bioplasticsMAGAZINE_1104

ioplastics MAGAZINE Vol. 6 ISSN 1862-5258
Highlights
Bottles | 14
End-of-Life |36
Personality
Isao Inomata | 42
Basics
Blow Moulding | 48
July / August
04 | 2011
... is read in 91 countries

FKuR plastics – made by nature! ®
Bio-Flex ® multilayers – engineered to clarity!
Recycled napkins from Metsä wrapped in compostable multilayer made from
Bio-Flex ® A 4100 CL / F 2110 / A 4100 CL produced by Kobusch & Sengewald.
FKuR Kunststoff GmbH
Siemensring 79
D - 47877 Willich
Phone: +49 2154 92 51-0
Fax: +49 2154 92 51-51
sales@fkur.com
www.fkur.com
FKuR Plastics Corp.
921 W New Hope Drive | Building 605
Cedar Park, TX 78613 | USA
Phone: +1 512 986 8478
Fax: +1 512 986 5346
sales.usa@fkur.com

Editorial
dear
readers
I’m sure that many of you (just like me …) did not know (or perhaps you did know!)
that the first plastics materials in history were bioplastics. I stumbled over this
piece of information when I started researching the background for a book project
that I am currently working on. Obviously the first plastic resins were developed
to substitute materials which were becoming scarce and expensive - materials
such as ivory, tortoiseshell, or mother-of-pearl. Hence celluloid was developed
following a $10,000 competition for the creation of a billiard ball material to
replace ivory in 1863. Another example is galalith, made from casein, a protein
commonly found in mammalian milk. And there were quite a number of other
plastics made from crops and animal products. All of that began in the mid-
19th century. And it was only due to the massive availability of petroleum and the
invention of new materials in the 20 th century that the boom in oil based plastics
was triggered and bioplastics fell into oblivion …
Well that was just daydreaming…
One of the highlights in this issue is the subject of bottles, or — more generally —
the blow moulding of bottles and containers, including the materials needed. PLA
bottles were a hot topic during the last few years, but these days our attention is
more attracted by the large soft-drink companies announcing the use of partly,
or even 100%, biobased PET for beverage bottles. One component to make PET,
the monoethylene glycol based on sugar cane, had already been introduced a
while ago. But now there seem to be ways to produce, economically and thus
commercially, terephthalic acid from renewable resources. Read more details in
this issue.
Nevertheless, PLA is still, and will be even more, a very attractive material
for a multitude of applications. Research and development to improve heat
resistance and other properties using different approaches continues apace.
The areas of application grow every day. This is why bioplastics MAGAZINE,
after our first successful PLA World Congress in 2008, will now organize the
2 nd PLA World Congress. In May of 2012, we invite all who are interested in PLA
to come to Munich in Germany. And right now we invite all those involved in the
aforementioned developments to submit proposals for presentations in our ‘Call
for Papers’ (see page 11).
The team at bioplastics MAGAZINE is looking forward to welcoming you to Munich
next spring.
Until then we hope you enjoy reading bioplastics MAGAZINE
Sincerely yours
Michael Thielen
Follow us on twitter:
http://twitter.com/bioplasticsmag
Be our friend on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/bioplastics-MAGAZINE/103745406344904
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 3

Content
Editorial.................................................... 3
News ........................................................ 5
Application News ................................... 28
Events .................................................... 10
Event Calendar ...................................... 54
Bookstore ............................................... 51
Glossary ................................................. 52
Editorial Planner ................................... 56
Companies in this issue ........................ 58
04|2011
July/August
Material
Novel Bio-Composites for Structural Applications ............ 12
Too Cool for School ............................................................. 20
Maxi-Use .............................................................................. 32
Advanced Research in Bionanocomposites ....................... 35
Bottles
Completing the Puzzle: 100% Plant-Derived PET.............. 14
New Bottle Material .......................................................... 18
Personality
Isao Inomata ........................................................................ 42
Opinion
Is All ‘Non-Bio‘ Plastic Bad? ............................................... 44
Basics
The of Blow molding of Bioplastics .................................... 48
Applications
A cleaner hospital, a cleaner environment ........................ 23
Testing
Measure Biodegradability of Plastics More Accurately ..... 26
End-of-Life
The Role of Standards for Biodegradable Plastics ............ 36
More Responsible End-of-Life Options .............................. 40
Imprint
Publisher / Editorial
Dr. Michael Thielen
Samuel Brangenberg
Layout/Production
Mark Speckenbach, Julia Hunold
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
Elke Hoffmann, Caroline Motyka
phone: +49(0)2161-6884467
fax: +49(0)2161 6884468
eh@bioplasticsmagazine.com
Print
Tölkes Druck + Medien GmbH
47807 Krefeld, Germany
Total Print run: 3,800 copies
bioplastics MAGAZINE
ISSN 1862-5258
bioplastics magazine is published
6 times a year.
This publication is sent to qualified
subscribers (149 Euro for 6 issues).
bioplastics MAGAZINE is printed on
chlorine-free FSC certified paper.
bioplastics MAGAZINE is read
in 91 countries.
Not to be reproduced in any form
without permission from the publisher.
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.
Editorial contributions are always welcome.
Please contact the editorial office via
mt@bioplasticsmagazine.com.
Envelopes
A part of this print run is mailed to the readers
wrapped in BO-PLA envelopes sponsored
by Taghleef Industries S.p.A. and Maropack
GmbH & Co. KG
Cover
Unitika
4 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6
Follow us on twitter:
http://twitter.com/bioplasticsmag
Be our fan on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/bioplastics-MAGAZINE/103745406344904

News
4 th Annual ‘Green
Plastics‘ in Israel
Israel is going through a real change in it’s attitude
towards waste management in general and specifically
management of packaging waste, as a new government
law was passed and declared active from July 2011.
This law, created in the format of known European
similar structures, along with the new strategy of the
Israeli Ministry of environmental protection, gives
way for new waste separating methodologies, both
for municipalities and Industrial bodies. It is safe to
say, that within 2-4 years, most of the households in
Israel, will be separating waste into an organic stream
and other 1-2 ‘dry’ streams. Within this atmosphere,
Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, located in
Ramat Gan, a dynamic city adjacent to Tel Aviv, Israel,
had held the 4 th annual ‘green plastics’ convention in
Ramat Gan, Israel.
As in previous years, the day was full of speakers
concentrating on Bio-Plastics (bio-based and
biodegradable). The first half of the day was held in
English with speaker guests from BASF, FKUR and
University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
A noted speech was given by Patrick Zimmermann
of FKuR, who spoke of using Bioplastics in ‘Multilayer
systems’, offering new possibilities and more
applications then ever.
The second half of the day was dedicated to Israeli
speakers, Researchers from Shenkar institute and
from Israeli compounding companies such as Tosaf
and Kafrit. Israel is expecting a breakthrough in the
Bioplastics market. An infrastructure is being built in
the form of the Israeli standard SII 6018 - ‘Bioplastics
and it’s products’ and a soon to be formed standard for
determining of bio-based content.
With Hi-tech plastic & packaging producers, an
innovative market and an awakening environmental
awareness, Israel could very well be, a surprising
market for Bio-Plastics in the coming years.
First Biological
Material Industry Union
in China Founded
At the 3 rd China International Biological Plastic Application
Conference (Guangzhou, May 15-16, 2011) a new Low-carbon
Biomaterial Production & Research Innovation Alliance was
established by over 30 organizations, all engaged in low
carbon biological plastic industry. It is the first industrial
alliance that specializes in biological material field in China.
The union was mainly initiated by Shenzhen Esun Industrial
Co., Ltd.. Yang Yihu, chairman of this company was appointed
as the President of the union. Zhuo Renxi, an academic of
Chinese Academy of Sciences was designated as the chief
science consultant of the alliance. The more than 30 members
include Tsinghua University Shenzhen Research institute,
General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection
and Quarantine (Shenzhen) and RP TOPLA (Shenzhen).
Yang Yihu said: ”The Innovation Union devotes to advocating
low carbon, developing biological plastic industry, promoting
low-carbon biological plastic economy, and building a
harmonious happy lifestyle between man and nature. The
innovation union aims at building a comprehensive resource
platform of politics, production, study, research and capital,
excavating industry technology & resources advantage
of upstream and downstream, establishing sharing
mechanism of innovation coalition resources, and realizing
the breakthrough of key technology, the core technology and
common technology in low carbon biological plastic industry.”
In addition the alliance is going to create a good condition
and operation environment for the cohesion of upstream
achievements and downstream industry application, facilitate
the conversion achievements to industrialization, and bring
out a rapid development of low-carbon biological plastic
industry. MT
www.shenkar.ac.il
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 5

News
Solvay and
Avantium
Cooperate
Solvay, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium
and Avantium, headquartered in Amsterdam,The
Netherlands, recently announced that they have
entered into a partnership to jointly develop a next
generation of green high-performance polyamides
for engineering plastics. The partnership combines
Solvay’s leading position in specialty polymers and
Avantium’s YXY (pronounced icksy) technology for
producing building blocks for green materials.
The companies will work together to explore
the commercial potential of engineering plastics
on the basis of YXY building blocks. YXY is a
patented technology that converts biomass
into Furanic building blocks, such as FDCA
(2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid). Through the
partnership, new high-performance polyamides
will be developed that are produced using
renewable, bio-based feedstock. Solvay and
Avantium target a next generation of polyamides
with new properties that can serve a range
of engineering applications in areas such as
automotive and electronic materials. Price and
performance of the polyamides will be key drivers
for the success of the project.
“We are very happy to be able to look at the
potential of YXY building blocks in specialty
polyamides together with Avantium”, said Antoine
Amory, in charge of renewable based chemistry
developments within the newly created Innovation
Center of Solvay. “Avantium’s success in making
such building blocks available through a unique
manufacturing route is an essential key step that
opens up new opportunities in the field of specialty
polymers which we are impatient to explore.
“We are excited about our collaboration with
Solvay. The polyamides we will develop together
will become another novel and exciting outlet
for our YXY building blocks,” said Tom van Aken,
CEO of Avantium. “Solvay’s expertise in the field
of polyamides is very important to understand the
polyamides we will focus on and bring them closer
to commercial applications. This agreement is
another important step to explore high-value
added applications for our YXY building blocks,
in addition to work we are already doing in a
complementary polyamide area.” MT
www.solvay.com
www.avantium.com
www.yxy.com
Consumers to Opt for
Bioplastics Packing
As the disposal of packaging in applications such as food has had
an adverse impact on the environment, it has opened up numerous
opportunities for retailers and packaging manufacturers in
bioplastics. This is a result of a study, the market researchers of
Frost & Sullivan published in their new study ‘European Bioplastics
Packaging Market’.
Most traditional packaging materials are oil based. But
consumers are increasingly seeking bio-friendly options to
conventional plastics to safeguard their environment and sources
of renewable energy.
New analysis from the study find that the European bioplastics
packaging market earned revenues of €142.8 million in 2009
and estimates this to reach €475.5 million in 2016, boosted by
increasing production capacities of key industry participants and
increasing consumer awareness about environmental-friendly
products.
Governments could offer tax exemptions and other subsidies
to encourage the production of bio-based, environment-friendly
products from renewable resources to conserve non-renewable
energy and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission.
Market participants can tap the sizeable market potential once
they address bioplastics’ drawbacks of low material performance
and prohibitive pricing caused by the high costs of production and
processing. The cost issue can be effectively resolved by increasing
the production capacity of key industry participants.
“A focus on increasing production capacities and their effective
utilization will help close the price disparity between biopolymers
and conventional plastics,” says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst
Sujatha Vijayan. “This will enable the market to grow and replace
plastics in several applications.”
While increasing consumer awareness is opening up more
avenues for growth, the market’s success also depends on
emerging technologies that can improve the quality and properties
of the material used. For instance, in food packaging, technical
developments in barrier properties will make considerable
improvements to the material that is currently in use.
Meanwhile, retailers are pressuring bioplastics manufacturers
to use active packaging to remove odours. Smart technology is
likely to find traction in this application, as it can actually monitor
the quality of the food through freshness, temperature or quality
indicators built into the package.
“Companies are innovating various technologies to improve the
properties of existing biopolymer and their inventions are expected
to change the way plastics is used in packaging applications,”
notes the analyst. MT
www.frost.com
6 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

News
NatureWorks to Offer New Products
NatureWorks recently announced a major capital investment project at its Blair,
Nebraska, USA, manufacturing facility for the production of new grades of highperformance
Ingeo biopolymers as well as a new generation of lactide intermediates.
Samples of the new polymers and lactide intermediates will be available next year
with commercial sales commencing by 2013.
For the last 10 years, NatureWorks has supported applications development across
this broad range of market segments, resulting in more than 16 commercial grades
of Ingeo resin, each with chemistry and physical properties tailored to a specific end
use. According to NatureWorks chief operations officer, Bill Suehr, “The new capital
investment will significantly broaden our processing capabilities, allowing us to
produce with appropriate economies of scale additional Ingeo products well suited to
the global injection molding and fiber/nonwovens markets.”
New Ingeo grade
The new Ingeo grade for injection molding, for example, will contribute to lower
molded part cost through faster cycle times and higher production rates. Fiber and
nonwoven products made from the new Ingeo grade will have reduced shrinkage and
improved dimensional stability. These improved features are expected to enable the
use of Ingeo biopolymers across a broader range of fiber and nonwoven applications,
providing larger processing windows. NatureWorks also will assess new market and
application opportunities for these new Ingeo grades in the thermoforming, film
extrusion, injection stretch blow molding, and formed extrusion arenas.
New Lactide
In addition the company will be the world’s first to offer in commercial quantities a
high-purity, polymer-grade lactide rich in the stereoisomer meso-lactide. Identified as
Ingeo M700 lactide, the new material can be used as an intermediate for copolymers,
amorphous oligomers and polymers, grafted substrates, resin additives/modifiers,
adhesives, coatings, elastomers, surfactants, thermosets, and solvents.
Until now, several niche-focused producers have attempted to address the
functionality requested by the market with what are described chemically as racemic
lactides. “Compared to these, the high-purity Ingeo M700 will be lower in cost, easier
to process, and an overall better alternative to high-priced racemic lactide, as well as
L- and D-lactides, in a host of industrial applications,” said Dr. Manuel Natal, global
segment leader for lactide derivatives at NatureWorks.
As compared to racemic lactide’s melting point of nearly 130°C, and L- and D-
lactide’s 97°C, Ingeo M700’s melting point is below 60°C. This makes for a more
effective chemical intermediate on a number of different levels. For example, Ingeo
M700 offers a more efficient way to deliver ester functionality and, because it is
effectively an anhydrous form of lactic acid, processors will not have to deal with
water when using Ingeo M700. Meso-lactide is up to two times more susceptible to
ring-opening reactions than L-, D-, or racemic lactides, which can mean less catalyst
usage, lower reaction temperatures, or both. It can be processed below 70°C, which
under most circumstances eliminates the need to handle expensive solid particles
and allows easier processing.
By early 2013, the company will offer thousands of tons of Ingeo M700 lactide. Prior
to this availability, meso-lactide samples will be available in 2012 to advance market
development. MT
www.natureworksllc.com
8 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

News
Letter to the Editor
Re: Blue Cat (issue 03/2011)
I have just been reading the latest issue of your magazine. I am concerned about
the article on Blue Cat cat litter in which it is said that the bio-waste from litter can
be composted. I don’t know what would happen in an industrial compost system,
but in a home compost system, the temperature would not be high enough to kill
off Toxocara canis which can cause blindness in children. Home composting is
quite popular in many countries such as the UK and Belgium, and I understand it is
becoming more popular in Germany. For this reason, we would never recommend
composting cat litter, not even that made from wood shavings.
Iain Ferguson, Environment Manager
The Co-operative Group, Manchester, UK
Francesco Degli Innocenti, Harald Käb, Mark
Vergauwen, Andy Sweetman, Jens Hamprecht,
Jöran Reske, Rainer Barthel (left to right)
European Bioplastics
Elected New Board
On 16 June, the industry association European
Bioplastics elected a new Board which represent the
association and its members for the coming two years.
Andy Sweetman (Innovia Films) was confirmed as
Chairman. Jens Hamprecht (BASF) and Mark Vergauwen
(NatureWorks) are ViceChairmen.
At the beginning of his second term as Chairman
of European Bioplastics Andy Sweetman says: “The
awareness of bioplastics has risen immensely within the
last year as bioplastics reach more and more consumer
products. The Board will therefore continue to dedicate
its expertise to encourage political support and to
strengthen communication about bioplastics”.
Further members of the Board are: Rainer Barthel
(Danone), Francesco Degli Innocenti (Novamont), Joeran
Reske (Interseroh), and Harald Käb (narocon), who was
designated treasurer.
The cover photo of this issue does not exactly reflect one
of our highlight topics. But it reflects the topic of our next
conference. In May 2012 bioplastics MAGAZINE will present the
2 nd PLA World Congress (see 1 st announcement and call for
papers on page 11).
And our cover girl Erica obviously likes PLA. The 2011
mascot of the Japanese company UNITIKA uses cups made
from TERRAMAC, a heat resistant PLA resin by Unitika. Their
technology makes PLA heat-resistant suitable for making
injection moulded products. Unitika’s moulding partners
are providing various products, such as cups, dishes, bowls,
plates, chopsticks, and so on, in various colours, made from
heat-resistant Terramac PLA resin. And Erica’s knitted shirt
is made of Terramac fibres.
www.unitika.co.jp
www.European-bioplastics.org
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 9

Events
www.shutterstock.com / Toria
2 nd PLA World Congress
PLA is a versatile bioplastics raw material from renewable
resources. It is being used for films and rigid
packaging, for fibres in woven and non-woven applications.
Automotive industry and consumer electronics are
thoroughly investigating and even already applying PLA. New
methods of polymerizing, compounding or blending of PLA
have broadened the range of properties and thus the range
of possible applications.
That‘s why bioplastics MAGAZINE is now organizing the 2 nd PLA
World Congress on:
14-15 May 2012 in Munich / Germany
Experts from all involved fields will share their knowledge
and contribute to a comprehensive overview of today‘s
opportunities and challenges and discuss the possibilities,
limitations and future prospects of PLA for all kind of
applications. Like the first one the 2nd PLA World Congress
will also offer excellent networking opportunities for all
delegates and speakers as well as exhibitors of the table-top
exhibition.
2 nd PLA WORLD
C O N G R E S S
14 + 15 MAY 2012 * MUNICH * GERMANY
Call for Papers
bioplastics MAGAZINE invites all experts worldwide from
material development, processing and application of PLA to
submit proposals for papers on the latest developments and
innovations.
The conference will comprise high class presentations on
• Latest developments
• Market overview
• High temperature behaviour
• Barrier issues
• Additives / Colorants
• Applications (film and rigid packaging, textile, automotive,
electronics, toys, and many more)
• Fibers, fabrics, textiles, nonwovens
• Reinforcements
• End of life options (recycling,composting, incineration etc)
Please send your proposal, including speaker details and a
300 word abstract to mt@bioplasticsmagazine.com.
bioplastics MAGAZINE is looking forward to seeing you in
Munich.
Online registration will be available soon.
Watch out for the Early–bird opportunities at
www.pla-world-congress.com
10 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Events
The Bio-based Economy
and Bioplastics –
The Plastics Evolution
2011 is set to be a defining year of the bioplastics industry in Europe, with implications for
the industry around the world. The European Commission is expected to finalise European
Strategy and Action Plan towards a sustainable bio-based economy by 2020 in October or November
2011. This will act as the roadmap for the bio-based economy in Europe and for European
policy-making for the next decade. Ahead of this, European Bioplastics has organised a high-level
conference entitled ‘the Bio-based Economy and Bioplastics – The Plastics Evolution’ at the European
Parliament in Brussels (Belgium) on 22 September 2011. The conference will be preceded
on 21 September by a cocktail reception and product exhibition close to the European
Parliament to demonstrate to all European stakeholders the tangible and demonstrable
reality and potential of bioplastics today.
The conference, will be hosted and chaired by Mr. Lambert van Nistelrooij MEP, the
Chair of the Governing Board of the Knowledge4Innovation Forum of the European
Parliament. The conference will be a unique opportunity to engage with key European
stakeholders – policy-makers, politicians and industry – on the bio-based economy and bioplastics.
The event will feature the benefits and potential contribution of bioplastics to the EU’s commitment
to a transition to a bio-based economy. High-level representatives from the European Commission,
the European Parliament, EU national governments and industry will provide their insights into the
future of the bio-based economy in Europe.
Mr. van Nistelrooij is a leading voice in the European Parliament on innovation in Europe. His
hosting the conference recognises the important role that the bio-based economy plays in the
innovation agenda of the European Union. It also emphasizes the potential contribution of the
bio-based economy to regional development in Europe. This potential has been demonstrated
in the Netherlands through the development of regional and cross-border ‘bio-based clusters’
throughout the country.
The Dutch Bioplastics Value Chain
Dutch leadership on the bio-based economy has been reflected in recent months by a new
initiative established in the Netherlands entitled the Dutch Bioplastics Value Chain. The Value Chain
initiative, which has been supported by European Bioplastics and the Dutch Ministry of Economic
Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, has brought together actors across the full spectrum of the
bioplastics value chain to address the opportunities and constraints of bioplastics in the European
markets. Constraints that were highlighted included access to feedstock, access to finance,
and the importance of consumer communication. Mr. van Nistelrooij further raised awareness
around the issues raised in the course of the Value Chain discussions by posing a written question
directly to the European Commission on the issue of bioplastics and what support to the bio-based
economy the Commission will be providing. The question dealt with many of the issues raised by
the Value Chain, and emphasised the opportunities for regional and rural development through the
bio-based economy.
As demonstrated by the recent announcements of global brand leaders such as Coca-Cola, Heinz
and Danone, the bioplastics message is becoming more and more mainstream within industry.
What is needed now is to ensure that this momentum is reflected at the highest levels politically
and through policy which can help stimulate the growth of the industry in the coming years.
Save the date
www.european-bioplastics.org
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 11

Materials
Novel Bio-Composites
for Structural Applications
by
Miguel Angel Sibila,
Chemical Laboratory Department
Sergio Fita,
Composites Department
Inma Roig,
Composites Department
all Technological Institute of
Plastics (AIMPLAS)
Paterna (Valencia), Spain
(a)
(b)
(c)
www.natex.eu
www.aimplas.es
Composite plate made of PLA reinforced
with flax fibre: (a) Image of the surface,
(b) microscopy image of the surface, (c)
micrograph from the cross-sectional area.
Bio-composites manufactured from natural materials such as fibres
and bio-derived polymers offer a sustainable alternative to traditional
ones, but at present they are still not available for their use in structural
applications.
Researchers at the Technological Institute of Plastics (AIMPLAS), Spain,
in close collaboration with several Technological Institutes, Associations,
and SMEs from eight different European countries, are currently developing
aligned textiles from natural fibres that are suitable for their use as highstrength
reinforcing fabrics to produce structural composite materials. This
includes the incorporation of orientated woven natural fibres in both bioderived
thermoplastics and thermoset resins, to produce high-tech products
from renewable resources.
The European Research Project, entitled Natural Aligned Fibres and
Textiles for Use in Structural Composites Applications (NATEX), is funded by
the European Commission 1 . The partners involved in this project are:
• NETCOMPOSITES LTD (United Kingdom)
• EUROPEAN PLASTIC CONVERTERS ASSOCIATION (Belgium)
• AGCO (France)
• FORMAX UK, Ltd. (United Kingdom)
• EKOTEX (Poland)
• TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF DENMARK (Denmark)
• CHEMOWERK GmbH (Germany)
• INSTITUT FÜR VERBUNDWEKSTOFFE GmbH (Germany)
• ASFIBE (Spain)
• PIEL,S.A. (Spain)
• TRANSFURANS CHEMICALS (Belgium)
• AALTO-KORKEAKOULUSÄÄTIÖ (Finland)
• INSTYTUT WLOKIEN NATURALNYCH I ROSLIN ZIELARSKICH (Poland)
• ABENSI ENERGÍA (Spain)
• BAFA BADISCHE NATURFASERAUTBEREITUNG, GmbH (Germany)
• VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLAND (Finland)
The innovation of the NATEX project has been focused on four main aspects:
• Modification of the fibre surface in order to obtain the desired interface
properties when combined with the polymer matrix.
• New spinning processes to reduce the yarns’ twisting during the textile
manufacturing process, increasing the fibre volume fraction and the
wetting of the fibres, potentially leading to better mechanical properties of
natural fibre-reinforced composites.
• New weaving techniques to improve impregnation and to obtain innovative
3D textiles.
• New commingling and film stacking methods for thermoplastic
composites, in order to improve the permeability of the composite and to
obtain well mingled yarns.
12 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Materials
• Adaptation of diverse resin processing methods (Vacuum
bagging, Compression moulding, Infusion and Resin
Transfer Moulding) in order to fulfil the characteristics of
the modified fibres
The mechanical properties of bio-composites are being
enhanced by means of the improvement of the aligned natural
fibres properties: good impregnation, improved interface
area between fibres and matrix, most of the fibres oriented
in the axis in which stress is applied, reduction of moisture
uptake, high and homogeneous quality fibres, reduced twist
and linear density of the yarn, suitable fibre architecture
minimizing the nesting.
The final aim of the project consists of the incorporation
of these bio-materials in applications with high mechanical
requirements in different sectors: transport, energy,
agricultural machinery and shipbuilding. As an example, a
panel system structure, which will be used in photovoltaic
solar systems and thermal solar systems, is being
designed and developed in order to obtain a part by using
new biocomposites to replace current metallic materials.
With these new biomaterials, the corrosion drawbacks
experienced by traditional panel system structures and
components based on metallic materials is expected to be
overcome, whilst obtaining other benefits such as reduced
weight or increased sustainability at a competitive cost.
The behaviour and durability of these materials under high
temperature conditions will be assessed in order to satisfy
the requirements for such structures.
However, the impact of NATEX will mainly affect the
European Textile sector, which mostly consists of small
and medium-sized companies, by increasing market
competitiveness through the creation of high added value
customized materials as reinforcement for structural parts
made of composites. Additionally, the project will also provide
benefits to the other sectors involved in the new material
supply chain: agriculture (fibre growers), renewable and
synthetic resin producers and end users (transport systems,
energy systems, agricultural machinery and shipbuilding).
Besides, in general terms, the project could also be potentially
applied to other sectors where structural parts are required:
furniture, sports and leisure, aircraft, building, etc.
Since the beginning of the project, an important effort has
been focused on the development and modification of natural
fibres. As a result, the relationship between fibre processing,
fibre defects and fibre properties has been determined.
Additionally, the modification of surface properties of natural
fibres in order to improve interfacial characteristics with
both thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers has been
performed, showing a good potential for better compatibility
with hydrophobic polymers.
For the development of natural fibre based textile preforms
suitable for biocomposites, diverse configurations by using
the most suitable spinning systems have been obtained
leading to different twisting angles and mechanical properties
of the yarns. Moreover, blends of natural fibres with both
petroleum-based and bio-based thermoplastic fibres have
been developed and characterized with good results. 2D and
3D fabrics from natural fibres and blends of thermoplastic
and natural fibres have also been successfully prepared and
characterized.
Regarding polymers, sheets obtained from modified
petroleum-based and bio-based thermoplastic resins
with different additives have featured better extrusion
processability, leading to higher dimensional stability, less
defects, better aesthetics and higher outputs. Moreover,
better mechanical properties and adhesion to natural fabrics
have been observed compared to raw polymers. In the case of
thermosetting resins, the addition of suitable additives have
shown improved adhesion of unsaturated polyester resins to
natural fabrics, leading to higher mechanical properties. The
processing of unsaturated polyester resins and natural fabrics
by different methods such as resin transfer moulding (RTM)
and infusion has been carried out with good impregnation
properties and surface finishing. Renewable thermosetting
furan resins have shown a comparative performance to that
of phenolic resins. Furthermore, a specific furan resin has
been found ideal for prepreg applications.
From all the developed materials, an important effort has
been focused in the modification and adaptation of suitable
processing techniques for both thermoplastic and thermoset
biocomposites production. Thermoplastic biocomposites
have been successfully processed by defined manufacturing
techniques such as compression moulding, leading to good
mechanical properties and surface finishing. Considering
thermosetting biocomposites, parts with good mechanical
properties and surface appearance have been processed by
RTM and methods. Prepregs from furan resins and natural
fibres have been processed by compression moulding leading
to good mechanical properties and finishing.
With regard to the final applications of the project, different
case studies have been selected to be developed from
natural fabrics and both thermoplastic and thermosetting
resins. Requirements for these parts have been established
and current work is focused on the development of first
prototypes. Good preliminary results have been obtained from
the shipbuilding and transport system case studies showing
a good prospect for the development of biocomposites from
polymers reinforced with natural fibres.
1: Acknowledgement: NATEX project has received funding from
the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme
(FP7/2007-2013) NMP area (Nanosciences, nanotechnologies,
Materials and new Production Technologies) under grant
agreement N o 214467.
The information above reflects only the NATEX beneficiaries’
views and the Community is not liable for any use that may be
made of the information contained therein.
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 13

Bottles
By
Dan Komula
Business Analyst
Virent
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Completing the Puzzle:
100% Plant-Derived PET
CH 3
CH 3
O 2
-H 2
O
O
O
OH
OH
Paraxylene is converted into
Terephthalic Acid
(Graph: Simon, KR)
The interest in bio-based plastics falls into two main areas – sustainability
and economics, and there is significant overlap between these areas. Many
companies including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Danone, WalMart, Heinz, Nike and
others, have initiated sustainability goals including recycled PET (rPET), lightweighting
and the most recent introduction of partially bio-based PET. These sustainability
goals and programs have been driven by companies’ desires to reduce
their environmental footprint and to respond to a growing consumer demand for
sustainable and renewable packaging. Non-Government Organizations, such as
the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), have also played a large part in raising concerns
over traditional petroleum based packaging materials. The sustainability of packaging
is no longer just a ‘nice to have’ or exclusively part of a company’s corporate
social responsibility, but is seen as a business necessity to attract consumers and
protect market share in certain regions.
The other main driver for interest in bio-based plastics is the need to find an
alternative to crude oil as a basic feedstock. In the long run, crude oil will increase
in price as demand continues to grow and new oil resources become ever more
expensive to locate and develop. Therefore, companies using PET packaging are
seeking alternatives that will help them to reduce costs and minimize volatility.
While switching to other materials such as glass, metal and paper composites
is an option in certain cases, PET has replaced these materials in many uses
Figure 1. Bio-based feedstocks for both MEG and PTA allow for
the production of a 100% renewable and recyclable PET bottle.
Plant-Based
Material
BioFormPX Bio-PTA 70%
Plant-Based
Material
Ethanol Bio-MEG 50%
Bio-PET
Resin
Bottle
Forming
14 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Bottles
because of a variety of benefits it offers (light-weight, clarity,
resilience, etc). Users will not give up these benefits easily. In
addition to the long run cost increases that will result from
using oil, the recent volatility of crude oil prices has also
caused problems for end users of PET. Since January 2008,
PET prices have fluctuated between $1,400 (€ 985) and $2,400
(€ 1,700) per tonne with recent prices in April 2011 hitting alltime
highs (source: CMAI Chemical Market Ass. Inc.). These
price fluctuations put pressure on the end users of PET and
wreak havoc with business planning, profit margins and
supply contracts. The risk that such volatility introduces into
the PET supply chain has a real economic cost.
Meeting sustainable packaging goals requires an efficient
and economical manner for producing renewable chemicals
that are identical to existing petroleum-derived counterparts.
Molecules that can be ‘dropped-in’ to existing supply chains
and recycling infrastructure take advantage of the extensive
capital infrastructure and production know-how already
in place today. Virent’s technology allows for leveraging of
the existing infrastructure for the production of biobased
chemicals and polymers.
PET Overview
PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) was developed in the
1940s as a synthetic fiber polymer. Demand for the polymer
grew exponentially in the 1960s and 1970s as knit fabrics
gained popularity in fashion apparel. Today, it is a major part
of the polyester family of polymers. According to CMAI, global
demand for PET will be ~54 million metric tons in 2011.
Fibers are the dominant application of PET, accounting for
62% (CMAI) of total PET demand. PET is a high performing
synthetic fiber, as the polymer keeps its shape, color and
is extremely stain resistant. The second largest use (31%,
CMAI) of total PET demand is found in PET bottle resin. This
application started commercially in the 1970s as the soft
drink industry was attempting to source a lighter-weight
bottle to replace glass, while still maintaining the clarity and
appeal of a glass bottle. The industry found PET resin was
ideal for its needs, and the stretch blow molding process was
born. The remaining demand for PET is in films (4%) and
other small niche market applications (3%).
There are two streams of raw materials which comprise
PET: Mono-Ethylene Glycol (MEG), and Purified Terephthalic
Acid (PTA). PTA is made from paraxylene, and historically,
all of these raw materials have been sourced from fossil
resources (crude oil and natural gas).
The MEG portion of PET can be produced from traditional
petrochemical routes via ethylene or can be produced
from natural plant sources (via fermentation to ethanol
and dehydration to ethylene). The PTA/paraxylene portion,
representing approximately 70% (by wt. or even 80% if we just
look at the carbon atoms) of the PET molecule has remained
a fossil-fuel component derived from petroleum refinery
streams, due to the difficulty of producing the aromatic
paraxylene molecule from bio-based sources. That has been
the difficulty for companies seeking a 100% bio-based PET
polymer. Now Virent has demonstrated a route to make biobased
paraxylene that opens up the potential for 100% biobased
PET.
BioFormPX Production Enabling
a 100% Biobased PET bottle
Virent is making paraxylene as well as other chemicals
and biofuels through its patented technology. Coupled with
biobased MEG, Virent’s BioFormPX allows bottlers and
other packaging companies to offer their consumers 100%
renewable and recyclable PET bottles as well as fibers and
films.
Virent’s BioForming ® Platform
Virent’s process, trademarked BioForming ® , is based on
a novel combination of Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR)
Converting Multible Feedstocks to High Value Hydrocarbons
Biomass
Sugar Cane
Bioforming Process
Aqueous
Phase
Reforming
Reactive
Intermediates
Virent
Modified
ZSM-5
Aromatic-rich
BioFormate
Aromatics
Complex
BioParaXylene
BioBenzene
BioToluene
BioXylenes
BioFuels
Corn
Figure 2. Virent’s BioForming process utilizes the patented APR process coupled with conventional
catalytic conversion technologies and petrochemical operations to produce BioFormPX.
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 15

Bottles
R
O O OH
OH
OH
R
OH
R
Xylose Oligomers
HO
O
O
OH
OH
O
HO
OH
OH OH
HO
O
OH
O
O
O
OH
OH
OH
HO
Cellulose Oligomers
O
O
O
OH
HMF
OH OH
OH OH
Glucose
O
OH
Benzoic Acid
OH OH
Xylose
OH
O
O
Levulinic Acid
OH
OH
R
R
R
R
O
O
O
OH
R
HO
OH
R
OH
O
O
O
OH
O
OH
APR Reactant
APR Products
Figure 3. Virent uses catalysts to reduce the oxygen content of the feedstock. Once formed, the mono-oxygenated species are converted
to non-oxygenated hydrocarbons in a continuous process using conventional catalytic condensation and hydrotreating techniques.
Virent Energy Systems, Inc.
Virent was founded in 2002 and is
headquartered in Madison, WI, USA.
The company produces the chemicals
and fuels the world demands from a
wide range of naturally occurring,
renewable resources. Using patented
catalytic chemistry, Virent converts
soluble biomass-derived sugars
into products molecularly-identical
to those made with petroleum,
including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel,
and chemicals used for plastics and
fibers. Virent’s technology has the
potential to replace over 90% of the
products derived from a barrel of
crude oil.
technology with modified conventional catalytic processing technologies.
The APR technology was discovered at the University of Wisconsin in 2001
by Virent’s founder and Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Randy Cortright. The
BioForming platform expands the utility of the APR process by combining
APR with catalysts and reactor systems similar to those found in standard
petroleum oil refineries and petrochemical complexes. The process converts
aqueous carbohydrate solutions into a mix of hydrocarbons. The BioForming
process has been demonstrated with conventional sugars as well as a wide
variety of cellulosic biomass from non-food sources.
Virent’s aqueous phase reforming methods utilize heterogeneous catalysts at
moderate temperatures (450 to 575 K) and pressure (10 to 90 bar) in a number
of series and parallel reactions to reduce the oxygen content of the feedstock.
The reactions include: (1) reforming to generate hydrogen, (2) dehydrogenation
of alcohols/hydrogenation of carbonyls; (3) deoxygenation reactions; (4)
hydrogenolysis; and (5) cyclization. Once formed, Virent has found that these
mono-oxygenated species (e.g. alcohols, ketones and aldehydes) can be
converted to non-oxygenated hydrocarbons in a continuous process using
conventional catalytic condensation and hydrotreating techniques.
The production of Virent’s bio-paraxylene, branded BioFormPX involves
the APR process followed by a modified acid condensation catalyst (ZSM-5)
which produces a stream similar to a petroleum derived reformate, branded
BioFormate. In the acid condensation step, the APR products are converted
into a mixture of hydrocarbons, including paraffins, aromatics and olefins.
The similarity between Virent’s BioFormate stream and a typical petroleum
reformate stream is shown in Fig 4.
The resultant BioFormate stream has been blended into the gasoline pool
and can be subsequently processed into high value chemical intermediates,
such as paraxylene using commercially proven and practiced technologies.
Virent’s BioFormate stream has been blended by Royal Dutch Shell into a
gasoline fuel used by the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 racing team.
Virent has produced sufficient quantities of its BioFormate through
operation of its 37,800 Liter (10,000 gallon) per year demonstration plant to
generate volumes for further processing to paraxylene. Virent completed in
house purification through the use of commercial crystallization techniques to
produce a purified bio-paraxylene product. The use of crystallization technology
is used to meet the industry required specification of 99.7+% purity.
16 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Bottles
Petroleum Reformate Stream
Virent’s BioFormate
Figure 4: Virent’s plant-based reformate bears striking resemblance to that
found at a typical refinery
Road to Commercialization
Virent is currently in discussions with a number of major end users of
PET fiber, bottle resin and film, to commercialize the BioForming platform
for the production of BioFormPX. Manufacturers involved in the traditional
petrochemical PET supply chain have also expressed interest in contributing
to building out the biobased PET supply chain. The ability of Virent to use
existing petrochemical assets and technologies accelerates the time to
commercial deployment. Virent is targeting commercial production of its
BioFormPX by 2015 or earlier and believes that the demand pull from the
major end users of PET is crucial to the initial commercialization and success
of bio-based PET.
Virent’s BioForming platform for BioFormPX produces other bio-based
aromatic intermediates, including benzene, toluene and other xylenes,
as well as biofuels. These other aromatic intermediates can be used to
produce biobased polystyrene, polycarbonate, and polyurethane. This
diversified product slate allows for de-risking of commercial deployments
as the profitability is not dependent on one molecule or market. Virent has
produced material that would be suitable using today’s aromatics processing
infrastructure from its 37,800 Liter per year demonstration plant. While that
is sufficient volume to provide samples to prospective partners, the current
demand for plant-based paraxylene is even more significant and is poised
to grow at high rates in the future. Virent envisions the BioForming platform
as being an industry wide solution enabling 100% bio-based PET while
complementing petroleum based PET.
The ability of Virent to use existing petrochemical assets and technologies
accelerates the time to commercial deployment. The scale of this plant is yet
to be finalized and will depend on a number of factors including feedstock
source, logistics, and customer demand. Potential plant sizes range from
30,000 tonnes/yr to 225,000 tonnes/yr of BioFormPX production. The large
scale plant could produce 30 Billion 0.295 Liter (10 oz) bio PET water bottles
or 17 Billion 0.590 Liter (20 oz) bio PET soft drink bottles. The introduction
of this first plant can have a large impact on the PET bottle industry and the
implementation of future plants will increase the impact.
Figure 5. Virent’s 10,000 gallon/yr
BioFormate demonstration plant (top)
and Virent’s BioFormPX (bottom) in
its crystalline form during in house
purification.
www.virent.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 17

Bottles
By
Kim Ji Hyun
R&D center
SK Chemicals
Gyeonggi-Do, KOREA
New Bottle Material
A new bio-based, BPA-free and high-temperature copolyester
SK Chemicals, the leading copolyester resin manufacturing company
based in Korea, has recently developed ECOZEN ® , the world’s first
eco-friendly high-temperature copolyester resin. The new Ecozen
range of products is being produced at the SK Chemicals plant in Ulsan,
Korea, in a proprietary process, alongside the existing SKYGREEN copolyester
and SKYPET PET products. Ecozen provides an increased performance
over existing copolyester materials in almost all areas, particularly
temperature resistance and is seen by the manufacturer as a viable alternative
to materials such as polycarbonate (PC). Other advantages over PC
include the fact that Ecozen contains no Bisphenol-A (BPA), the ingredient
of PC that has recently caused it to be banned for use in children’s products
in many countries worldwide. In addition, Ecozen is the first copolyester
in the world to be made using a bio-based monomer that is derived
from renewable resources such as corn or wheat. The biomass contained
in the currently available grades of Ecozen ranges from 9% up to 30%.
Ecozen Properties
Since they were first discovered, copolyesters have enjoyed rapid market
acceptance and growth due to their combination of easy-processing
and excellent properties. However, the relatively low maximum service
temperature of copolyester has, until now, limited their use to low
temperature applications up to about 70°C. This has made the material
unsuitable for critical applications such as hot-filled and pasteurised
containers, and dishwasher-proof reusable cookware and food-storage
containers. Ecozen retains all the advantages of traditional copolyesters
but now has the high HDT properties necessary to compete with materials
such as PC or heat-set PET in temperature-resistant containers for
hot-filled or pasteurised products, or for baby’s products that require
sterilisation. (Fig. 1)
18 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Bottles
Ecozen is kinder to the environment since it is the first copolyester
to contain a substantial content of renewable bio-based material,
and it is also compatible with traditional copolyesters such as
PET and PETG. This offers a whole new dimension compared to
other competitive transparent plastic materials.
For food storage and packaging applications, Ecozen offers
excellent oxygen-barrier properties for long shelf-life food and
beverage products. Table 1 shows typical oxygen permeation
coefficients for polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), copolyester
(PETG) and Ecozen. The oxygen permeation coefficient of Ecozen
is about ten times lower than either PC or PP and it is therefore
the ideal material to produce food storage jars and bottles to
extend the storage-life of oxygen-sensitive items such as fruit
juice or dairy products.
In addition, Ecozen also provides the high chemical resistance
required to package products such as cosmetics, and has an
excellent resistance to food-staining, a main requirement for
food-storage containers and cookware.
Ecozen Processing.
The many advantages of copolyesters include their versatility
and ease of processing using standard injection moulding,
injection- and extrusion-blow moulding, and sheet, film or profile
extrusion equipment. Similarly, Ecozen can also be used in all the
above processes, with only minor changes to process parameters
and no changes to mould design. This means that new users of
Ecozen will not have the cost or inconvenience of setting up new
processing conditions, or having to invest in new equipment or
mould modifications.
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
PET
PETG
HDT-B (°C)
HDT 85°C
HDT 100°C HDT 110°C
ECOCEN
Fig. 1. HDT-B of PET, PETG and Ecozen
(ASTM D648, 0.455MPa)
Material ASTM Unit Oxygen
Polycarbonate (PC)
93
Polypropylene (PP) 98
D 3985 cm³∙mm/(m²∙day∙bar)
PETG 10
Ecozen 8
Table 1. Typical oxygen permeation coefficients
of PC, PP, PETG and Ecozen at 23°C
Ecozen Applications
The excellent high-clarity and gloss properties of Ecozen
combined with ease of processing offer the improved design
flexibility required by packaging designers for high-quality
cutting-edge cosmetics and perfume containers.
Ecozen has the high melt-strength necessary to manufacture
large-volume containers with an integral handle made by the
extrusion-blow moulding process.
Ecozen represents an attractive alternative to PC, which
contains BPA, regarded by many authorities as an endocrine
disruptor. Ecozen not only offers a BPA-free alternative to PC
that is both durable and dishwasher-safe, but it also encourages
consumers to use refillable bottles for products such as sports
beverages.
In addition to packaging, Ecozen, with a heat distortion
temperature (HDT-B) increase of between 10°C to 40°C
higher than that of other existing copolyesters, is also already
replacing more traditional materials such as PC in many highperformance
engineering applications within the electrical,
electronics, construction and automobile sectors because of it’s
unique combination of excellent impact-strength, high chemicalresistance
and outstanding transparency.
http://skecozen.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 19

Materials
Too Cool for School
Nanofibrillar cellulose and their industrial promising
future in combination with bioplastics.
Fig. 1. Top: Cellulose kraft pulp fibres.
Bottom: The surface structure of a single
cellulose fibre, where the microfibrils are
clearly visualized
Fig. 2. Cellulose nanofibrils.
Cellulose is the most frequently used biopolymer in material science,
occurring in wood, cotton, hemp and other plant-based materials
and serving as the dominant reinforcing phase in plant structures.
Cellulose is used already for many purposes that include its use in packaging,
composites, structural materials (wood is still the principal element
in building constructions in many countries) and many other applications.
The biorefinery concepts introduced in the last 30 years and the
advancement of research in the nano area are now allowing new possible
developments for cellulose: nanofibrillar cellulose (MFC) is the new trend
in the industry (Fig.1).
From their first discovery in the 1980’s until today MFCs have gained
increasing attention due to their unique properties in improving the
mechanical, optical and barrier performance of a given material. Today,
their properties are becoming well-known in many areas, but it is in the field
of composites where those properties can give their best in combination
with bioplastics.
MFCs are being produced by fibrillation of cellulose fibres. The most
common ways to produce the fibrils is by using high pressure homogenization
or grinding. In order to facilitate the fibrillation, various ways to pre-treat
the fibres are often carried out. The pre-treatment can be mechanical,
chemical, enzymatic or a combination of these. Pre-treatment lowers the
energy consumption in the fibrillation step which otherwise can be very high
and after substantial chemical pre-treatment it is also possible to fibrillate
the fibres by just using sonication. The various pre-treatment and fibrillation
methods also influence several parameters of the produced fibrils, such
as degree of polymerization, fibril length, surface chemistry, average fibril
diameter, rheological properties and fibril diameter size distribution [1].
Thus, it is possible to produce the material in several qualities and to adjust
the product so that it is at its optimum for a specific application. At the
Paper and Fiber institute today we distinguishe between tailor-made MFC
dispersions and MFC is no longer used as a general term.
Nanofibrils constitute the major fraction of properly produced MFC
materials [2]. Nanofibrils have diameters in the nano-scale (1 µm) (Fig. 2). Such nanofibrils are expected
to play a key role in improving the mechanical, optical and barrier properties
of a given material. Recently, advances have been reported in the production
of cellulose nanofibrils on an industrial-scale [3], which opens up new
possibilities in the proper utilization of this natural and promising material.
Adequate morphological characterisation of nanofibrils requires
microscopy techniques with suitable resolution. Several advanced
microscopy techniques exist for micro- and nano-assessments, including
the commonly applied atomic force microscopy (AFM), field-emission
scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy
(TEM) and their corresponding different modes of operation. FESEM is a
most versatile technique for structural studies. Samples can rapidly be
20 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Materials
assessed at several scales, providing also high-resolution of for example
1 nm. This is a valuable property as the morphology of a given MFC
material can be assessed properly and in detail [4].
Nowadays MFCs are used commercially or at research level in different
areas of expertize: Packaging, paper, emulsions, membranes, as a
thickener, as well as in filters and in medical applications - to list just a
few of them. Among all of them, the production of composite materials is
the area where they could be the right partner for bioplastics.
Nanocomposites based on nanocellulosic materials such as
microfibrillated cellulose or bacterial cellulose have been prepared with
petroleum-derived non-biodegradable polymers such as polyethylene
(PE) or polypropylene (PP) and also with biodegradable polymers such
as PLA, polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), starch, polycaprolactone (PCL) and
polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). Chemical modification of cellulose has
been explored as a route for improving filler dispersion in hydrophobic
polymers. Due to compatibility problems of nanocellulosic materials
and hydrophobic matrices, it is clear that nanocomposites based on
hydrophilic matrix polymers will be easier to produce and commercialize.
The improvement of compatibility with apolar materials, on the other
hand, requireschemical modification of nanocelluloses. Because of the
hydrophilic nature of the material it is easy to understand why MFC and
Bioplastics are perfect partners to develop new and totally renewable
composite materials.
www.pfi.no
By:
Marco Iotti, Gary Chinga
Carrasco, Kristin Syverud
Paper and Fiber research
Institute
Trondheim, Norway
[1] Iotti, M; Gregersen, Ø; Møe, S; Lenes, M.
(2011): Rheological Studies of Microfibrillar
Cellulose Water Dispersions. Journal of
Polymers and the Environment, 19(1), 137-
145. Open access.
[2] Chinga-Carrasco, G. (2011): “Cellulose
fibres, nanofibrils and microfibrils: The
morphological sequence of MFC components
from a plant physiology and fibre technology
point of view”. Nanoscale Research Letters
2011, 6:417. Open access.
[3] Syverud, K. (2011): “Industrial-scale
production of nanofibres from wood”.
http://www.pfi.no/PFI_Templates/
NewsPage____450.aspx
[4] Chinga-Carrasco, G., Yu, Y, Diserud, O.
(2011): “Quantitative electron microscopy
of cellulose nanofibril structures from
Eucalyptus and Pinus radiata pulp fibres.
Microscopy and microanalysis. In press.
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 21

Applications
A Cleaner Hospital,
Pharmafilter is an integral concept for patient
care, waste management and wastewater
purification for hospitals, nursing homes and
other care institutions. Pharmafilter has important
benefits for patients and nursing staff.
It improves the hygiene and efficiency of aseptic
hospital processes by introducing single-use
disposables from bio-degradable plastics instead
of re-usables, such as cutlery, tableware, bedpans
and urinals. These easy-to-use products reduce
contacts with contaminated waste.
Bedpan Olla
The Pharmafilter concept
The waste from a hospital department will be disposed of in a shredder, the
Tonto ® . This Tonto is conveniently located at the nursing department sanitization
station and replaces the conventional bedpan washer. The Tonto is connected
to the existing sewer system. Together with the effluent from toilets, sinks and
showers, the shredded waste is transported, through the existing hospital piping
infrastructure, to a purification plant on the hospital site.
Solid waste is separated from wastewater in the plant. The solid waste is
reduced by anaerobic digestion, producing biogas. This gas is re-used for
powering the plant. The wastewater is purified and all harmful substances are
eliminated,.
Hygiene and safety
Two principles reduce contact with contaminated materials:
1. The introduction of single-use products simplifies protocols, offering
hospitals a major advantage in introducing hygienic practices. These
products don’t have to be washed and sterilized. The need for washing
hands are avoided at many stages, because cross-contaminaton risks are
eliminated. It has the additional advantage that clean products are handled
and stored separate from contaminated products.
2. The waste is disposed of in the fastest manner close to the source and is
safely transported to a processing plant. Traditionally, waste is sorted,
gathered and stored temporarily in specifiec containers and carts. This
waste leaves the hospital via corridors and elevators, a process that can lead
to problems with hygiene, cause cross-contamination and overloading of the
hospital elevator and hallway infrastructure.
By
Eduardo van den Berg
Managing Director
Pharmafilter
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
and
Jan Ravenstijn
Bioplastics Consultant
Bioplastics
As a closed-loop system, Pharmafilter is an ideal environment for bioplastic
applications. 100% of the resulting waste is processed through an anaerobic
digester with a high energy return and minimal residual waste. Dozens of highvolume
single use bioplastic products will be developed in close cooperation
with hospitals’ staff and end users.
So far, the bio-based polymers PHA and TPS (thermoplastic starch) have
been demonstrated to be good anaerobically digestible products. PLA is more
of a challenge, since it requires specific digester conditions for complete
22 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Applications
a Cleaner Environment
anaerobic digestion. Other bio-based polymers, like PBS, still have to be tested.
However, for most bio-based plastic articles compounds of two or more of the
abovementioned bio-based polymers will be used. Good anaerobic digestibility
is required for each of those compounds.
The Pharmafilter disposables are designed with the latest generation
of certified, 100% biodegradable plastics. These bioplastics are made
from renewable resources like waste from corn, potato chips, or paper
manufacturing. These bioplastics have much lower CO 2
emissions during their
life cycle. The quality of Pharmafilter’s biodegradable products is equal to
that of the conventional plastic and the design surpasses traditional metal
products both functionally and estetically.
BedPan Olla
Consultation was sought with patients and nursing staff on the design of
the Olla. Important criteria in design were hygiene and ergonomics. Robust
material is used in manufacturing of the Olla which offers stability, but unlike
the traditional bedpan it feels comfortable and warm to the skin. After patient
use the Olla can be closed airtight and with the extended handle the nursing
staff can deposit the Olla bedpan easily into the Tonto. In this case metal is
replaced by a PHA based compound.
Shredder Tonto
PRIME MATERIAL
European Trade Fair and Forum for Composites, Technology and Applications
27 - 29 SEPTEMBER 2011 | STUTTGART | GERMANY
>>
>>
>>
Lightweight efficiency
The potential for improving efficiency through the use of new materials determines
the capabilities of major European industries.
COMPOSITES EUROPE, as the most intensive industrial trade fair, depicts the topics of
raw materials, semi-finished goods and process engineering in a user-friendly manner.
The combination of innovation and production.
The integration of know-how and materials.
The platform for experts in world markets.
ORGANISER
PARTNER
WWW.COMPOSITES-EUROPE.COM
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 23

Applications
Urinal Botta
The design approach of the Botta urinal was undertaken in the same way as the
Olla. The Botta urinal opening in the neck is designed to be free of leaks and drips.
The bag in which the urine is collected only has to be changed once a day. The bag
is designed to block unpleasant odours when in use. The urine in the Botta can be
easily and hygienically accessed for removing samples. Both, the injection moulded
part and the film are based on PHA compounds.
Other products will be developed in cooperation with the nursery and facility
management staff of hospitals, like wash bowls, plates, cutlery, baskets for bread,
all kinds of containers and many more possible applications.
Benefits
An investment in the Pharmafilter system delivers many benefits: Working more
efficiently and effectively in cleaner and safer circumstances; less cost associated
with transport of solid waste; reduced waste charges; significant reduction
of waste streams into public management and control and reduction of health
risks. Pharmafilter provides a platform for further innovation in management of
hospital waste streams, produces energy from biogas, produces clean biomass
suitable for re-use in CHP or agriculture/horticulture; re-use of water as process
water and provides the hospital with a system that eliminates contamination of the
environment from medicines and pathogens.
Once the system is installed in the hospital, all kinds of departments with their
specific waste streams can be connected to the infrastructure easily.
Urinal Botta
Energy and CO 2
Pharmafilter reduces CO 2
emissions. Some contributory factors include less
dish washing, less use of elevators, less movements within the hospital, less
road transportation and less incineration of waste. Organic materials, including
bioplastic products are digested for more than 90% of their mass and converted
into biogas. The biogas is used to heat the digester to 60°C and deliver power to the
water purification plant. Digestion eliminates viruses and bacteria. The digestion
process significantly reduces waste disposal and requires fewer trucks to transport
the waste. All remaining waste can be recycled or turned into energy.
Clean water
Pharmafilter significantly reduces pharmaceutical substances in the surface
waters. Contamination of water by medicines is a subject of serious concern and
receives more and more public attention.
Independent laboratory research has proven that Pharmafilter cleans water of
medicines, germs, cytostatics, contrast liquids and endocrine substances. The
purified water can be re-used as process water.
Partners
Pharmafilter BV is working together with principal stakeholders. Together
with the important and crucial support of the Government of the Netherlands
and the European Union we can realize our goal: ‘A cleaner hospital, a cleaner
environment.’
Our Partners: The hospital ‘Reinier De Graaf Gasthuis’ in Delft, the District
Water Control Board ‘Het Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland’ and the Foundation
for Applied Water Research ‘STOWA’ have approved the 2 nd phase of the pilot with
Pharmafilter. A full scale demonstration commenced in the summer of 2010 at the
hospital Reinier De Graaf Gasthuis in Delft, Netherlands.
www.pharmafilter.nl
The first commercial contract has been signed by the hospital ‘Zorgsaam’ in
Terneuzen, the Netherlands. •
24 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Testing
Measure Biodegradability
of Plastics More Accurately
By
Yoshi Ohno
Engineering Specialist
Saida FDS Inc.
Shizuoka-Ken, JAPAN
Shogo Uematsu
former professor
University of Shizuoka
Background
In this century, people are starting to try to establish an environmentallyfriendly
society to balance human society and the global environment.
Packaging materials, especially disposable packages, are becoming one of
the major reasons behind a negative impact on the global environment.
Chemical engineers are trying to develop plastic materials which can be
biodegraded under various conditions such as compost, soil, aqueous or
anaerobic digestion under activated sludge condition.
However, the plastics should not simply ‘disintegrate’ into small and
fine fragments (oxo-degradation) but should be ‘completely biodegradable’
to carbon dioxide and water under aerobic conditions, and to methane and
carbon dioxide under controlled and captured anaerobic condition [1]
‘Biodegradability’ as an International Standard
To avoid misuse or misunderstanding of the term ‘Biodegradability’, unified
test procedures according to international standards have been established..
For example, when applying the test procedure in ISO14855-2:2007 [2], PLA
is proven as a biodegradable plastic that is biodegraded by more than 90%
after 45 days at 58°C under composting conditions (Fig.1). In this way PLA
became one of the most recognized biodegradable plastics in the world.
ISO14855-2 and MODA apparatus
In this ‘ biodegradable ’ testing field, ISO14855-1:2005 [3] (ASTM5338-11 [4],
EN14046:2003 [5]) was one of the well understood procedures, namely the
aerobic biodegradable test under compost condition, but the procedure had
difficulty in reproducing over 70% biodegradation of cellulose in Japan.
Biodegradation (%)
Fig1.Effect of repetitive experiments on
aerobic biodegradation
of PLA by MODA (ISO 14855-2)
PLA-1, -2
Addition of urea
100
80
60
40
20
100
0
80
60
40
cellulose-1, -2
Re-addition of PLA
20
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Biodegradation (%)
To make the reason clear and to identify a solution, a national project started
about 10 years ago to develop apparatus and a test procedure under the
leadership of JBPA (Japan Bioplastic Association) and with the cooperation of
AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) plus
several universities.
As a result of various tests carried out, it was seen that microbial activity
under matured compost conditions depends on the water content of the
compost. It was discovered that it was very difficult to maintain an appropriate
water content level for a long period.
Because European matured composts have only a small volatile content, it
can obtain sufficient microbial activity for biodegradation testing with relatively
little water On the other hand, Asian matured composts, including Japanese,
have a much higher volatile content and thus, microbial activation by water is
over a relatively short time and soon the microbial activation is significantly
reduced.
Adding sea sand or vermiculite to mature compost dilutes the volatile
material content and keeps the water holding capacity at an appropriate level.
Test duration (day)
26 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Testing
Test results became almost the same as the test results seen in European
countries.
In addition, by designing the apparatus called MODA (Microbial Oxidative
Degradation Analyzer) we could succeeded in reducing the amount of compost
to 1/10 of the quantity of test material specified in ISO14855-1 by introducing
a precise ‘Gravimetric Procedure’ to measure the amount of CO 2
generated.
Based on the original MODA apparatus, Saida FDS developed the MODA-6
apparatus for which the company introduced an environmental chamber
holding six reaction units in it keep temperature conditions constant and
maintain the same appropriate water content.
Fig2. MODA-6 apparatus
This MODA apparatus was originally designed to carry out testing under
compost conditions, but is also considered applicable to soil condition, Saida
have started tests using the MODA apparatus for biodegradability testing
under soil conditions, that is standardized as ISO17556.
To make test result more reliable and accurate
Biodegradability testing usually needs to take place over a period longer
than two months but if test results are at not at a satisfactory level, all the
efforts spent for the time became to be useless.
In addition to ISO standards and apparatus, SAIDA came to understand
the importance of preparation and adjustment of the compost, because
biodegradation is done by microbial life forms. Depending on how well
preparation and adjustment of compost are done has a substantial impact on
the results of testing.
Insufficiently matured compost easily generates ammonia because it has a
high volatile content. On the contrary, over-matured compost in which most of
microbials are dormant has a low level of activation and sometimes causes
the situation that the reference material cellulose cannot reach at 70% of
biodegradation even though it takes 45 days for testing.
In dry conditions of composting the water content is too low, and causes
same result as over-matured compost. And if the water contents in compost
is too high, it becomes an anaerobic fermentation and the test falls into the
area of invalid result.
As explained above, a preincubation process for compost is very important
to obtain appropriate test results, and is well understood. This preincubation
process may differ from compost to compost in each country. To identify the
best preincubation process, trying various alternatives using cellolose as a
reference material helps a lot.
Recently Saida established a laboratory and started biodegradation
research and testing by having the support of Dr.Uematsu, former professor
of University of Shizuoka. In addition to aerobic testing, Saida developed an
apparatus called MODA-B to carry out testing under anaerobic conditions
(standardization is under way as ISO/DIS13975). •
www.saidagroup.jp
[1] Narayan, R: Misleading Claims and
Misuse of Standards continue, ‘bioplastics
MAGAZINE, issue 02/2010, page 38.
[2] ISO14855-2:2007 Determination of
the ultimate aerobic biodegradability
of plastic materials under controlled
composting conditions -- Method by
analysis of evolved carbon dioxide -- Part
2: Gravimetric measurement of carbon
dioxide evolved in a laboratory-scale test
[3] ISO14855-1:2005 Determination of
the ultimate aerobic biodegradability
of plastic materials under controlled
composting conditions -- Method by
analysis of evolved carbon dioxide -- Part
1: General method
[4] ASTM5338-11 Test Method for
Determining Aerobic Biodegradation
of Plastic Materials Under Controlled
Composting Conditions. Incorporating
Thermophilic Temperatures
[5] EN14046:2003 Packaging. Evaluation of
the ultimate aerobic biodegradability and
disintegration of packaging materials
under controlled composting conditions.
Method by analysis of released carbon
dioxide
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 27

Applications News
Biodegradable Key
Fob and Trolley Token
To help make even the weekly shopping as eco-friendly
as possible, Publisearch srl has created a line of key fobs
with built-in trolley tokens, all 100% biodegradable.
Publisearch srl is the leading Italian provider of
promotional items made from innovative materials. They
have an internal business unit called Promogreen which
is dedicated to the design and manufacture of items
made from a very special bioplastic called APINAT ® . This
unique bioplastic is also produced by an Italian company,
API Spa, who are world leaders in the production of
thermoplastic compounds.
Apinat enables manufacturers and designers to
create products with the same technical qualities and
appearance as traditional plastics but which also play
their part in safeguarding the environment. Apinat is the
trade name of an innovative family of recyclable bioplastics
which are biodegradable in an aerobic conditions in line
with EN 13432, EN 14995 and ASTM D6400 standards.
The material has the same characteristics of traditional
thermoplastic elastomers and does not degrade in water
or in air.
The fun egg-shaped key fobs are available in a range of
lively, non-toxic colours and the trolley token held inside
is the same shape and size as a 1 Euro coin. MT
Green Corrosion
Inhibitor Film
Eco-Corr ® is a biobased and biodegradable film
utilizing Cortec’s patented VpCI ® technology. “It is the
first 100 % biodegradable VCI (Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor)
film in the world, initiating a new era for 21 st century
packaging!” says a press release by Cortec. This highly
efficient product provides much better tensile strength,
tear resistance and ultimate elongation than low density
polyethylene (LDPE) films. It is certified to meet EN 13432
(Europe) and ASTM D6400 (USA), as well as heat and
water stable and does not disintegrate or break apart
while in use.
Eco-Corr provides contact, barrier and Vapor phase
Corrosion Inhibitor (VpCI) protection for up to two years.
It provides multimetal corrosion inhibitor protection
and is improved replacement for non-degradable and
nitrite - based VCI films. Once exposed to soil or compost
conditions, this product will disintegrate rapidly and
biodegrade completely to CO 2
, water and biomass within
weeks, without contaminating the soil. It is nitrite and
amine free.
Metal parts packaged in Eco-Corr receive continuous
protection against salt, excessive humidity, condensation,
moisture, aggressive industrial atmosphere and
dissimilar metal corrosion. The Vapor phase Corrosion
Inhibitors vaporize and then condense on all metal
surfaces in the enclosed package. VpCI reaches every
area of a package, protecting exposed parts as well as
hard to reach interior surfaces against micro-corrosion.
This green alternative offers complete protection during
storage as well as domestic and overseas shipments.
Once put to use, Eco-Corr will remain effective with
regard to mechanical strength until the film is placed in
contact with material containing microorganisms, such
as certain types of waste, soil, and compost. Eco-Corr
meets NACE TM0208-2008 and German TL-8135-002
standards for corrosion protection. MT
www.cortecvci.com
www.apinatbio.com
www.publisearch.it
High tech equipment packaged in EcoCorr for export shipments.
28 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Applications News
Award Winning
Carpet
Bio-Based Ovenable
Pan Liners
DSM’s Arnitel ® Eco, a high performance thermoplastic
copolyester (TPC) up to 50% derived from renewable resources
(rapeseed oil), is creating higher value with lower environmental
impact in the M&Q Packaging Corporation PanSaver ECO ® hightemperature
ovenable pan liners.
PanSaver pan liners are used in food preparation, cooking and
holding, to prevent food from ‘baking-on’ and ‘burning-on’ to the
pot or pan surface. PanSaver can also be used for cold storage.
According to Michael Schmal, President at M&Q Packaging
Corporation, PanSaver ECO is a true ECO+ bio-based alternative
to conventional panliners: “Our current range of conventional pan
liners already has a number of key benefits, the new PanSaver
ECO panliners are extremely durable and environmentally friendly,
able to withstand temperatures up to 204°C (400F). These liners
not only help to improve food quality and yield, they also prevent
food from baking or burning to the pot or pan, thus saving cooking
and clean-up time, and leaving no food residue or waste.”
For the production of PanSaver ECO, M&Q Packaging
Corporation selected Arnitel Eco, a partly bio-based, high
performance thermoplastic copolyester (TPC) from DSM. Arnitel
Eco is the latest addition to the Arnitel family. Arnitel copolyester
elastomers combine the strength and processing characteristics
of engineering plastics with the performance of thermoset
elastomers.
First introduced in 2010, Arnitel Eco is designed to last a long
lifetime under extreme conditions, making it highly suited for food
related applications, as well as for use in automotive interior and
exterior, applications in sports and leisure, furniture, consumer
electronics and alternative energy.
Paul Habets, Global Segment Manager for DSM Engineering
Plastics, says: “There is a clear customer need for bio-based
engineering plastics which combine performance with a reduced
carbon footprint. Life Cycle Assessment calculations of Arnitel Eco
show a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, cradle-to-gate, of
up to 50% versus oil based thermoplastic copolyester elastomers.”
Mr. Habets concludes: “In addition to its lower carbon footprint,
Arnitel Eco adds value thanks to its unique performance.” MT
DuPont Sorona ® , a renewably sourced
environmentally sustainable polymer (PTT
Polytrimethylenterephthalate), is now available
for the commercial segment of the floor
covering market. This innovative product named
SmartStrand ® Contract was recently launched by
Mohawk at the NeoCon’11 (North America’s largest
design exposition and conference for commercial
interiors, June 13-15, Chicago) and won a Gold
Award in the Carpet Fiber Category of the Best
of NeoCon product competition. A game changer
for the commercial carpet industry, SmartStrand
Contract offers superior performance, durability
and style, permanent stain protection, and color
flexibility.
DuPont Sorona is the brand name for triexta, a
new fiber class designated by the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) as having characteristics
that clearly distinguish it from other fibers.
First introduced for residential use in 2005, this
next generation triexta fiber has been specially
engineered for the unique needs of commercial
spaces. Sorona contains 37% renewably sourced
ingredients by weight. DuPont and Mohawk have
demonstrated the recyclability of carpets made
with triexta fibers. Recycled materials can either
be turned back into new carpet products or utilized
in other products. MT
www.sorona.dupont.com
www.mohawkflooring.com
www.dsm.com.
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 29

Applications News
Ketchup in Biobased PET
Toyota launched the ‘Prius ‘ with interior components
made of Sorona EP in Japan in May 2011.
PTT for Automotive
Air Outlet
Toyota’s new hybrid vehicle, ‘Prius ’, features
automotive interior parts made of DuPont
Sorona ® EP polymer, a high-performance, partly
renewably sourced thermoplastic resin (PTT
Polytrimethylenterephthalate), contributing to the
advanced interior design while also reducing the
environmental footprint.
Developed in close collaboration with DuPont
Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Motor Corporation, Kojima
Press Industry Co., Ltd. and Howa Plastics Co., Ltd.,
the parts are used on the instrument-panel airconditioning
system outlet.
Sorona EP was selected for this precisely
engineered, functional component for its heat
resistance and durability required to control the
intensity and direction of the air blowing out of the
outlet.
The PTT polymer contains between 20 and 37%
by wt. renewably sourced material. The biobased
monomer component is DuPont Tate & Lyle
Susterra 1,3 propanediol (bio-PDO) as a key
intermediate, derived from plant sugar (corn). The
new material exhibits performance and molding
characteristics similar to petroleum-based, highperformance
PBT (polybutylene terephthalate).
Sorona EP thermoplastic polymer production
reduces both carbon dioxide emissions and the use
of petrochemicals used to produce the PBT that is
typically used for conventional auto interior parts. The
material also offers lower warpage, improved surface
appearance and good dimensional stability, making it
very attractive in a range of uses for automotive parts
and components, electrical and electronics systems
as well as industrial and consumer products. MT
H.J. Heinz Company, headquartered in Pittsburg;
Pennsylvania, USA, one of the world’s leading marketers and
producers of ketchup and much more recently announced a
strategic partnership (an industry-first) with the Coca-Cola
Company that enables Heinz to produce its ketchup bottles
using Coca-Cola’s breakthrough PlantBottle packaging. The
PET plastic bottles are made partially from plants (30% by
wt. monoethyleneglykol made using sugarcane ethanol from
Brazil).
PlantBottle packaging looks, feels and functions just like
traditional PET plastic, and remains fully recyclable. “This
partnership is a great example of how businesses are working
together to advance smart technologies that make a difference
to our consumers and the planet we all share,” said Muhtar
Kent, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company.
Heinz’s adoption of the PlantBottle technology will be the
biggest change to its iconic ketchup bottles since they first
introduced plastic in 1983.
“The partnership of Coca-Cola and Heinz is a model of
collaboration in the food and beverage industry that will make
a sustainable difference for the planet,” said Heinz Chairman,
President and CEO William R. Johnson. “Heinz Ketchup is
going to convert to PlantBottle globally, beginning (...) this
summer.”
Heinz will launch PlantBottle in all 20 oz ketchup bottles in
June. Packaging will be identified by a special logo and onpack
messages. Switching to PlantBottle is another important
step in Heinz’s global sustainability initiative to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, solid waste, water consumption
and energy usage at least 20% by 2015.
Heinz will introduce 120 million partly biobased PET bottle
packages in 2011 and The Coca-Cola Company will use more
than 5 billion during the same time. Together, the companies
will significantly reduce potential carbon emissions while
adding more renewable materials to the recycling stream.
In time, plastic Heinz Ketchup bottles globally will be made
from PlantBottle packaging and by 2020, Coca-Cola’s goal is to
transition all of its plastic packaging to PlantBottle packaging. MT
www.heinz.com
www.dupont.com
30 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Materials
Maxi-Use
Agro-Food
Processing Waste
for Truly Sustainable
Bioplastics
By
Elodie Bugnicourt
Oonagh Mc Nerney
Innovació i Recerca Industrial i
Sostenible (IRIS)
Castelldefels, Spain
Andrea Lazzeri
Center for Materials Engineering
University of Pisa
Pisa, Italy
Bioplastics are largely derived from feedstock such as crops
and vegetable oils. If such pure feedstock competes with
food sources, it reduces to some extent the true sustainability
of the resulting bioplastics. Polylactic acid (PLA), for example,
is the most widely used bioplastic and, in spite of progress in
both research and industrial fields, it is still typically made by the
polymerisation of lactic acid produced by microbial fermentation
of sugars from corn, wheat, beet, etc., which for the most part are
not derived from waste. Moreover, in terms of competing with many
standard plastics, the properties of PLA are not sufficient for certain
applications.
There is undoubtedly a gap in the market for bioplastics that
possess better barrier, thermo-mechanical properties and/or
processability and that are obtained through a holistic sustainable
approach with feedstock that do not compete with our food
supplies. To this end, the bioplastics industry needs to tap into
new raw material sources from agro-food residues that are in
abundant supply, are cost-effective, and indeed to date pose waste
management and environmental challenges.
Recent research has been concentrating on an integrated
environmental approach to bioplastic production known as Maxiuse,
whereby each stage, from sourcing to disposal, is considered
in a complementary way to establish cost effective, sustainable
solutions. The methodology is characterised by reuse along every
stage of the process, whereby a useful application for each of the
compounds is investigated with a view to maximising resources to
the full, thereby bringing positive impacts in terms of sustainability
Fig 2: Maxi-use of foodstuff
wastes from the olive oil
industry to produce PHA
bioplactics for packaging
(Picture courtesy IRIS)
32 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

and profitability along the value chain. Wastes from
agro-food processing can be used as raw material
inputs for plastics in the packaging field, among
other applications. The ability to recycle or compost
the material at the end-of-life helps to redress the
problem of growing and persistent volumes of land
and marine waste, as well as reducing dependence on
conventional fossil fuel-based resources.
This Maxi-use approach has been the basis for
the ideation of a project called WHEYLAYER [1]. that
commenced in November 2008 and whereby whey (fig 1),
a by-product from the cheese industry, is valorised into
a value-added bioplastic for food packaging. Indeed,
coatings obtained from whey proteins can be applied
onto standard carrier films to obtain multilayer films
with excellent barrier properties. The resulting oxygen
barrier properties are several orders of magnitude
greater than that of polyethylene (PE). Whey-based
coatings have reached oxygen transmission rates
(OTR, Q 100
) as low as ranges of 1 cm³/m² d bar and water
vapour transmission rates (WVTR, Q 100
) at ranges of
2 g/m² d (Q 100
refers to the barrier properties normalised
to a layer of 100 μm thickness), thus making them
good candidates to substitute synthetic barrier films
such as ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) [2].
Another key success factor is the degradability for
whey-based coatings using selected enzymes and
Fig 1: Whey
(Picture courtesy IRIS)
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 33

Materials
[1] WHEYLAYER “Whey proteincoated
plastic films to replace
expensive polymers and increase
recyclability” project funded by
European commission 7th framework
programme under the Grant
agreement no.: 218340-2. www.
wheylayer.eu
[2] “WHEYLAYER: the barrier coating of
the future”, E. Bugnicourt, M. Schmid,
O. Mc Nerney, F. Wild, Coating
International, October 2010
[3] Cinelli, P. and A. Lazzeri. Le proteine
nel settore degli imballaggi Wheylayer.
Bio-Imballaggio derivato dal siero del
latte in Biopolpack. 2010. Parma, Italy
[4] Oli-PHA “A novel and efficient
method for the production of
polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer-based
packaging from olive oil wastewater”
proposal no.: 280604-2 successfully
evaluated by European commission
7th framework NMP programme and
awaiting negotiation
within timeframes and at temperatures that are compatible with plastic recycling
operations [3]. This results in the possibility of separating and independently recycling
the other plastic layers in multilayer films, which are typically not recyclable, or even in
the possibility of obtaining fully compostable materials if a biodegradable carrier film
such as a PLA is used. The new WHEYLAYER bioplastic, which is presently being tested
for food contact applications and its process is being scaled up to reach industrial
production speeds, is getting closer to commercialisation and was recently presented
at interpack 2011.
More recently, an even more integrated approach was taken whereby the valorisation
of all residuals from a given feedstock lead to polymers, biogas, fillers and other
extracted natural compounds, and even clean water, all through environmentally
friendly processes (figure 2). Biorefining is an attractive alternative to conventional
fossil resource refineries, whereby microorganisms of different types can be used to
convert biomass into energy or raw materials. The Oli-PHA project [4], which is still in
its planning stages, aims to use photosynthetic microorganisms such as microalgae
to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) using wastewater generated during the
olive oil milling process as a culture media. Indeed, over 250 different bacteria have
been reported to accumulate PHA as carbon and energy storage materials. Among
biodegradable bio-sourced plastics, PHA is one of the most promising since it maintains
thermo-mechanical and barrier properties in the range of conventional plastics and is
a good candidate to replace such conventional plastics as polyethylene terephthalate
(PET). However, a major limitation to the wide uptake of PHA continues to be its high
cost, mainly due to the substrates required for bacterial fermentation batch reactors.
For PHA production to be economically viable, the production input costs need to be
reduced; this is a key objective of the Oli-PHA project. By using a widely available
feedstock based on residues, not only will this lower the cost of PHA production, it will
also provide the agro-food industry with a solution for the sustainable management
of highly polluting wastes. The work on yield improvement and valorisation of all
compounds will also contribute to even greater cost effectiveness.
All in all, Maxi-use represents a promising way forward for maximising the potential
of bioplastics and their uptake in a wide range of applications.
www.iris.cat
34 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Materials
by
Xiuzhi Susan Sun
University Distinguished
Professor
Kansas State University
Advanced Research
in Bionanocomposites
The demand for biobased materials is driven by concerns
for the environment and the need for sustainable
development. Carbon backbones from plant-derived
molecules have considerable potential as basic inputs for
many materials currently produced from petroleum-based
feedstocks with their associated environmental problems.
The tremendous potential of plant-biobased materials has
inspired scientists globally searching high performance and
economic viable bobased materials.
Bionanocomposites is a new ‘word’ that needs to be added
to the dictionary, which is defied as the substance containing
both biopolymer and nano materials (see graph). Biopolymer
has to be the polymer derived from plant based feedstock,
such as sugar-, lipid-, and or protein-based molecules, either
through fermentation or chemical reaction. Nano materials
can be naturally occurred or synthesized, and or can be
metal nano crystal or biobased nanomaterials with all type
of shapes (i.e., particle, wire, and sheet). The motivation of
developing bionanocomposites is to improve biopolymer
functional performances including one or more of those
properties, such as mechanical strength, resilience, flexibility,
lighter weight, color, fire-proof, durability, thermal stability,
and electrical properties, etc.
Two main approaches to develop bionanocomposites:
thermal melt compounding method that a small amount of
nano materials are dispersed in the biopolymer matrix during
thermal processing (i.e., extrusion and molding); another way
is to graft nano materials onto biopolymer chains through in
situ biopolymer synthesis.
In the last decade, numerous studies have been conducted
on biopolymers (i.e., polylactic acid (PLA)) with various
nanoparticles, including clays, carbon based nanofillers,
SiO 2
, metal oxides, polysaccharide nanoparticles, etc., and
PLA nanocomposites with improved mechanical properties,
heat distortion temperature, glass transition temperature
(Tg), thermal stability, and gas barrier properties have been
developed.
PLA has attracted extensive attention from both academia
and industry because of its biodegradability, renewability, and
properties comparable to many petroleum-derived polymers.
An increasing amount of work is being published on PLA.
PLA nanocomposites have been a hot research topic in the
last decade due to their capability of enhancing the thermal,
mechanical, and processing characteristics of pristine PLA.
Research is still needed to further understand the complex
structure-property relationships. Homogeneous dispersion
of nanoparticles and strong interfacial interaction between
PLA and nanoparticles are the two key issues in producing
nanocomposites with desired properties. In addition, the
lack of cost-effective methods to control the dispersion of
nanoparticles in host PLA and interfacial bonding remains
the greatest stumbling block to large-scale production and
commercialization of PLA nanocomposites.
www.ksu.edu/cbpd
In situ polymerization
Nanomaterials
Biomonomer
Bionanocomposites
Thermal melt compounding
Nanomaterials
Biomonomer
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 35

End-of-Life
The Role of Standards for
Biodegradable Plastics
by
Francesco Degli Innocenti
Novamont S.p.A.
Novara, Italy
Board member
European Bioplastics
Standardisation plays a crucial role for bioplastics. Biodegradability, bio-based
content, carbon-footprint etc. cannot be noted directly by consumers. However,
the commercial success of these products rests precisely on claims of
this kind. In order to guarantee market transparency, normative instruments are
needed to link declarations, which are used as advertising messages, and the actual
characteristics and benefits of the products. Standards are necessary to consumers,
companies competing on the market, as well as public authorities. Standardisation
is not science. In some debates these two sectors become dangerously
confused. Science aims to find, describe, and correlate phenomena, independent
of the time scale and their actual importance to daily life. Standardisation seeks to
instil order and find technical solutions to specific practical problems with a social,
political and scientific consensus. The question of biodegradability is complex and
can give rise to significant debates. Key point is time scale. At academic level even
traditional ‘non-biodegradable’ plastics can be shown to biodegrade, over a very
long period of time. However, such biodegradation rates are clearly unsuited to
the needs of society. Biodegradable materials are an attempt to find solutions to a
problem of our society: waste. Waste is produced at a very high rate and therefore
the disposal rate must be comparable, in order to avoid accumulation. Incineration
is widely adopted precisely because it is a fast process. There would be no interest
in a hypothetical ‘slow combustion’ incinerator because waste does not wait, and
quickly builds up. The same principle applies to biodegradation, which must be fast
in order to be useful.
All photos: Novamont
Harmonised Standard EN 13432
The origin and regulatory framework
Only packaging materials that meet the so-called ‘essential requirements’
specified under the European Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste (94/62/
EC) can be placed on the market in Europe. The verification of conformity to
such requirements is entrusted to the application of the harmonised European
standards prepared by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN),
following the principles of the so-called ‘new approach’ [1]. European lawmakers
specified their intentions regarding organic recycling (“the aerobic (composting)
or anaerobic (biomethanization) treatment, under controlled conditions and using
micro-organisms, of the biodegradable parts of packaging waste, which produces
stabilized organic residues and methane. Landfill shall not be considered a form
of organic recycling.”) albeit in a somewhat convoluted manner, in Annex II to the
Directive, when they provide the definitions of essential requirements. CEN was
appointed to draw up “the standard intended to give presumption of conformity
with essential requirements for packaging recoverable in the form of composting
or biodegradation” in line with ‘Annex II § 3, (c) Packaging recoverable in the form
of composting and (d) Biodegradable packaging’ of the Directive. The outcome was
standard EN 13432 ‘Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting
and biodegradation - Test scheme and evaluation criteria for the final acceptance of
packaging’. It is interesting to remark that composting, biodegradation and organic
recycling are used synonymously when applied to packaging.
36 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

End-of-Life
Requirements
‘Biodegradable-compostable’ packaging must have the
following characteristics:
• Biodegradability, namely microbial conversion into CO 2
.
Test method: ISO 14855. Minimum level: 90%. Duration:
less than 6 months. This high CO 2
conversion level must
not be taken as an indication that organic recycling is a sort
of ‘cold incineration’ which therefore does not contribute
to the formation of compost. Under real conditions the
process would also produce substantially more biomass
(compost). Another question: why 90% rather than 100%?
Does this leave a residue of the remaining 10%? The answer
is that experimental factors and the formation of biomass
make it hard to reach 100% accurately; this is why the limit
of acceptability was established at 90% rather than 100%.
• Disintegratability, namely fragmentation and invisibility
in the final compost. Test method: EN 14045/ ISO 16929.
Samples of test materials are composted together with
organic waste for 3 months. The mass of test material
residue larger than 2 mm must be less than 10% of the
initial mass.
• Levels of heavy metals below pre-defined maximum limits
and absence of negative effects on composting process
and compost quality. Test method: a modified OECD 208
and other analytical tests.
Each of these points is necessary for compostability, but
individually they are not sufficient.
Limits
‘Home composting’ namely the treatment of grass
cuttings and material from the pruning of plants, is out of the
scope. Home composting takes place at low temperatures
and may not always operate under optimal conditions. The
characteristics defined by Standard EN 13432 do not ensure
that packaging added to a home composter would compost
satisfactorily and in line with the user’s expectations.
Use
Standard EN 13432 has been fully applied in Europe
also in the certification sector. It recently became of great
importance in Italy with the entry into force of the ban on the
sale of non-biodegradable carrier bags on 1 January 2011.
Indeed, the law establishes the ban on bags that are not
biodegradable according to criteria established by Community
laws and technical rules approved at a Community level.
The term ‘biodegradable’ has led to a number of debates
owing to the clear commercial implications arising out of the
interpretation of this term. It is true that from an academic
perspective ‘biodegradability’ is a different concept from
‘compostability’ and ‘organic recycling’ (biodegradability
is necessary but not sufficient in itself for compostability).
However, the legal reference in Europe for packaging (and
carrier bags are packaging) must be the Directive that in fact
considers biodegradability as the necessary characteristic
for the biological recovery of packaging (organic recycling),
as noted above.
It is therefore through the application of harmonised
European standard EN 13432, in light of the definitions of
the Packaging Directive, that we can differentiate between
biodegradable packaging (which can therefore be recovered
by means of organic recycling) and non-biodegradable
packaging.
It should be noted that harmonised standards (such as
EN 13432) are voluntary. However, companies that place
packaging on the market which uses harmonised standards
already enjoy presumed conformity. If the manufacturer
chooses not to follow a harmonised standard, he has the
obligation to prove that his products are in conformity with
essential requirements by the use of other means of his own
choice (other technical specifications). Alternatives to the EN
13432 are described in the next section, even if, as noted, they
do not automatically grant the presumption of conformity.
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 37

End-of-Life
Other Standards
ISO 17088 - Specifications for Compostable Plastics
ISO has drawn up a standard which specifies the procedures and requirements
for identifying and marking plastics and plastic products suitable for recovery
by aerobic composting. In a similar way to EN 13432, it deals with four aspects:
a) biodegradation; b) disintegration during composting; c) negative effects on
composting; d) negative effects on the resulting compost quality, including the
presence of metals and other compounds subject to restrictions or dangers. It
is important to note that the standard makes explicit reference to the European
Packaging Directive in the event of application in Europe: “The labelling will, in
addition, have to conform to all international, regional, national or local regulations
(e.g. European Directive 94/62/EC)”.
ASTM D6400 - Standard Specification
for Compostable Plastics
ASTM D 6400 produced by ASTM International was the first standard to
determine whether plastics can be composted satisfactorily and biodegrade at a
speed comparable to known compostable materials. ASTM D6400 is similar to EN
13432 but: (1) the limit of biodegradation which is otherwise 90% is reduced to 60%
for homopolymers and copolymers with random distribution of monomers (2) test
duration, which is set at 180 days, is extended to 365 days if the test is conducted
with radioactive material in order to measure the evolution of radioactive CO 2
.
EN 14995 Plastic materials - Assessment of
compostability - Test and specification system
It is complementary to EN 13432. Indeed, EN 13432 specifies the characteristics
of packaging that can be recycled through organic recovery and therefore excludes
compostable plastic materials not used as packaging (e.g. compostable cutlery,
compostable bags for waste collection). EN 14995 filled this gap. From a technical
perspective EN 14995 is equivalent to EN 13432.
This is the short version of a
much more comprehensive
article, which can be downloaded from
www.bioplasticsmagazine.com/201104
Conclusuons
The first plastics to be sold in Italy under the term ‘biodegradable’, at the end of
the 1980s, were made from polyethylene to which small amounts of biodegradable
substances (ca. 5% starch) or ‘pro-oxidants’ had been added. These products
were most widespread during the period in which a 100 lira tax was levied on
carrier bags made from non-biodegradable plastic (minimum biodegradation:
90%). To avoid the tax, many plastic bag producers switched to ‘biodegradable’
plastics. The lack of standardised definitions and measuring methods gave
rise to a situation of anarchy. The market for these biodegradable plastic bags
immediately dried up when, having clarified the real nature of the materials
on sale, the tax was extended to all plastic bags, thereby bringing an end to an
unsuccessful project. In this case the government had anticipated a future period
of technical and scientific progress and standardisation. Nowadays the situation
is different. We now have a clear legal framework, standard test methods and
criteria for the unambiguous definition of biodegradability and compostability.
The complete, and above all enduring, commercial development of new
applications, such as biodegradable plastics, depends on guaranteed levels of
quality and transparency. Standardisation activities are therefore of fundamental
importance in the field of technological innovation.
www.novamont.com
[1] http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/single-market-goods/files/blue-guide/
guidepublic_en.pdf
38 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Polylactic Acid
Uhde Inventa-Fischer has expanded its product portfolio to include the innovative stateof-the-art
PLAneo ® process. The feedstock for our PLA process is lactic acid, which can
be produced from local agricultural products containing starch or sugar.
The application range of PLA is similar to that of polymers based on fossil resources as
its physical properties can be tailored to meet packaging, textile and other requirements.
Think. Invest. Earn.
Uhde Inventa-Fischer GmbH
Holzhauser Strasse 157–159
13509 Berlin
Germany
Tel. +49 30 43 567 5
Fax +49 30 43 567 699
Uhde Inventa-Fischer AG
Via Innovativa 31
7013 Domat/Ems
Switzerland
Tel. +41 81 632 63 11
Fax +41 81 632 74 03
Uhde Inventa-Fischer

End-of-Life
UW-Platteville
portable 4-stage
digester
More
Responsible
By
Debra Darby
Director of Marketing
Communications
Mirel Bioplastics by Telles
Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
Today there is a cultural change that encourages consumers to minimize the use
of plastics made from non-renewable resources like fossil fuels and to demand
packaging that does not persist in the environment. Mirel bioplastics can help
to reduce the amount of packaging waste sent to landfills and support alternative disposal
sys¬tems including composting and anaerobic digestion.
Managing the consumer end of the compost feedstock stream has its challenges
because of the potential wide range of products going into the composition, but also
because of how the local collection and processing infrastructure is set up to manage
the mix of post-consumer materials.
Working Toward Zero Waste and Energy Development
Telles, a joint venture of Metabolix, Inc. and Archer Daniels Midland Company, is
engaged in anaerobic digestion projects to evaluate the end-of-life management of
Mirel (PHA) in packaging, food containment and agriculture uses, and to study how
Mirel bioplastics mixed with these other materials aids in the conversion process of
waste into biogas/energy.
Earlier in 2010, the State of Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence (OEI) and
UL Environment launched a pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility of manures,
bioplastics and food waste in anaerobic digestion technology and to study the bio-energy
contributions of bioplastics. The consortium involved a collaboration of stakeholders:
government and agencies, bioplastics manufacturers, retailers and consumer groups
with subtly differing interests. The project was designed to be modular and expandable
across the state’s university system.
Mirel has been shown to be anaerobically biodegradable. Last year Organic Waste
Systems (OWS), Belgium, an independent laboratory, conducted a lab analysis to test
Mirel materials according to the ASTM D5511 standard test method for determining
anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under high-solids anaerobic digestion
conditions. These test results at thermophilic temperature showed that Mirel
bioplastics reached 100% biodegradation relative to cellulose control at the end of a 15-
day test and generated more than 700 m³ of biogas per ton of material. Mirel materials
produced five to six times more biogas than typical biowaste on weight basis, including
food waste and municipal organic waste. Typically out of one ton of biowaste, about
120 m 3 of biogas can be produced. Tests at mesophilic temperature were continued
to 42 days and showed that Mirel materials reached 78-99% absolute biodegradation.
No Mirel was found in the extraction test of the digestate, which indicated the rest
40 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

End-of-Life
End-of-Life
Options
Biodegradation %
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
of the Mirel materials had been converted to
cell biomass. These findings suggest that even
under mesophilic conditions Mirel materials
are biodegradable.
This test concluded that Mirel can be used to
generate renewable energy through anaerobic
digestion. Telles provided the OWS test data to
the Wisconsin project to validate against their
testing the inherent anaerobic biodegradability
of Mirel.
Over the last year, the University of Wisconsin
– Platteville (UWP) research team led by
Professor Tim Zauche and Dave Hitchins has
studied the anaerobic digestion of bioplastics
both at bench top scale and in a 750 Liter (200
gal) pilot scale portable digester unit. Their
study evaluated mixed waste streams of dairy
manure along with a variety of bioplastics and
measured biogas productivity.
The project was funded by the State of
Wisconsin OEI and UL Environment. Early
test results are indicating success of Mirel’s
anaerobic biodegradability to generate biogas.
Professor Zauche will be presenting the results
from this pilot study at the BioCycle Conference
in October 2011 in Madison, Wisconsin.
With Mirel there are a multitude of more
responsible end-of-life options. Mirel is 100%
biodegraded in a 15 day test (according to ASTM
D5511 standard test method for anaerobic
biodegradation), meets ASTM D7081 (standard
for biodegradation in the marine environment),
and is Vinçotte certified OK Compost Home and
OK Compostable.
Biodegradation %
10%
0%
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-10%
110%
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
XS-7/3 Ther Cellulose Avg
XS-7/3 Ther P1003 Avg
XS-7/3 Ther M2100 Avg
XS-7/3 Ther F5003 Avg
Mirel: Evolution of Biodegradation Percentage at ASTM D5511, 52±2°C
0%
0 7 14 21 28 35 42
-10%
XS-7/5 Cellulosw Avg
XS-7/5 M2100 Avg
XS-7/5 M4100 Avg
XS-7/5 P1003 Avg
Mirel: Evolution of Biodegradation Percentage at
modified ASTM D5511, 37±2°C
www.mirelplastic.com
XS-7/3 Ther M4100 Avg
XS-7/5 F5003 Avg
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 41

Personality
Isao Inomata
bM: Dear Inomata-san, when were you born?
II: I was born in a little town 150 km north from Tokyo,
Japan, in November 1944.
bM: Where do you live today and how long have you lived
there?
II: I have lived in Tokyo since 1991.
bM: What is your educational background?
II: I received a master’s degree in Industrial Chemistry
from Tokyo University. Japan in 1969
bM: What is your professional function today?
II: I have been the Adviser of Japan Bioplastics since 2006.
bM: How did you ‘come to’ bioplastics?
II: I started the business development work of PLA film and
sheet in Mitsubishi Plastics Ltd, in 1999, and did a variety of
PLA product development projects. From that time I was also
involved in the activities of JBPA. In 2006 I joined the Japan
Bioplastics Association as an adviser and since then I have
been working in Bioplastics.
bM: What do you consider more important: ‘biobased’ or
‘biodegradable’?
II: Both are important, but especially in Japan ‘biobased’ is
more important to create the industrial infrastructure of the
business which is the most important issue for us at present.
The big concern of the market regarding the renewable aspect
and the low carbon footprint to prevent climate change will
contribute much.
bM: What has been your biggest achievement (in terms of
bioplastics) so far?
II: I am the main founder of the product certification
system for biobased plastics products in Japan, known as
the ‘BiomassPla Certification System’ established in 2006
by JBPA, and since then I have managed and improved
the system to apply to many product categories which
contribute to the market development of the bioplastics
and their awareness by consumers.
bM: What are your biggest challenges for the future?
II: The short term challenge is how to create economy
of scale for bioplastics. I want to make a major effort to
establish the most suitable system for that with the
support from not only government but industry.
bM: What is your family status?
II: I am happily married to my wife Yuko and have two
daughters and one son. Our two daughters are living just
near my house and with our three grandchildren they
frequently come to see us, which is delightful for my wife
and me. I also have a little dog called Harry.
bM: What is your favorite movie?
II: I constantly go to see movies with my wife, who decides
what we shall watch. A recent favorite movie was ‘Letters
to Juliet’ with Amanda Seyfield and Vanessa Redgrave.
bM: What is your favorite book?
II: Recently I have been reading light detective novels
about the Edo Era. My favorite novelist is Yasuhide Saeki.
bM: What is your favorite (or your next) vacation location?
II: My favorite location is Europe because of my 5 years
stay in Germany with my family. My next vacation, I hope, is
to visit Santiago de Compostela.
bM: What do you eat for breakfast on a Sunday?
II: Usually traditional Japanese style, rice, fish, miso
soup and seaweed, afterwards I take fresh juice and coffee.
bM: What is your ‘slogan’?
II: Never give up and look forward.
bM: Thank you very much.
42 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

An introduction to Ecomann bioresin:
EN13432/ASTM6400 compliant Fully biobased
Safe for food contact
Heat resistant to over 100˚ C
Home compostable
Shelf-stable
Ecomann bioresin is offered for the following applications:
Film Injection Moulding Foam
Sheet and Thermoforming Blow Moulding Hot Melt Adhesive
Bio-elastomer
Monomers
CO 2
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Shenzhen Ecomann Biotechnology CO., LTD.
2107 Overseas Chinese Scholars Venture Building,
29 Nanhuan Rd, Hi-tech Industrial Park, Nanshan,
Shenzhen, 518057, China
T Fax:0755-26697161
welcome@ecomann.com
DISTRIBUTOR: EUROPE
A&O Filmpac Ltd
7 Osier Way, Olney, Bucks MK46 5FP
T Fax: 01234 713221
www.bioresins.eu
DISTRIBUTOR: NORTH AMERICA
BYC Polymers
3501 West 41st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90008
T Fax: 310 988 2642
www.bycpolymers.com
DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND
EarthCare Plastics
69 Yanping Rd, Shanghai 200042, China
Tel: +8662673991
www.earthcareplastics.com
www.ecomann.com

Opinion
Picture [M]: bioplastics MAGAZINE
Is All ‘Non-Bio‘ Plastic Bad?
Bioplastics are just
plastics with
special features
By
Igor Čatić
retired Professor of the Faculty
of Mechanical Engineering
and Naval Architecture of the
University of Zagreb, Croatia
Plastic is based on natural resources
Many journals and magazines, even newspapers, are full of words starting
with ‘bio’, such as bio-fuel, bio-plastics, bio-cosmetics and so on. This leads to
the question: Is all ‘bio‘ a universal solution for all of the problems surrounding
climate change, famine in the world, and ‘using food as a weapon’? Or why
are we are all horrified when we hear the words ‘plastics made from fossils
raw materials’, ‘crude oil, natural gas or coal’. And must we all be delighted
with bioplastics made from (cultivated, man-made) biomass, as suggested by
one Italian manufacturer in a huge advertising campaign showing a horrified
looking lady asking “Still using plastic?”
The engineers must choose the optimum material
Why do I demand that my students attend lectures? Spoken words can’t be
fully replaced by written text and I have an example for this: In the first lecture
on ‘Materials’, which I visited as a freshman back in 1954, I learned one thing for
life: “The engineers must choose the optimum material for a given purpose (not
necessarily the best or most expensive)”. Today, based on my experience I would
like to add: “The optimum choice means taking into account technical, economic
and social goals, even spiritual ones”. But this choice should not be influenced
by marketing, particularly by some kind of eco-marketing with questionable
goals. In my opinion agricultural (cultivated by man) products are not natural
ones. I distinguish between ‘nature’ and ‘culture’. Examples are mushrooms
pick-up in forests (‘nature’) or cultivated in caves on wadding (‘culture’).
Polymers and non-polymers
First we need to define some terms. ‘General Technology’ is a common
name for natural technology and man-made (artificial) technology. Only the
products of natural technology are natural products. All those made by man
or with the help of man are cultivated (artificial) products.
44 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Opinion
Having this in mind, I would like to suggest and discuss a
new systematisation of materials. We all learned in school
for centuries that there are two main groups of materials,
i.e. metals and non-metals. Recently, some colleagues and I
proposed a new systematisation: polymers and non-polymers
[1]. This idea for this new differentiation of materials comes
from the basic definition of polymers. The name polymers
is an umbrella term for natural and synthetic substances
and materials with the basic component being the system
of macromolecules, i.e. macromolecular compounds with
repeating units (‘polymer‘ from the Greek: poly = many,
meros = particle) [2-4]. Based on this definition it is possible
to differentiate four basic groups of macromolecular
compounds (level L2, see Figure 1). Polymers and nonpolymers
can be organic or inorganic. In the following,
we will only look at Column C of Fig 1 ‘Natural Organic
Polymers’ and read the table from bottom to top. First I
would like to mention that the natural organic polymers are
the results of natural technology: basic polymers (L2) such
as proteins; biopolymeric organisms (microorganisms, L3),
phytopolymers (e.g. wood, L4) and animal polymers (e.g.
natural pig, L4). On L5 we find non-living organic products
such as crude oil or natural gas, and living organic natural
products. Then we come to artificial (man-made) technology.
Simplified, on level L6, plastics and rubbers (e.g. PE, PVC,
PS, UP, PUR = fossil plastics) can be the results of organic
synthetic polymers from non-living (fossil) sources or
chemically modified biopolymers (bioplastics) from living
natural or cultivated sources (e.g. PLA, PHA or even bio-PE).
Bioplastics are also man-made organic
polymers
Bioplastics are a form of plastics derived from renewable
biomass sources, such as vegetable oil, starch or microbiota,
rather than fossil fuel based plastics which are derived from
petroleum. Some, but not all, bioplastics are designed to
degrade (see glossary on page 52)
If we have a closer look at this definition above, we see
that bioplastics are also man-made materials. So what is
the difference from fossil based plastics? It is the input into
the process. In bioplastics the input is man-made (cultivated)
renewable biomass, and not really ‘natural’ products.
Some wrong terms
According to the descriptions in column C of Fig 1, the term
wood-polymer composite is wrong*, because wood as a plant
consists of organic polymers (cellulose and lignin). So this
composite should be called, for instance, wood-polypropylene
composite. Because we also have today hybrid materials such
as protein with organic or even inorganic polymers and we
should write the names of both components (L7).
We use in our processes ever more and more microorganisms.
These microorganisms also consist of organic polymers (L3).
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 45

The biggest controversy in my opinion is the discussion
about crude oil or natural gas (L5). A horrifying image is
created about crude oil, but per definition crude oil as well as
natural gas or coal are pure products of nature and are organic
polymers. Of course these products were formed millions of
years ago, and we cannot form them today, we can only find
and acquire them.
Conclusion
Based on some ideas from the Dutch philosopher H.
van Riessen (1911) [5] we can summarise: “More than one
material can fulfil the purpose of the product. At the same
time the customer is not interested in the material or the
technology used to make the product. He is only interested in
the performance and a fair quality/price ratio”. For example,
green polyethylene is just polyethylene with a biomass input
into the process, to create interest for customers, or even to
achieve the necessary properties for the product.
So, bioplastics are just one group within so many plastics
groups and types, with special features. Modern customers
need useful products, but indeed, they are becoming more and
more aware of the influence of products on the environment
and nature.
But in my opinion it is wrong to build up a bad name for other
plastics, following bad eco-marketing - “Still using plastic?”.
Who would pay the resulting damage for plastics in total?
References:
[1] Čatić, I. at all.: Draft of the basic systematization of inorganic
and organic macromolecular compounds, ANTEC 2011, Society
of Plastics Engineers, Boston, May, 2011, p. 2012-2017.
[2] Van Krevelen, D. W.: Properties of Polymers (3rd ed.), Elsevier,
Amsterdam, 1997.
[3] scifun.chem.wisc.edu/CHEMWEEK/POLYMERS/Polymers.html.
[4] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer.
[5] Eekels, J.: Some Historical Remarks on the Philosophy of
Making and Design, ICED 95, Prague, August 22-24, 1995, 36-43.
* The main basis of new systematisation is that polymers can
be inorganic or organic. All plastics are polymers, but not all
polymers are plastics
Fig.1: Suggested new systematisation
P
• organic product of synthesis
(e.g. polyethylene fibres and thermoplastics matrix)
• organic product of synthesis and cultivated products
(e.g. thermoset matrix and jute)
• organic product of synthesis and inorganic polymers
(e.g. thermoset matrix and glass fibres)
• organic product of synthesis and metals
(e.g. metallic reinforcement agent and plastics matrix)
• inorganic-organic polymers (e.g. polymer-zeolite hybrid)
• organic-inorganic polymers [e.g. poly(organosiloxanes)]
• organic xxx + organic basic polymer (xxx and proteins)
• organic polymer – organic non-polymer
(e.g. poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and lipide)
• hybrid product (e.g. made by injection moulding)
P Composite materials and composite products Hybrids materials and products
P Composed materials and composed products L7
P
P
Metals
• steels, Al-alloys,
etc.
Inorganic non
polymeric substances
and materials
Thermoplastics
• polysilazanes
Elastomers:
e.g. polysiloxanes
Inorganic synthetic
polymers (non-living)
Thermosets
• PF, UP, PUR, ect.
Organic synthetic polymers
(from non-living)
Fossil Plastic
Thermoplastics
• PE, PVC, PS, PA, ect.
Elastomers
• vulcanized rubber
• thermoplastics
rubber
Chemically modified biopolymers
from natural and cultivated
products (from living)
Bioplastic
E. g. oils
P Inorganic substances and materials Organic substances and materials L6
T Controlled reactions inorganic Controlled organic synthesis Controlled Biosynthesis
T Artificial technology
P
Non-living organic
natural product
(e.g. natural gas)
Living organic natural
products
L5
P
Phytopolymers
(e.g. wood)
Animal polymers
(e.g. bones, skins)
P Biopolymeric organisms (microorganisms and macroorganisms) L3
P Natural:
• native metals:
gold, mercury
• metal ores
Natural:
• clay
• mica (glimmer)
• zeolites
Natural:
• proteins
• nucleic acids
• polysaccharides
Natural
P
P
Other natural
inorganic
macromolecular
compounds
(non-polymers)
Natural geopolymers
(Natural inorganic
polymers)
Natural organic polymers
Other natural organic
macromolecular
compounds
(e.g. lipids)
A B C D
Natural inorganic
macromolecular compounds
(Non-living natural products - minerals)
Natural organic
macromolecular compounds
(Living natural products – living organisms)
T Geological processes of non-living Biosynthesis (Synthesis of Living)
P Macromolecular compounds (substance) L0
T
Matter
Natural technology
T General technology Levels
L4
L2
L1
46 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

PRESENTS
THE SIXTH ANNUAL GLOBAL AWARD FOR
DEVELOPERS, MANUFACTURERS AND USERS OF
BIO-BASED PLASTICS.
Call for proposals
Enter your own product, service or development, or nominate
your favourite example from another organisation
Please let us know:
1. What the product, service or development is and does
2. Why you think this product, service or development should win an award
3. What your (or the proposed) company or organisation does
Your entry should not exceed 500 words (approx 1 page) and may also
be supported with photographs, samples, marketing brochures and/or
technical documentation (cannot be sent back). The 5 nominees must be
prepared to provide a 30 second videoclip
More details and an entry form can be downloaded from
www.bioplasticsmagazine.de/award
The Bioplastics Award will be presented during the
6th European Bioplastics Conference
November 22/23, 2011, Berlin, Germany
supported by

Basics
The of Blow molding
of Bioplastics
Blow molding applications abound for polymeric materials
and represent significant opportunities for bio-
polymers. The blow molding process selected (reheat
stretch, injection stretch, single stage or extrusion) depends
on a variety of container factors. These include: desired units,
performance, size and material properties. It is important to
understand the blow molding process from a material perspective,
especially as new biopolymers are introduced to
help determine their suitability.
Reheat stretch blow molding (RHSB) systems were first
developed for polyester bottle production, such as PET. Test
tube-shaped preforms are injection molded, then transferred
to the blow molder and fed through an in-feed wheel which
loads the preforms onto spindles that carry them through the
heating system.
Next, preforms enter the oven where they are heated
using infrared (IR) lamps. These are designed so that the
maximum wavelength transmission is outside the maximum
absorbance for PET. This is important because if too much
energy is absorbed on the preform surface, the heat will not
penetrate through to the inner wall and it will be too cold to
produce a container.
Reheat additives may be used to help the material absorb
IR energy thus making it suitable for reheat stretch blow
molding or broaden the processing window of a temperaturesensitive
material.
When exiting the blow molding oven, the preforms will be
above their glass transition temperature or at the low end of
their melting temperature range. The ideal preform reheat
temperature depends upon the material choice – polyesters
like PET and PLA are typically blow molded 15-25ºC above
their glass transition temperature (Tg) while crystalline
polyolefins, PP and HDPE, are blow molded closer to their
melt temperature.
Heated to its ideal temperature, the preform is then
placed into the blow mold where it rests upon the support
ledge near the neck finish. This support ledge distinguishes
RHSB bottles from other blow molded containers as it is not
necessary for either single-stage blow molding or extrusion
blow molding.
Finally, the blow mold closes and the internal action begins.
First, the preform is stretched axially with a stretch rod. This
distributes the weight properly, keeps the preform centered
within the mold by guiding the preform to the bottom, and
pins the gate during the high-blow pressure phase.
As soon as the stretching starts, low-pressure air is
introduced causing it to quickly take the shape of a balloon.
The higher pressure air (up to 40 bar) is then turned on after
the pre-blow stage. This completes the bottle expansion
against the mold which allows the plastic to freeze in place
before removing the bottle. The bottle is then removed from
the mold by a transfer arm which transports it to an out-feed
wheel where it is placed on the line.
There are many variables present during the blow molding
operation that allow it to be tailored to a specific bottle
design (round, square or oval), bottle performance (top
Reheat stretch blow molding machine (Photo: KHS Corpoplast)
48 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Basics
Examples of various materials,
preforms and containers. From
right to left PLA (Polylactic
acid), PP(Polypropylene)
and PET (Polyethylene
Terephthalate) (Photo: PTI)
By
Lori Yoder
Director, Material Applications
Plastic Technologies, Inc.
Holland, Ohio, USA
load requirements, hot filled or pressurized), and material
choice. Blow molding rates of up to 2000 bottles per hour
per mold are achievable although the actual rate depends
upon the equipment and resin choice, as well as preform
and bottle design.
Several biopolymers have been successfully reheat
stretch blow molded including PLA, PHA and PEF. Each has
unique material properties that must be understood to tailor
the preform/bottle designs and blow molding conditions in
order to produce a suitable container.
As a polyester, PLA exhibits strain hardening during the
orientation process. However, PLA’s temperature sensitivity
can result in a narrow processing window which is frequently
offset by incorporating a reheat additive into the preform
during injection molding. With a natural stretch ratio slightly
lower than PET, PLA may be used in existing PET tools
successfully depending upon the preform/ container design.
Another unique feature of PLA is its ability to flow into mold
details giving very crisp definition to container artwork.
PHA has also been successfully reheat stretch blow
molded into single-serve containers. The material
properties can be tailored to achieve different crystallization
rates and mechanical properties as the material exhibits
more rubber-like behavior when compared to PLA or PET.
Another new biopolymer, polyethylene furanoate (PEF),
has proven itself capable of producing acceptable containers
through reheat stretch blow molding. Containers were
successfully blown using traditional PET preform and bottle
tooling with PEF by establishing the process parameters that
matched the material’s stretching properties.
To compete with existing petrochemical-derived
materials in large volume reheat stretch blow molding
applications, future biopolymers must reheat efficiently,
stretch reproducibly within a short timeframe, and produce a
resulting container with satisfactory performance.
Injection stretch blow molding is quite similar to reheat
stretch blow molding once the preform arrives in the blow
mold. However, in injection stretch blow molding both the
preform and bottle are produced in a single machine instead
of separately. Thus, the machine speeds are dependent upon
the injection molding cycle times and production rates per
cavity are significantly lower than in reheat stretch blow
molding.
That being said, injection stretch blow molding has
a strong foothold in container production, offering an
alternative molding system for custom containers, jars and
larger volume packages for bulk foods. Because the preform
is not handled, the resulting bottle quality is more pristine
than bottles produced through reheat stretch blow molding.
In addition, the required space is significantly reduced from
two-stage blow molding systems.
Injection stretch blow molding (ISM) systems are equipped
with a plasticizing screw, preform conditioning, a blow
molding station and container ejector. The preforms are first
injection molded and the material is cooled until it can be
ejected from the mold. The preform’s remaining latent heat
Principe of Reheat stretch blow molding (picture: KHS Corpoplast)
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 49

Principle of extrusion bow molding [1]
Shiseido URARA extrusion blow molded Ingeo shampoo
bottle (photo courtesy of NatureWorks LLC)
is retained and utilized to orient the final bottle, thus thicker
sections stay hotter and stretch further while thinner, cooler
sections will stretch less.
In many injection stretch systems, the preform is
transferred from the injection mold into a conditioning station
that can be used to heat or cool sections of the preform to
adjust the final container’s material distribution. Depending
upon the system, this conditioning station may include IR
reheating lamps or touch-off cores to cool sections. Finally,
the preform enters the blow mold and a process similar
to reheat stretch blow molding is employed to produce a
container.
Experience with biopolymers in injection stretch blow
molding applications is more limited than RHSB systems.
Injection stretch blow molding PLA containers takes
advantage of the material’s heat capacity and does not
require reheat additives to produce a high quality container.
In addition, the stretch ratios for single-stage containers tend
to be lower than RHSB containers. Other biopolymers that
are capable of producing packages on two-stage equipment
would be expected also to be suitable for single-stage blow
molding.
Extrusion blow molding (EBM) is a process in which
polymer is melted and then extruded through an annular die
head into an open tube called a parison. The parison is then
pinched off as the chilled mold closes around the plastic and
then blown into a final container shape. Unlike most RHSB
and ISM applications, in EBM, the threaded area forms
during blow molding. After blowing, the mold opens and the
container is ejected. Frequently, excess plastic in the neck
and base requires trimming outside the mold.
Extrusion blow molding is commonly used for polyolefin
or amorphous materials and requires sufficient melt
strength to form the parison without collapse. Both
continuous and intermittent EBM systems exist, with the
type of system depending upon the equipment supplier and
desired throughput rates as well as on melt strength. Lower
viscosities (melt strength) may require an accumulator.
Ingeo PLA extrusion blow molded containers were
introduced in 2010 with a modified PLA blend. The
modification provided improved melt strength to the polymer
to allow for the parison formation. Bio-based PE and PP are
drop-ins for their petrochemical counterparts for extrusion
blow molding applications. In addition to these biopolymers,
PHA also targets replacement of PE and PP in extrusion
blow molding applications. First extrusion blow molded PHA
bottles (PHB/PHV copolymer) for shampoo were introduced
in Germany and the USA in the mid 1990s. However, they
disappeared from the shelves and are now waiting for their
renaissance.
www. plastictechnologies.com
[1] Thielen, M. et.al., Blasformen, Carl Hanser Verlag
50 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Order
now!
A new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc.
Degradable Plastics
Book-Review Bookstore
The degradable plastic industry has been on the verge of commercial success for decades.
However, demand growth was limited because most degradable plastics were too
expensive, were unavailable in large enough quantities or had performance drawbacks
that limited them to niche markets. This situation began to change in the early 2000s, as
interest in environmentally friendly products gained strength, boosted by the efforts of
major users like Wal-Mart. At the same time, the availability of biodegradable plastics
increased significantly due to expansions by key producers. These and other trends are
presented in Degradable Plastics, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc.,
a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.
The full report (202 pages, published 08/2010) is available through the bioplastics
MAGAZINE bookstore at www.bioplasticsmagazine.com/books.
Order now for US-$ 4,800 (+ VAT where applicable)
order at www.bioplasticsmagazine.de/books, by phone
+49 2161 6884463 or by e-mail books@bioplasticsmagazine.com
Reduced Price !
“Thank you Jan.
It is obvious that you went to
great lengths on this work.
You have listed biopolymers
I haven‘t even heard of. This
report will be very helpful to
all involved in the biopolymer
world.“
A reader‘s remark
Hans-Josef Endres,
Andrea Siebert-Raths
Engineering Biopolymers
Markets, Manufacturing, Properties
and Applications
660 pages, hard cover.
278 coloured pictures, 70 tables
Reduced Now available Price !
Author: Jan Th. J. Ravenstijn, MSc
The state of the art on Bioplastics, January 2010
The report ‘The state-of-the-art on Bioplastics 2010‘ describes
the revolutionary growth of bio-based monomers, polymers, and
plastics and changes in performance and variety for the entire
global plastics market in the first decades of this century.
Trends, issues, technologies, products, markets, manufacturers,
investment plans, performances, needs, expectations, and new
opportunities are reviewed and discussed.
This includes the assimilation of the agricultural industry with
the polymer industry to a new value chain. Today, bio-based
thermosets are larger than bio-based thermoplastics,
while also the volume of bio-based durable materials exceeds the
volume of bio-based biodegradable plastics.
Order now for reduced price of EUR 1,500.00 (+ VAT)
order at www.bioplasticsmagazine.de/books,
by phone +49 2161 6884463
or by e-mail books@bioplasticsmagazine.com
(Special prices for research and non-profit organisations upon request).
Hans-Josef Endres,
Andrea Siebert-Raths
Technische Biopolymere
Rahmenbedingungen, Marktsituation,
Herstellung, Aufbau und Eigenschaften
628 Seiten, Hardcover
This book is unique in its focus on market-relevant bio/renewable
materials. It is based on comprehensive research projects, during which
these materials were systematically analyzed and characterized. For the
first time the interested reader will find comparable data not only for
biogenic polymers and biological macromolecules such as proteins, but
also for engineering materials.
The reader will also find valuable information regarding microstructure,
manufacturing, and processing-, application-, and recycling
properties of biopolymers
Rainer Höfer (Editor)
Sustainable Solutions
for Modern Economies
ISBN: 978-1-84755-905-0
Copyright: 2009 / Format: Hardcover /
497 pages
Finally it‘s there !
Bestellen Sie das deutschsprachige
Buch für EUR 279.44 + MwSt
Order the new english version now ! € 279.44 +VAT
Order now for just EUR 99.00 plus shipping & handling
(please ask for shipping cost into your country)
order at www.bioplasticsmagazine.de/books, by phone
+49 2161 6884463 or by e-mail books@bioplasticsmagazine.com
order at www.bioplasticsmagazine.de
by phone +49 2161 6884463
or by e-mail books@bioplasticsmagazine.com

Basics
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)
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.
Amylopectin | Polymeric branched starch
molecule with very high molecular weight (biopolymer,
monomer is Glucose).
[bM 05/2009 p42]
Amyloseacetat | Linear polymeric glucosechains
are called amylose. If this compound
is treated with ethan acid one product
is amylacetat. The hydroxyl group is connected
with the organic acid fragment.
Amylose | Polymeric non-branched starch
molecule with high molecular weight (biopolymer,
monomer is Glucose). [bM 05/2009 p42]
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.
For an official definition, please refer to
the standards e.g. ISO or in Europe: EN 14995
Plastics- Evaluation of compostability - Test
scheme and specifications.
[bM 02/2006 p34, bM 01/2007 p38]]
Glossary
Readers who would like to suggest better or other explanations to be added to the list, please
contact the editor.
[*: bM ... refers to more comprehensive article previously published in bioplastics MAGAZINE)
Blend | Mixture of plastics, polymer alloy of at
least two microscopically dispersed and molecularly
distributed base polymers.
Carbon neutral | Carbon neutral describes a
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.
Cellophane | Clear film on the basis of cellulose.
Cellulose | Polymeric molecule with very high
molecular weight (biopolymer, monomer is
Glucose), industrial production from wood
or cotton, to manufacture paper, plastics and
fibres.
Compost | A soil conditioning material of
decomposing organic matter which provides
nutrients and enhances soil structure.
[bM 06/2008, 02/2009]
Compostable Plastics | Plastics that are biodegradable
under ‘composting’ conditions:
specified humidity, temperature, microorganisms
and timefame. Several national
and international standards exist for clearer
definitions, for example EN 14995 Plastics -
Evaluation of compostability - Test scheme
and specifications. [bM 02/2006, bM 01/2007]
Composting | A solid waste management
technique that uses natural process to convert
organic materials to CO 2 , water and
humus through the action of microorganisms.
[bM 03/2007]
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’).
Fermentation | Biochemical reactions controlled
by microorganisms or enyzmes (e.g.
the transformation of sugar into lactic acid).
Gelatine | Translucent brittle solid substance,
colorless or slightly yellow, nearly tasteless
and odorless, extracted from the collagen inside
animals‘ connective tissue.
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.
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 waterresistant
and weatherproof or that absorbs
water such as Polyamide (PA).
Hydrophobic | Property: ‘water-resistant’, not
soluble in water (e.g. a plastic which is waterresistant
and weatherproof, or that does not
absorb any water such as Polethylene (PE) or
Polypropylene (PP).
LCA | Life Cycle Assessment (sometimes also
referred to as life cycle analysis, ecobalance,
and cradle-to-grave analysis) is the investigation
and valuation of the environmental
impacts of a given product or service caused.
[bM 01/2009]
Microorganism | Living organisms of microscopic
size, such as bacteria, funghi or yeast.
PCL | Polycaprolactone, a synthetic (fossil
based), biodegradable bioplastic, e.g. used as
a blend component.
PHA | Polyhydroxyalkanoates are linear polyesters
produced in nature by bacterial fermentation
of sugar or lipids. The most common
type of PHA is PHB.
PHB | Polyhydroxyl buteric acid (better poly-
3-hydroxybutyrate), is a polyhydroxyalkanoate
(PHA), a polymer belonging to the polyesters
class. PHB is produced by micro-organisms
apparently in response to conditions of physiological
stress. The polymer is primarily a
product of carbon assimilation (from glucose
52 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Basics
or starch) and is employed by micro-organisms
as a form of energy storage molecule to
be metabolized when other common energy
sources are not available. PHB has properties
similar to those of PP, however it is stiffer and
more brittle.
PLA | Polylactide or Polylactic Acid (PLA) is
a biodegradable, thermoplastic, aliphatic
polyester from lactic acid. Lactic acid is made
from dextrose by fermentation. Bacterial fermentation
is used to produce lactic acid from
corn starch, cane sugar or other sources.
However, lactic acid cannot be directly polymerized
to a useful product, because each polymerization
reaction generates one molecule
of water, the presence of which degrades the
forming polymer chain to the point that only
very low molecular weights are observed.
Instead, lactic acid is oligomerized and then
catalytically dimerized to make the cyclic lactide
monomer. Although dimerization also
generates water, it can be separated prior to
polymerization. PLA of high molecular weight
is produced from the lactide monomer by
ring-opening polymerization using a catalyst.
This mechanism does not generate additional
water, and hence, a wide range of molecular
weights are accessible. [bM 01/2009]
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 of the most often cited definitions of sustainability
is the one created by the Brundtland
Commission, led by the former Norwegian
Prime Minister Gro Harlem 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 non-human environment).
Sustainability | (as defined by European
Bioplastics e.V.) 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).
Yard Waste | Grass clippings, leaves, trimmings,
garden residue.
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.
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 05/2009]
Starch (-derivate) | Starch (-derivates) 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 connect with ethan
acid one product is starch-ester with different
chemical properties.
in Raw Materials,
Machinery & Products
Free of Charge
from the Industrial Sector
and the Plastics Markets
for Plastics.
for Plastics & Additives,
Machinery & Equipment,
Subcontractors
and Services.
for Specialists and
Executive Staff in the
Plastics Industry
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 53

Event Calendar
Event Calendar
You can meet us!
Please contact us in
advance by e-mail.
Sept 14-16, 2011
International Biorefining Conference & Trade Show
Houston, Texas
www.biorefiningconference.com
Sept 27, 2011
Bioplastik: Verpackung der Zukunft?
Empa, St. Gallen, Saal C 3.11
www.empa.ch
Sept. 25-29, 2011
8th European Congress of Chemical Engineering and
1st European Congress of Applied Biotechnology
(together with ProcessNet Annual Meeting 2011 and
DECHEMA’s Biotechnology Annual Meeting)
Berlin, Germany
www.dechema.de
Sep. 26-27,2011
5th International Symposium on Wood
Fibre Polymer Composites
Biarritz, France
www.fcba.fr/wpc2011
Sep. 26-28, 2011
6th annual Biopolymers Symposium 2011
Learn how to reach 200+ bioplastics leaders
Denver, Colorado
www.biopolymersummit.com
Sep. 27-29, 2011
COMPOSITES EUROPE
Stuttgart Fairgrounds, Stuttgart, Germany
www.composites-europe.com
Oct. 17-19, 2011
GPEC 2011 (SPE’s Global Plastics Environmental Conference)
The Atlanta Peachtree Westin Hotel, Atlanta, GA, USA
www.4spe.org
Nov. 11-19, 2011
Brau Beviale
Raw Materials - Technologies - Logistics - Marketing
Messe Nuremberg, Germany
www.brau-beviale.de
Nov. 22-23, 2011
6th European Bioplastics Conference
Maritim proArte Hotel, Berlin, Germany
www.european-bioplastics.org
Dec. 13-14, 2011
4. WPC Kongress
Maritim Hotel Köln, Germany
www.wpc-kongress.de
Feb. 20-22, 2012
Innovation Takes Root 2012
Omni ChampionsGate Resort in Orlando, Florida, USA.
www.innovationtakesroot.com
March 14-15, 2012
5th International Congress on Bio-based Plastics and Composites
Cologne, Germany
www.biowerkstoff-kongress.de
April 1-5, 2012
NPE 2012
Orlando, USA
www.npe.org
The most comprehensive
U.S. bioplastics conference
covering technologies & trends,
developments in semi-durable,
durable and consumer product
applications, new guidelines and
end of life strategies
Where the industry’s
key players gather!
September 26-28, 2011
Brown Palace Hotel and Spa
Denver, CO
follow the conference
@biopolymers
“Excellent representation from a variety
of stakeholders: suppliers, brand
owners, certification bodies, industry
associations, government and non
government organizations”
Carol Casarino, DuPont
“Good topics for getting an overall
understanding of the Biopolymers
industry and making contacts”
Jeff Corbett, Mantrose-Haeuser
Register now at
www.biopolymersummit.com
54 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Editorial Planner 2011
April 18-21, 2012
Chinaplas 2012
Shanghai, China
www.chinaplasonline.com
May 14-15, 2012
2nd PLA World Congress
presented by bioplastics MAGAZINE
Holiday Inn City Center, Munich Germany
www.pla-world-congress.com
June 19-20, 2012
Biobased materials
WPC, Natural Fibre and other innovative Composites Congress
Fellbach, near Stuttgart, Germany
www.nfc-congress.com
Month Sep/Oct (05) Nov/Dec (06)
Publ.-Date 04.10.2011 05.12.2011
Edit/Advert/
Deadline
Editorial
Focus (1)
Editorial
Focus (2)
09.09.2011 11.11.2011
Fibers
Textiles
Nonwovens
Paper Coating
Films
Flexibles
Bags
Consumer
Electronics
Basics Algae Film-Blowing
subject to changes
Oct. 2-4, 2012
BioPlastics – The Re-Invention of Plastics
Caesars Palace Hotel, Las Vegas, USA
www.InnoPlastSolutions.com
www.pla-world-congress.com
2 nd PLA WORLD
C O N G R E S S
14 + 15 MAY 2012 * MUNICH * GERMANY
Take advantage of our early bird
offer until 31 st of August!
www.wpc-congress.com
Sponsors
Praxis-oriented for developers, producers, commerce and users.
■
■
■
■
■
Preliminary programme
Sponsoring
WPC Innovation Award 2011
www.wpc-congress.comwww.bio-based.eu
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 55
nova-Institute GmbH

Suppliers Guide
1.Raw Materials
10
20
30
40
Showa Denko Europe GmbH
Konrad-Zuse-Platz 4
81829 Munich, Germany
Tel.: +49 89 93996226
www.showa-denko.com
support@sde.de
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
Jean-Pierre Le Flanchec
3 rue Scheffer
75116 Paris cedex, France
Tel: +33 (0)1 53 65 23 00
Fax: +33 (0)1 53 65 81 99
biosphere@biosphere.eu
www.biosphere.eu
Sukano AG
Chaltenbodenstrasse 23
CH-8834 Schindellegi
Tel. +41 44 787 57 77
Fax +41 44 787 57 78
www.sukano.com
3. Semi finished products
3.1 films
50
60
70
80
90
DuPont de Nemours International S.A.
2 chemin du Pavillon
1218 - Le Grand Saconnex
Switzerland
Tel.: +41 22 171 51 11
Fax: +41 22 580 22 45
plastics@dupont.com
www.renewable.dupont.com
www.plastics.dupont.com
Kingfa Sci. & Tech. Co., Ltd.
Gaotang Industrial Zone, Tianhe,
Guangzhou, P.R.China.
Tel: +86 (0)20 87215915
Fax: +86 (0)20 87037111
info@ecopond.com.cn
www.ecopond.com.cn
FLEX-262/162 Biodegradable
Blown Film Resin!
Grace Biotech Corporation
Tel: +886-3-598-6496
No. 91, Guangfu N. Rd., Hsinchu
Industrial Park,Hukou Township,
Hsinchu County 30351, Taiwan
sales@grace-bio.com.tw
www.grace-bio.com.tw
1.5 PHA
Huhtamaki Forchheim
Sonja Haug
Zweibrückenstraße 15-25
91301 Forchheim
Tel. +49-9191 81203
Fax +49-9191 811203
www.huhtamaki-films.com
100
110
120
130
Zhejiang Hangzhou Xinfu
Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd
Tel.: +86 13809644115
www.xinfupharm.com
johnleung@xinfupharm.com
1.1 bio based monomers
Natur-Tec ® - Northern Technologies
4201 Woodland Road
Circle Pines, MN 55014 USA
Tel. +1 763.225.6600
Fax +1 763.225.6645
info@natur-tec.com
www.natur-tec.com
Division of A&O FilmPAC Ltd
7 Osier Way, Warrington Road
GB-Olney/Bucks.
MK46 5FP
Tel.: +44 1234 714 477
Fax: +44 1234 713 221
sales@aandofilmpac.com
www.bioresins.eu
www.earthfirstpla.com
www.sidaplax.com
www.plasticsuppliers.com
Sidaplax UK : +44 (1) 604 76 66 99
Sidaplax Belgium: +32 9 210 80 10
Plastic Suppliers: +1 866 378 4178
140
150
160
170
PURAC division
Arkelsedijk 46, P.O. Box 21
4200 AA Gorinchem -
The Netherlands
Tel.: +31 (0)183 695 695
Fax: +31 (0)183 695 604
www.purac.com
PLA@purac.com
1.2 compounds
Transmare Compounding B.V.
Ringweg 7, 6045 JL
Roermond, The Netherlands
Tel. +31 475 345 900
Fax +31 475 345 910
info@transmare.nl
www.compounding.nl
1.3 PLA
Telles, Metabolix – ADM joint venture
650 Suffolk Street, Suite 100
Lowell, MA 01854 USA
Tel. +1-97 85 13 18 00
Fax +1-97 85 13 18 86
www.mirelplastics.com
Taghleef Industries SpA, Italy
Via E. Fermi, 46
33058 San Giorgio di Nogaro (UD)
Contact Frank Ernst
Tel. +49 2402 7096989
Mobile +49 160 4756573
frank.ernst@ti-films.com
www.ti-films.com
3.1.1 cellulose based films
180
190
200
210
220
230
240
250
260
270
API S.p.A.
Via Dante Alighieri, 27
36065 Mussolente (VI), Italy
Telephone +39 0424 579711
www.apiplastic.com
www.apinatbio.com
Cereplast Inc.
Tel: +1 310-676-5000 / Fax: -5003
pravera@cereplast.com
www.cereplast.com
European distributor A.Schulman :
Tel +49 (2273) 561 236
christophe_cario@de.aschulman.com
Shenzhen Brightchina Ind. Co;Ltd
www.brightcn.net
www.esun.en.alibaba.com
bright@brightcn.net
Tel: +86-755-2603 1978
1.4 starch-based bioplastics
Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients
ZAC „Les Portes de Riom“ - BP 173
63204 Riom Cedex - France
Tel. +33 (0)4 73 67 17 00
Fax +33 (0)4 73 67 17 10
www.biolice.com
PSM Bioplastic NA
Chicago, USA
www.psmna.com
+1-630-393-0012
Tianan Biologic
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
2. Additives/Secondary raw materials
The HallStar Company
120 S. Riverside Plaza, Ste. 1620
Chicago, IL 60606, USA
+1 312 385 4494
dmarshall@hallstar.com
www.hallstar.com/hallgreen
Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH
Duesseldorfer Strasse 23-27
68219 Mannheim, Germany
Phone: +49 (0)621-8907-233
Fax: +49 (0)621-8907-8233
bioadimide.eu@rheinchemie.com
www.bioadimide.com
INNOVIA FILMS LTD
Wigton
Cumbria CA7 9BG
England
Contact: Andy Sweetman
Tel. +44 16973 41549
Fax +44 16973 41452
andy.sweetman@innoviafilms.com
www.innoviafilms.com
4. Bioplastics products
alesco GmbH & Co. KG
Schönthaler Str. 55-59
D-52379 Langerwehe
Sales Germany: +49 2423 402 110
Sales Belgium: +32 9 2260 165
Sales Netherlands: +31 20 5037 710
info@alesco.net | www.alesco.net
56 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

Postbus 26
7480 AA Haaksbergen
The Netherlands
Tel.: +31 616 121 843
info@bio4pack.com
www.bio4pack.com
President Packaging Ind., Corp.
PLA Paper Hot Cup manufacture
In Taiwan, www.ppi.com.tw
Tel.: +886-6-570-4066 ext.5531
Fax: +886-6-570-4077
sales@ppi.com.tw
6. Equipment
8. Ancillary equipment
9. Services
Osterfelder Str. 3
46047 Oberhausen
Tel.: +49 (0)2861 8598 1227
Fax: +49 (0)2861 8598 1424
thomas.wodke@umsicht.fhg.de
www.umsicht.fraunhofer.de
6.1 Machinery & Molds
Suppliers Guide
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:
Cortec® Corporation
4119 White Bear Parkway
St. Paul, MN 55110
Tel. +1 800.426.7832
Fax 651-429-1122
info@cortecvci.com
www.cortecvci.com
Eco Cortec®
31 300 Beli Manastir
Bele Bartoka 29
Croatia, MB: 1891782
Tel. +385 31 705 011
Fax +385 31 705 012
info@ecocortec.hr
www.ecocortec.hr
FAS Converting Machinery AB
O Zinkgatan 1/ Box 1503
27100 Ystad, Sweden
Tel.: +46 411 69260
www.fasconverting.com
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
nova-Institut GmbH
Chemiepark Knapsack
Industriestrasse 300
50354 Huerth, Germany
Tel.: +49(0)2233-48-14 40
Fax: +49(0)2233-48-14 5
Bioplastics Consulting
Tel. +49 2161 664864
info@polymediaconsult.com
10. Institutions
10.1 Associations
Polymedia Publisher GmbH
Dammer Str. 112
41066 Mönchengladbach
Germany
Tel. +49 2161 664864
Fax +49 2161 631045
info@bioplasticsmagazine.com
www.bioplasticsmagazine.com
39 mm
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.
10
20
30
39
Minima Technology Co., Ltd.
Esmy Huang, Marketing Manager
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-tech.com
NOVAMONT S.p.A.
Via Fauser , 8
28100 Novara - ITALIA
Fax +39.0321.699.601
Tel. +39.0321.699.611
www.novamont.com
Roll-o-Matic A/S
Petersmindevej 23
5000 Odense C, Denmark
Tel. + 45 66 11 16 18
Fax + 45 66 14 32 78
rom@roll-o-matic.com
www.roll-o-matic.com
MANN+HUMMEL ProTec GmbH
Stubenwald-Allee 9
64625 Bensheim, Deutschland
Tel. +49 6251 77061 0
Fax +49 6251 77061 510
info@mh-protec.com
www.mh-protec.com
6.2 Laboratory Equipment
BPI - The Biodegradable
Products Institute
331 West 57th Street, Suite 415
New York, NY 10019, USA
Tel. +1-888-274-5646
info@bpiworld.org
European Bioplastics e.V.
Marienstr. 19/20
10117 Berlin, Germany
Tel. +49 30 284 82 350
Fax +49 30 284 84 359
info@european-bioplastics.org
www.european-bioplastics.org
10.2 Universities
www.facebook.com
www.issuu.com
www.twitter.com
www.youtube.com
WEI MON INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
2F, No.57, Singjhong Rd.,
Neihu District,
Taipei City 114, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Tel. + 886 - 2 - 27953131
Fax + 886 - 2 - 27919966
sales@weimon.com.tw
www.plandpaper.com
MODA : Biodegradability Analyzer
Saida FDS Incorporated
3-6-6 Sakae-cho, Yaizu,
Shizuoka, Japan
Tel : +81-90-6803-4041
info@saidagroup.jp
www.saidagroup.jp
7. Plant engineering
Michigan State University
Department of Chemical
Engineering & Materials Science
Professor Ramani Narayan
East Lansing MI 48824, USA
Tel. +1 517 719 7163
narayan@msu.edu
Uhde Inventa-Fischer GmbH
Holzhauser Str. 157 - 159
13509 Berlin, Germany
Tel. +49 (0)30 43567 5
Fax +49 (0)30 43567 699
sales.de@thyssenkrupp.com
www.uhde-inventa-fischer.com
University of Applied Sciences
Faculty II, Department
of Bioprocess Engineering
Heisterbergallee 12
30453 Hannover, Germany
Tel. +49 (0)511-9296-2212
Fax +49 (0)511-9296-2210
hans-josef.endres@fh-hannover.de
www.fakultaet2.fh-hannover.de
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6 57

Companies in this issue
Company Editorial Advert Company Editorial Advert
Aalto-Korkeakoulusäätiö 12
A&O Filmpac 56
Abensi Energía 12
Agco 12
AIMPLAS 12
Alesco 56
API 28 56
Asfibe 12
Avantium 6
BAFA 12
BASF SE 5, 9
Bio4Pack 57
Bioresins.eu 56
Biosphere 56
BPI 57
Braskem 25
Brau Beviale 33
Cereplast 56
Chemowerk 12
Coca-Cola 11, 14, 30
Composites Europe (Reed) 23
Cortec 28 57
Danone 9, 11, 14
DSM 29
DuPont 29, 30 56
Eco Cortec 57
Ecomann 43
Ekotex 12
European Bioplastics 11 57
European Plastic Converters Association 12
FAS Converting 57
FKuR 5 2, 56
Formax UK 12
Fraunhofer UMSICHT 57
Frost & Sullivan 6
Grace Bio 56
Hallink 57
Hallstar 56
Heinz 11, 14, 30
Howa Plastics 30
Huhtamaki 56
Innovació i Recerca Industrial i Sostenible 32
Innovia Films 9 31, 56
Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe 12
Instytut Wlokien Naturalnych i Roslin Zielarskich 12
Interseroh 9
Intertech Pira 56
JBPA 42
Kafrit 5
KHS 48
Kingfa Sci. & Tech. 56
Kojima Press Industry 30
Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients 56
M&Q Packaging Corporation 29
Mann + Hummel 57
Metabolix 40
Michigan State University 57
Mitsubishi Plastic 42
Mohawk 29
narocon 9
NatureWorks 8, 9
Natur-Tec 56
Netcomposites 12
NGR 21
Nike 14
nova-Institut 9 55, 57
Novamont 9, 36 56, 60
Organic Waste Systems 40
Paper and Fiber Research Institute 20
Pepsi 14
Pharmafilter 22
Piel 12
Plastic Suppliers 56
Plastic Technologies (PTI) 48
Plasticker 53
President Packaging 57
PSM 7, 56
Publisearch 28
Purac 56
RheinChemie 56
Roll-o-Matic 57
Saida 57
Saida UMS 26
Shenkar College 5
Shenzhen Esun Industrial 5 56
Showa Denko 56
Sidaplax 56
SK Chemicals 18
Solvay 6
Sukano 56
Taghleef Industries 56
Tate&Lyle 30
Technical University of Denmark 12
Telles 40 57, 59
The Co-Operative Group 9
Tianan Biologic 56
Tosaf 5
Toyota Technical Center 30
Transfurans Chemicals 12
Transmare 56
Uhde Inventa Fischer 39, 57
Unitika 9
University of Appl.Sc.&A. Hanover 57
University of Kansas 35
University of Massachussetts, Lowell 5
University of Wisconsin-Platteville 41
University of Zagreb 44
Univesity of Pisa 32
Virent 14
Vtt Technical Research Centre 12
WalMart 14
Wei Mon 7, 57
Wuhan Huali (PSM) 46, 56
Zeijang Hangzhou Xinfu Pharmaceutical 56
Minima Technology 56
58 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

A real sign
of sustainable
development.
Living Chemistry for Quality of Life.
www.novamont.com
Inventor of the year 2007