Issue 03/2016

News
Bioplastics made
simple in new report
from SPI
As bioplastics become more popular and an emerging
material of choice, The Society of the Plastics Industry - SPI’s
Bioplastics Division recently released a new report “Bioplastics
Simplified: Attributes of Biobased and Biodegradable Products”,
which explains bioplastics in simple terms so that people can
understand their benefits. The SPI Bioplastics Division defines
bioplastics as “partially or fully biobased and/or biodegradable.”
“We wanted to simply explain bioplastics and showcase how
bioplastics support the plastic industry’s focus and commitment
to reduce waste and create products that are sustainable,” said
Patrick Krieger, assistant director of regulatory & technical
affairs at SPI. “With our members and consumers in mind, we
wanted to clarify how these innovative materials are composed,
and highlight their benefits to the environment.”
This report also helps educate consumers on the meaning
behind company-specific claims that their products include
biobased content, or are biodegradable. Under U.S. Federal
Trade Commission’s Guides for the Use of Environmental
Marketing Claims, companies that make these claims must
ensure they have competent and reliable scientific evidence for
the origin or degradability claims for their products.
Biobased bioplastics can have numerous environmental
benefits, including the reduction of fossil fuel usage, potential
reduction of carbon footprint and/or reduction of global
warming potential. Through composting, anaerobic digestion,
and marine and soil environments, biodegradable bioplastics
completely degrade, through biological action, into biomass,
carbon dioxide or methane, and water. The benefits of biobased
and biodegradable plastics reinforce the plastics industry’s
commitment to creating sustainable materials. MT
http://plasticsindustry.org/files/Bioplastics%20Simplified.pdf
Will Metabolix sell off its
PHA Business?
Metabolix, Inc. has announced that the Company is exploring
strategic alternatives for its specialty biopolymers business
and for its Yield10 crop science program.
The Company cited outside strategic interest in its biopolymers
business as well as a challenging financing environment as key
considerations leading to this development.
Strategic alternatives may include selling the Company’s
specialty biopolymers business to a third party with strategic
interest in acquiring the business.
Metabolix is currently engaged in discussions with interested
parties regarding the potential sale of the specialty biopolymers
business as an operating business and may engage in
discussions with additional parties as it progresses through its
strategic review. MT
www.metabolix.com
Winners of the
“Bio-based Material
of the Year 2016”
On April 5 th the Innovation Award Bio-based Material of
the Year 2016 was awarded to three innovative materials
in suitable applications. The competition focused on
new developments in the bio-based economy, which
have had (or will have) a market launch in 2015 or 2016.
The winners were elected by the participants of the 9 th
International Conference on Bio-based Materials in
Cologne, Germany.
The International Conference on Bio-based Materials
is a well established meeting point for companies
working in the field of bio-based chemicals and
materials. 200 participants, mainly from the industry
and representing 25 countries, met in Cologne to discuss
the latest developments in the sector. 24 companies
presented their products and services at the exhibition.
The discussions showed unexpected impacts of the
low oil prices and a less favourable political framework
on the bio-based economy: Bio-based drop-in chemical
commodities fade more and more from the spotlight.
On the other hand, special bio-based fine chemicals
and materials for end products are more attractive
than ever. Because of their new functionalities and
properties, they are not in direct competition with
conventional petrochemical products. This will enable
them to conquer the market without the need for strong
support simply because they have a lot to offer – to the
industry and to the consumer. Worldwide substantial
investments are being made in this sector with high
added value and strong market growth. The winners of
the award are nice examples of this new generation of
bio-based products with improved features.
Six companies were nominated by the conference’s
advisory board and experts from nova-Institute. Each
nominee introduced its innovation in a short 10-minute
presentation to the audience. The three winners were
elected by the participants of the conference and
announced at the Innovation Award Ceremony.
And the winners are:
1) Orineo BVBA (BE): Touch
of Nature – Filled biobased
resin for stimulating
biomaterials
2) Evonik (DE): REWOFERM ® SL
446 – Novel sophorolipid-type
biosurfactant
3) Covestro (DE): Impranil ® eco –
Bio-based waterborne polyurethane
dispersions for textile
coatings
Details about the three winners and their products can
be found on the website. MT
www.biowerkstoff-kongress.de/award
Covestro application example
8 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/16] Vol. 11