, Univ. Stuttgart 10 60 

Indesla 36 

Indochine Bio Plastiques 59 

Infiana Germany 59 

InfraServ Knapsack 12 

Ins. Verbundwerkstoffe IVW 34 

Inst Biotechn. & Wirkstoffforschung 34 

Inst. F. Bioplastics & Biocomp. IfBB 14 60 

Iterg 30 

Jan Ravenstijn 10 

Jinhui Zhaolong 58 

Joma 29 

Kaneka 10 59 

LCPO 30 

LifetecVision 10 

M+Base Engineering 17 

MAIP 10 

Mango Materials 10 

Michigan State University 46 60 

Microtec 58 

Minima Technology 59 

Mitsubishi Chemical 44 

Modified Materials 10 

MulsiPlast Systems 21 

narocon InnovationConsulting 10 60 

Natureplast-Biopolynov 58 

NatureWorks 8, 43 25 

Natur-Tec 59 

Neste (Suisse) 12 

Netstal 43 

Northern Technologies 59 

nova Institute 10, 12 13, 49, 60 

Novamont 46 59, 64 

Nupik 36 

Nurel 58 

Oak Ridge National Laboratories 43 

Organic Waste Systems 10 

PepsiCo 10, 42, 48 

Perez Cerdá Plastics 36 

Phario 10, 28 

plasticker 5 

Plastics (SPI) 8 

polymediaconsult 60 

PolyOne 8 

PTT/MCC 58 

Sabio 10 

Saida 59 

Scion Research 10 

Stamicarbon 10 

StoraEnso 45 

Sukano 18, 51 48, 58 

Symphony Environmental 7 

Synvina 12 

Tecnaro 59 

Thermolympic 36 

TianAn Biopolymer 59 

TIPA 59 

Total-Corbion PLA 7 59 

Univ Bordeaux 3 

Univ. App. Sc. Bremen 17 

Univ. Calgary 38 

Univ. Munich 6 

Univ. Santiago de Compostela 36 

Univ. Stuttgart (IKT) 60 

Univ. Wisconsin Madison 17 

UPM Biomaterials 12 

Viappiani 43 

Weforyou 59 

Xinjiang Blue Ridge Tunhe Polyester 58 

Zhejiang Hangzhou Xinfu Pharmaceutical 58 

Zhejiang Hisun Biomaterials 44, 59 

Issue 

Editorial Planner 

Month 

04/2018 Jul 

Aug 

Publ. 

Date 

edit/ad/ 

Deadline 


Edit. Focus 1 Edit. Focus 2 Edit. Focus 3 Basics 

06 Aug 18 06 Jul 18 Blow Moulding Coffee Pods & 

Capsules 

UK Special 

PEF 

Trade-Fair 

Specials 

05/2018 Sep 

Oct 

06/2018 Nov 

Dec 

01 Oct 18 28 Sep 18 Fiber / Textile / 

Nonwoven 

03 Dec 18 02 Nov 18 Films/Flexibles/ 

Bags 

Polyurethanes/ 

Elastomers/ 

Rubber 

Bioplastics 

from Waste 

Streams 

Poland & Baltic 

States Special 

t.b.d. 

Industrial Composting, 

Challenges / Hurdles 

Shelf Life of Bioplastics 

Subject to changes 


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r1_05.2017

Issue 3/2018

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