bioplasticsMAGAZINE_1106

ioplastics magazine Vol. 6 ISSN 1862-5258
Highlights
Films Flexibles Bags | 14
Consumer Electronics | 38
Personality
John Williams | 48
November/December
06 | 2011
... is read in 91 countries

FKuR plastics – made by nature! ®
Engineered Sustainability
Mouse casing made from Biograde ®
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
For further information, contact your local partner:
North America: sales.usa@fkur.com
UK & Ireland: UK@fkur.com
Italy:
Italy@fkur.com
France: France@fkur.com
Scandinavia: Scan@fkur.com
Israel:
Israel@fkur.com

Editorial
dear
readers
Even if the cover picture shows an example of a consumer electronics
product that was launched only this year, this little mouse is the only
consumer electronics example we have in this issue. On the other hand
the second highlight that we had announced — films|flexibles|bags — is
packed with articles, opinions and application news. Be it multilayer
laminates, barrier solutions or the hot topic of plastic bags, there is
plenty of new information and food for thought for you, our readers.
We apologize that the ‘basics’ article about film blowing and blown film
extrusion respectively, had to be postponed to a later issue. Instead we
are happy to present another informative and basic ‘opinion’ article on
the use of agricultural resources for materials production vs energy vs
food or animal feed usage.
And we are happy to congratulate Danone for winning the 6 th Bioplastics
Award, this year for the first time awarded exclusively by bioplastics
MAGAZINE. The ‘Bioplastics Oskar’ — as it was called by delegates of
the conference — was given to the brand owners in recognition of their
exceptional commitment to the use of bioplastics in the packaging of
their leading brand products. The ceremony was part of the 6 th European
Bioplastics Conference on November 22 nd and 23 rd in Berlin, Germany.
Congratulations to European Bioplastics as well for a great conference
with a new record of 420 delegates.
The team of bioplastics MAGAZINE would like to thank all of you for your
loyalty, be it as reader, author or advertiser. We wish you some relaxing
days at the end of the year. Let’s continue a fruitful cooperation in 2012
and see many of you at our 2 nd PLA World Congress on May 15 th and 16 th ,
2012, in Munich, Germany.
Follow us on twitter:
twitter.com/bioplasticsmag
Until then, we hope you enjoy reading bioplastics MAGAZINE
Sincerely yours
Michael Thielen
Be our friend on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/bioplasticsmagazine
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 3

Content
Award
Bioplastics Award 2011 .......................... 10
Events
European Bioplastics Conference ................. 12
Editorial ..........................3
News .............................5
Application News ..................34
Event Calendar ....................52
Bookstore ........................33
Glossary .........................50
Editorial Planner ..................58
Companies in this issue ............58
06|2011
November/December
Films | Flexibles | Bags
Design Your Own Compostable Film ............... 14
Longer Shelf Life in PLA Packaging ............... 18
New Applications for BoPLA films ................. 20
The Future of the Shopping Bag in Italy ............. 22
Mulch Film Certified ............................ 24
Biopolymer Coatings for Sustainable Packaging ..... 26
‘Bagislation‘ in Europe .......................... 28
Renewable Lightweight Coffee Pouches ............ 32
Consumer Electronics
Bioplastic Mouse added to Green Line .............. 38
Report
Bioplastics in Practical Use ...................... 40
Basics
Agricultural Resources for Bioplastics ............. 44
Personality
John Williams .................................. 48
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: 3,500 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 BoPLA envelopes sponsored by
Taghleef Industries S.p.A., Maropack GmbH &
Co. KGand SFV Verpackungen
Cover
Photo: Philipp Thielen
4 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6
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News
Thailand Preferred for Next Ingeo Plant
NatureWorks LLC, from Minnetonka, Minnessota, USA
announced in mid-October that Thailand’s largest chemical
producer, PTT Chemical Public Company Limited (PTT
Chemical) is investing US$150 million in NatureWorks.
NatureWorks supplies its broad family of renewable Ingeo
biopolymers to plastics and fibers markets worldwide. PTT
Chemical’s investment in NatureWorks, until now wholly
owned by Cargill, is subject to regulatory approval.
“The Thai Government encourages an investment in
green chemicals, and particularly bioplastics, which have
high growth potential in the Southeast Asian market,” said
Thailand‘s Minister of Energy H.E. Mr. Pichai Naripthaphan.
“By attracting what could be the most advanced biopolymer
processing plant in the world to Thailand, PTT Chemical has
made a significant step in achieving Thailand’s strategic
objectives of becoming a regional hub for green technologies
and solutions.”
“This is a significant investment by a leading chemical
company, which will allow NatureWorks to continue its
aggressive growth while expanding its capacity to meet global
demand for bio-based products. PTT Chemical’s investment
demonstrates a significant milestone in moving Ingeo biobased
plastics and fibers to the polymer mainstream,” said
Marc Verbruggen, president and chief executive officer
of NatureWorks. “PTT Chemical’s investment supports
NatureWorks intent to globalize its Ingeo manufacturing
capability. We anticipate bringing the new plant online in 2015
and expect to announce further details on this expansion
later this year.”
operating officer, Downstream Petroleum Business Group of
PTT Public Company Limited. “PTT Chemical is keen to play a
role in pioneering a world-scale bioplastics industry with the
aim to become a global leader by 2020 and push Thailand to
become an Asian bio-hub.”
“PTT Chemical reinforces NatureWorks’ leadership position
and proven track record in bringing cost effective biopolymer
innovations to the global marketplace,” said Mr. Veerasak
Kositpaisal, president and chief executive officer of PTT
Chemical. “NatureWorks is currently the forefront producer
of bio-based products with commercially viable production
volumes, competitive costing and a global customer base.
Our investment in the company and its Ingeo technology
platform for plastics and fibers is in line with our long-term
strategic green growth and diversification objectives.”
Over the past several years, NatureWorks has seen steady
25 to 30% increases in annual product demand. In the last
two years, NatureWorks doubled its Ingeo supply availability
by bringing online additional production capacity at its Blair,
Neb., processing facility.
“The proposed new Ingeo facility in Thailand would be
NatureWorks’ second production plant,” Marc Verbruggen
added. MT
www.natureworksllc.com
www.pttchemgroup.com
“This investment will strengthen PTT Chemical’s green
growth strategy towards sustainable development by
integrating more renewable and environmentally friendly
materials in its portfolio, while offering more green product
choices to the customer to fulfill our responsibility as
the ‘Power for a Sustainable Future’ for Thailand and all
stakeholders,” said Mr. Nuttachat Charuchinda, the chief
FKuR Exclusive Distributor of Green-PE in Europe
Global biopolymer leader Braskem and bioplastics specialist FKuR have signed a distribution agreement for Green PE.
Taking effect immediately (Nov. 2011), FKuR will be the official distribution partner for Braskem´s Green PE in Europe.
“This new business field is another milestone that helps make our ‘FKuR - plastics made by nature ® ’ strategy a reality. As
a leading player in the European bioplastics market we are happy to be part of Braskem’s innovative campaign for changing
resource utilisation,” said Dr. Edmund Dolfen, FKuR’s CEO.
“For Braskem, it was important to find a partner who has extensive knowledge in promoting bioplastic specialties in a
commodity market,” declared Fabio Carneiro, Renewable Chemicals Commercial Officer at Braskem.
With its European sales force, FKuR will be an additional technology and technical contact support, development advisor
and logistic partner for Europe. Furthermore, tailor-made compounds made from Braskem’s Green PE will be available under
FKuR’s brand name Terralene TM .
www.braskem.com
www.fkur.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 5

News
NatureWorks
Received Award
NatureWorks was recently honored with
the 2011 Leader of Change Award from
The Foundation for Social Change and
the United Nations Office for Partnerships
(UNOP).
The Leader of Change award recognizes
visionary executives of companies,
financial institutions, and advocacy
groups that have demonstrated an
exemplary commitment to the pursuit of
sustainability whereby environmental and
social performance are embedded in the
competitive strategy of the organization.
“We named NatureWorks a leader
of change, because the company
demonstrates several compelling proof
points,” explained Louise M. Guido, CEO
of the Foundation for Social Change.
“NatureWorks is not a longstanding,
conventional company that decided to
‘go green,’ this is a company actually
founded – just 10 years ago – on the
simple principle of selling sustainable
performance products, giving
contemporary industry a new way to do
business and today’s consumer a new
choice. And, as the Ingeo Earth Month
project demonstrated, NatureWorks’
early bet on environmental performance
is clearly paying off.”
NatureWorks joins a prestigious
group of other 2011 Leader in Change
award recipients, including Billabong,
Domini Social Investment Fund, DSM,
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Marks
& Spencer, Philips Lighting, Seventh
Generation and Unilever.
“NatureWorks is founded on the very
principles recognized by the 2011 Leader
of Change Award,” said Steve Davies,
marketing and public affairs director for
NatureWorks, “Ingeo allows companies
to do business differently – by opening
the way for brands to bring innovative and
sustainable products to their customers
without compromising performance and
appeal.” MT
www.natureworksllc.com
First Bio-based EPDM
Rubber in the World
LANXESS from Leverkusen, Germany is strengthening its commitment
to produce premium synthetic rubbers from bio-based raw materials. The
specialty chemicals company aims to commercially produce ethylenepropylene-diene
monomer (EPDM) from bio-based ethylene by the end of
the year. It will be the first form of bio-based EPDM rubber in the world.
EPDM is conventionally produced using the petroleum-based raw
materials ethylene and propylene. Alternatively, Lanxess plans to use
ethylene derived purely from the renewable resource sugar cane. The
company Braskem S.A. will supply the bio-based ethylene via pipeline to
Lanxess’ existing EPDM plant in Triunfo, Brazil.
“Lanxess’ ongoing search for alternatives to fossil fuels underlines its
commitment to reducing CO 2
emissions through sustainable production,”
said Guenther Weymans, head of Lanxess’ Technical Rubber Products
business unit. “We are very excited that our Brazilian plant will be the
pioneer for bio-based EPDM.”
“Lanxess will contribute to broaden our portfolio of renewable chemicals’
clients. This agreement will bring the benefits of green ethylene to other
important applications and markets. Lanxess has extensive automotive
experience and an excellent reputation in this market, which makes it
an ideal partner,” said Marcelo Nunes, Braskem’s Renewable Chemicals
Director.
Triunfo currently produces 40,000 tonnes per year of regular EPDM
rubber and it is expected that the first batches of the product Keltan Eco will
amount to several hundred tonnes. The company’s other EPDM production
sites are based in Geleen, The Netherlands, Marl, Germany, and Orange,
Texas, USA. All EPDM grades will be sold in the future under the brand
name Keltan.
EPDM is used above all in the automotive industry but also in the plastics
modification, cable and wire, construction and oil additives industries. Its
properties include very low density, good resistance to heat, oxidation,
chemicals and weathering as well as good electrical insulation properties.
In addition, Lanxess is already seeking alternative sources to produce
the premium synthetic rubber product butyl rubber, which is used
predominantly in the tire industry. Together with Colorado-based Gevo, Inc,
Lanxess is developing isobutene from renewable resources starting with
corn. Isobutene is a key raw material needed in the manufacture of butyl
rubber.
Last year, Lanxess started up a new onsite
power plant at its Brazilian site in Porto
Feliz, which produces iron oxide pigments.
The innovative, highly efficient cogeneration
plant for the production of electricity and
steam is powered by bagasse, a fibrous
component of sugar cane that is left over
after sugar production. Thanks to the use of
this renewable, environmentally friendly raw
material, energy can be produced on a CO 2
-
neutral basis for the site. MT
www.lanxess.com
www.braskem.com
6 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

News
New Additives for
High-Performance
Bioplastics
Compared to conventional high-performance
plastics, bioplastics have their limitations – among
other things in terms of stability and strength. The
Düsseldorf/Germany based chemical company
Henkel and the compounder and biopolymer
specialist Tecnaro from Ilsfeld-Auenstein, Germany
have worked together to overcome these limitations.
In cooperation with Tecnaro, Henkel has now
succeeded in developing new high-performance
polyamide additives based on renewable raw
materials that can significantly improve the
performance of bioplastics.
Containing a large proportion of natural raw
materials, the additives of Henkel’s Macromelt brand
are ideal for the production of industrial plastics. This
has become possible through the use of dimer fatty
acids based on natural oils (e.g. rapeseed and tall
oil). Along with a general increase in the proportion
of bio-sourced ingredients, the new additives also
have a positive impact on the performance profile
of bioplastics. Impact resistance and fiber-matrix
adhesion are much improved by these additives.
Depending on the plastics formulation, the
additives are capable of reducing processing
temperature, in some cases considerably. This
diminishes the stressing of the fibers employed, with
a positive effect on stability and appearance.
By developing Macromelt polyamide technology
further, Henkel is thus helping to improve the quality
and usability of bioplastics and paving the way for
further high-end applications.
Thanks to the many years of successful
cooperation between Henkel and Tecnaro, tailored
biopolymers and composites containing Macromelt
additives are already expanding Tecnaro’s broad
range of biomaterials
www.henkel.com
www.tecnaro.de
New Institute
Institute of Bioplastics and Biocomposites
(IfBB) is now in business
The manufacturing and the industrial use of bioplastics and
biocomposites is one focus of research by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-
Josef Endres and his team at the University of Applied Sciences
and Arts in Hanover, Germany.
At Faculty II (Mechanical and Bioprocess Engineering) of this
University the new ‘Institute of Bioplastics and Biocomposites’
(IfBB) started work on November 1 st , 2011.
The formation of the new institute can be seen as the result
of the success enjoyed by previous research on bioplastics and
biocomposites. With the new institute all further ambitions and
projects can be expanded with less restriction.
The production, usage and disposal of biopolymers, cellulose
based natural fibres and thermoplastic composites are the
main focus for the Institute of Bioplastics and Biocomposites.
The scientists there are, as an example, working on applied
processes of material development.
There is a close cooperation between the new institute and
industry with regard to all industrial processes along the whole
process chain: chemical research, materials development,
machine manufacturer and the bioplastics converting industry
– all working closely together.
For example in collaboration with Henkel the scientists have
developed a correction pen. In the future bioplastics will be
used more and more in other technical applications, such as
in the automobile industry. Here there has been cooperation
with Volkswagen in Wolfsburg for many years, as well as with
KraussMaffei Technologies and KraussMaffei Berstorff in
Hanover.
The interest in bioplastics and biocomposites is growing
continuously, and commanding the attention of politics, industry
and consumers. Many products, for example food packages,
beverage bottles and sports equipment, are now manufactured
from biobased materials.
Such applications will
certainly be increasing during
the next years, and for which
the new Institute of Bioplastics
and Biocomposites is in an
excellent starting position.
www.fh-hannover.de
The fiber-matrix adhesion of bioplastics is much
improved by the additives of the Macromelt brand.
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 7

News
USDA Grant to Develop
Plant Containers
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA has been awarded
a grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop
biorenewable and biodegradable containers for the specialty
crop industry.
The $1.9 million grant will be used to develop bioplastic
containers as an alternative to petroleum-based pots. Bill
Graves, professor of horticulture, will lead the research
team that includes David Grewell, associate professor of
agricultural and biosystems engineering and Center for
Crops Utilization Research (CCUR) affiliate; Michael Kessler,
associate professor of materials science and engineering
and CCUR affiliate; James Schrader, assistant scientist
in horticulture; and scientists at the University of Illinois;
University of Nevada-Reno; and Ohio State University.
Grewell, Schrader, and Kessler are also members of CCUR‘s
Biopolymers & Biocomposites Research Team.
The plant containers were produced by Grewell‘s research
group in CCUR‘s Technology Transfer Pilot Plant using the
150-ton hydraulic press. The containers are made of soy
protein-based plastic.
“Nearly all specialty crops, including bedding plants,
tomatoes and other vegetables, and containerized shrubs
and trees that are purchased for residential gardening and
landscaping, are grown and marketed in petroleum-based,
conventional plastic containers.Few of those are recycled or
reused,” said Graves. “Our vision is to provide sustainable
alternatives that can meet the needs of horticultural
producers, and that will degrade harmlessly when installed
with the plant in a garden.”
An estimated $706 million could be saved annually by
the specialty crop industry by converting from petroleumbased
containers to bioplastic containers, Graves said. Other
benefits include shifting resource revenue from foreign
oil to domestic biorenewables and eliminating adverse
environmental effects of petroleum-based plastics. MT
First Sugar Cane
based PHA
Vinçotte recently awarded the ‘OK Biodegradable
(in) Water’ certification to the MINERV ® PHA SC (Sugar
Cane) bioplastics. This is the first and only biopolymer
in the world made by the Italian company Bio on from
Bologna, starting from sugar cane by-products.
The certification confirms Minerv PHA SC’s complete
biodegradability in water at ambient temperature. This
new plastic can be used to make a wide range of rigid
or flexible objects and to replace daily use products that
are highly polluting and made from petroleum based
conventional plastics, currently used to manufacture
bottles, food packaging, auto parts, furnishings, fibres,
packaging film and electronics and much more.
Bio on develops new materials in the modern
biotechnologies sector and this recognition completes
the industrial research project, started in 2007, aimed at
producing naturally biodegradable plastic, starting from
sugar beets and, as of today, also from sugar cane. Until
now both have mainly been used to produce edible sugar
or biofuels. The idea is especially innovative since, for
the first time in the world, PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate)
is obtained from molasses or intermediate sugar cane
juices or from its by-products and not from oils or cereal
starches like the majority of the biopolymers on the
market today. Minerv PHA bioplastics are thus made
from waste materials and not from products intended
for food production. This, combined with their complete
biodegradability in water, is the big environmental
advantage of the bioplastics developed by Bio on.
Minerv PHA SC has excellent thermal properties.
Through the range of polymerisation, production
requirements from -10°C to +180°C can be met, to be
used with injection or extrusion methods. MT
www.minerv.it/
www.bio-on.it/
www.biocom.iastate.edu/
8 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

News
Amsterdam ArenA (Photo: Bjørn Giesenbauer, CC-by-sa)
Ajax Fans Sit on
Sustainable Sugar
Braskem recently established a partnership with
Amsterdam ArenA, home of the famous soccer team
Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The leading
thermoplastic resin producer in the Americas will
supply sugar-cane based polyethylene to be used in
the production of seats for the multifunctional Dutch
stadium. In addition to the 52,000 existing seats, two
thousand new seats manufactured with Braskem‘s
plastic made from bio-ethanol will be installed in the
coming months. By the end of the next two years,
all 54,000 seats will be made of plastic from 100%
renewable raw material, using Brazilian technology.
The installation of the ‘sugar seats’ - as these
seats are being called - is part of the strategy to
turn the Amsterdam ArenA into a landmark of the
world‘s most sustainable capital. The stadium
was inaugurated in 1996, and its remodel will not
adversely affect the events happening in the stadium.
The entire remodeling project follows sustainability
guidelines. In 2015, the stadium wants to be
ecologically neutral, producing no carbon footprint.
“The use of Green Plastic at the Amsterdam ArenA
is fully in line with Braskem‘s strategy of becoming
the world‘s leading company in sustainable
chemicals“, said Marcelo Nunes, Braskem‘s
Renewable Chemicals Director. “Braskem‘s
partnership with Station Amsterdam complements
other alliances already consolidated in recent
months, uniting companies that seek sustainable
solutions“, added the executive. MT
Synterra grade IM (left) and
traditional PLA (right) after
immersion in boiling water.
Non-GMO PLA Wins
Blue Tulip Award
By mixing 100% pure PLLA with 100% PDLA, a fast cycle
and heat-resistant injection mouldable PLA with very good
temperature and impact properties is made that far exceeds
the properties of the individual polymers. With a Heat Deflection
Temperature (HDT B @ 0,45 N/mm²) of 123°C Synterra ® IM
material performs much better than conventional PLA and the
impact strength is comparable to that of ABS. After injection
molding the IM material is able to withstand boiling water. With
this development Synbra Technology sets a step in developing a
new generation of high performance biopolymers.
The polymerization of the optical isomers PLLA and PDLA
takes place at Synbra Technology in Etten-Leur, the Netherlands,
in a plant with a capacity of 5000 tonnes/annum, which was
commissioned early 2011.
Synbra Technology expects further growth in its PLA business
as many brand-owners and retailers in Western Europe prefer to
use bio-based and non-GMO PLA that is also heat-resistant.
Shortly after introducing its Synterra IM material, Synbra
Technology was awarded at the Accenture Blue Tulip Awards at
the RAI Elicium, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
“This Blue Tulip Award in the category ‘Making more out of less’
is the ultimate reward for the entire team that participated in the
successful development of our Synterra IM grade, which is made
from Cradle to Cradle SM certified PLA,“ said Peter Matthijssen,
Commercial Manager of Synbra Technology.
In recognition of the purity of the raw materials used, the PLA
of Synbra was Cradle to CradleSM certified by EPEA in Hamburg
and is thus the first PLA in the world with this certification.
Application of this PLA also improves various properties such as
toughness and temperature resistance of several other bio-based
recipes, in which PLA is an important constituent. MT
www.biofoam.nl
www.synbra.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 9

Award
And the Winner is …
The 6 th Bioplastics Award, this year for the first time
awarded exclusively by bioplastics MAGAZINE, went to
Danone GmbH in recognition of their exceptional commitment
to the use of bioplastics in the packaging of their
leading brand products. Marianne Schweiger, Senior Packaging
Development Engineer of Danone accepted the soughtafter
award on November 22 nd during the 6 th European Bioplastics
Conference in Berlin.
The annual Bioplastics Award was established in 2006
by the English trade publication European Plastics News.
It recognises the special role played by a brand owner or
single individual and acknowledges the contribution made by
companies, products or services to the further development
of bioplastics by way of specific innovation or imaginative
marketing concepts. This year the 5-man panel of judges,
from academia, the press and trade associations in America,
Europe and Asia, selected Danone GmbH in Haar near Munich
from a long list of first class ideas and innovations. The judges
are of the view that Danone, as an international brand owner,
made a significant contribution to moving bioplastics from a
niche packaging product to a mass market product with the
introduction of Activia and Actimel in bioplastic packaging
(PLA and Green HDPE). This means that today more than half
of the Danone products in the German market are packaged
in bioplastics.
It is one of Danone’s objectives to make a serious
contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gases. One of the
various measures which they have taken is the use of biobased
or partially bio-based packaging. And here Danone are
not concentrating on specific bioplastics but are choosing
the most appropriate bioplastic for the job – be it up to 100%
bio-based polyethylene, partially bio-based PET or 100% biobased
PLA. “This action by Danone is pointing the way for
marketers of branded products in Europe and worldwide”,
commented Dr. Michael Thielen, spokesman for the judges,
and publisher of bioplastics MAGAZINE.
“We are very pleased about the award. A highly valued
acknowledgement like this is wonderful confirmation of our
achievement over years of research, and of our commitment
in the field of bioplastics. We must get away from our
dependence on petroleum and focus on packaging materials
that come from renewable resources. We therefore hope that
the award will motivate other companies to select bioplastics.
It is only in this way that we will be able to establish a full
recycling system, for example for PLA, and make full use of the
material’s potential”, commented Dr. Andreas Knaut, Director
Corporate Communications, Health and Sustainability.
The plastic material from which the Actimel bottles
are made is so-called ‘Green HDPE’. This polyethylene is
chemically almost identical to conventional PE, yet is produced
from sugar-cane based bioethanol, i.e it is produced totally
from renewable resources and not from petroleum products.
PLA, the material used for the new Activia yoghurt pots, is
also made completely from renewable raw materials. The
PLA (polylactic acid) is obtained from starch by fermentation
and is also biodegradable. However with PLA Danone is not
promoting the composting aspect but is encouraging other
packaging manufacturers to also use PLA so that significantly
large quantities come onto the market and make a PLA-to-
PLA recycling plant an ecologically sound and economical
proposition.
www.danone.com
(Photo: European Bioplastics)
10 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

Award
Info:
Danone GmbH located in Haar,
near Munich, is part of the Danone
Group and in 2010 turned over
589 million Euros in Germany
with around 840 employees. For
Germany Danone produces a wide
range of fresh dairy products.
The Danone Group is involved in
a total of four product sectors in
Germany: dairy products, water,
baby foods, medical nutrition
Register now:
The conference will comprise
high class presentations on
• Latest developments
• Market overview
• High temperature behaviour
• Barrier issues
• Additives / Colorants
• Applications
• Reinforcements
• End of life options
The programme will be published
soon at
www.pla-world-congress.com
Watch out for the
‘Early Bird Offer’
2 nd PLA World
C o n g r e s s
15 + 16 MAY 2012 * Munich * Germany
Papers still welcome ...
Deadline is Dec. 23, 2011
send your proposal to
mt@bioplasticsmagazine.com
www.pla-world-congress.com Tel.: +49 (2161) 6884469
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 11

Events
Bernhard Bauske of WWF
New Record at
6 th European
Bioplastics
Conference
More than 400 visitors came to Europe‘s leading bioplastics
event
The interest in bioplastics strongly increased over
the year, noted the association European Bioplastics. This
trend was once more confirmed by the attendance record
at the 6th European Bioplastics Conference: more than
400 visitors came to Berlin on 22 and 23 November to hear
the 29 exciting speeches from renowned industry experts.
Furthermore, the adjoining exhibition and networkingformats
met with high response.
With about 420 visitors from more than 250 companies and
institutions from all over the world the European Bioplastics
Conference once more established a record. Thereby, it
remains the leading bioplastics industry event and the
industry‘s information and networking plattform number
one. This year, more than 80% of the participants came from
Europe, 10% from Asia, and the better part of the remaining
10% from North and South America.
In his key-note speech Maurits van Tol, DSM Bio-based
Products & Services, commented on the worldwide potential
of bioplastics: “Mass production of bioplastics is around
the corner, and such large scale plants with their better
cost structure will increase the inroads of bioplastics in
the relevant markets. The long awaited breakthrough of
bioplastics in the worldwide market is near.“ Another positive
comment came from Werner Ressing, Federal Ministry of
Economics and Technology: “Bioplastics offer numerous
opportunities to increase the economic value added of the
German and European economy.“
The presentations showcased the potential of bioplastics
from several different perspectives. A number of innovations
were introduced - new materials, additives and end-of-life
approaches. The session on ‘bioplastics and sustainability‘
gave insights into environmental communications as well as
into certification concepts.
A highlight of the 6 th European Bioplastics Conference was
the ceremony of bioplastics MAGAZINE‘s Bioplastics Award“. In
2011 the lucky winner was Danone. See page 10 for details.
In view of the increased interest in bioplastics during the
past year and the most successfull event Andy Sweetman,
Chairman of European Bioplastics, offered a positive
prediction for 2012: “The development of the bioplastics
industry is picking up speed. We need clear framework
conditions in Europe and a strong united voice to request
them. 2012 the role and work of our industry association
European Bioplastics will become more and more important
in order to further our young industry. Established and
leading formats such as the annual conference are of major
importance to guarantee a rich and multi-facetted knowledge
exchange about bioplastics.“
www.european-bioplastics.org
12 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

NPE2012, the world’s largest plastics conference, exposition and
technology exchange, blasts into Orlando, Florida USA this April
to reshape the future of our industry! Showcasing more than 2,000
exhibitors, NPE is the only global event that allows you to:
See large-scale, running machines in action
Explore more than 2 million square feet
of solutions for every segment of the
plastics industry supply chain
Discover new and emerging technologies
among hundreds of on-site demos every day
Meet 75,000 plastics professionals from more
than 120 countries
Access hundreds of timely programs, from business
development to the latest technical advances
Connect with the entire lifecycle of the plastics industry
And much, much more!
REGISTER NOW AT NPE.ORG
Co-located at NPE2012:

Films|Flexibles|Bags
Design Your
Own Compostable Film
Multi-layer systems increasing the opportunities for new markets
By
B. von Hansen
J. Schmeling
D. Winkelmann
P. Zimmermann
FKuR Kunststoff GmbH,
Willich, Germany
Plastics made from renewable resources offer new opportunities
and possibilities for both flexible and durable packaging
along with general e.g. injection moulding applications. Each
day nature shows us well designed packaging solutions. These solutions
can be used as a guideline and implemented in our industrial
packaging world. Of course, we have different requirements
for industrial packaging compared to nature. Most goods need to
be transported, stored and protected against surrounding conditions
and some need to withstand a long shelf life. Biopolymers,
whether biodegradable, based on renewable resources, or both
have a similar natural approach. But sometimes they do not fulfil
all of the requirements necessary for industrial packaging, in particular
the properties of high barrier and transparency.
14 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

Films|Flexibles|Bags
The packaging requirements for barrier properties are
not even able to be achieved with polymers based on crude
oil. For both conventional and bioplastics a co-extrusion or
the lamination of different polymers is the key to fulfil these
requirements of today’s packaging applications. Of course,
it is still questionable if such high barriers are necessary
but achieving such levels is state of the art in packaging
technology. In order to enter new markets and increase the
range of applications for bioplastics these resins must follow
this trend and need to be co-extruded or laminated.
Advantages of compostable multilayer
systems for food packaging
Plastics used for packaging represent around 39 %
[Plastics Europe: Plastics – The Facts 2011] of the total
plastic consumption and are by far the largest market
segment of all plastics applications. The requirements for
plastic films, especially for those used predominantly in food
packaging, have been constantly rising over recent years and
have now reached a level that can only be achieved by means
of intelligent material combinations and well-engineered
process procedures.
In the beginning, biopolymers were mainly designed for
applications such as waste bags and shoppers. Transparency
was not a requirement. The content of renewable resources
of these resins has been around 20 to 40 %. With the
upgrading of properties, the range of applications made from
biopolymers is constantly growing. In addition, the content of
renewable resources in combination with compostability is
gaining importance for all kinds of packaging applications.
To enter new markets with biopolymers, new resins and
compounds have to be created. The major requirements for
such modern packaging include a high content of renewable
resource materials (>50%) and compostability combined with
good barrier properties and preferably transparency. On the
one hand, barrier is a necessity for certain packaging, e. g.
MAP (Modified Atmosphere Packaging) and other applications
where an oxygen barrier is required. On the other hand, there
are applications where high permeation and breathability are
required, which is where Bio-Flex ® with its intelligent filler
system allows up to perfection. Such applications include
back sheet films for diapers along with fresh food packaging
where transparency is often a key requirement. One of the
largest advantages of compostable films is, whenever it is
needed, packed goods and films can be disposed together
or can be used in a fermentation plant without separating
organic goods and films.
In order to meet these challenges FKuR Kunststoff GmbH,
Willich, and its cooperation partner Fraunhofer UMSICHT,
Oberhausen, both Germany, have developed new Bio-Flex
resins which exhibit outstanding characteristics when
combined in a multilayer structure. The latest developments
are focused on flexibility, transparency and a high content of
renewable resources, whether in a mono or multilayer film
structure.
By co-extrusion it is possible to combine the clear and stiff
material Bio-Flex A 4100 CL, used in the outer layers with the
new transparent Bio-Flex F 2201 CL or translucent Bio-Flex
S 1100 in the mid layer. As both resins are flexible and tough
they are able to support Bio-Flex A 4100 CL in a multilayer
structure. One of the main advantages is that the properties
of this film can be adjusted by the variation of each layer. By
using respective layer combinations, e.g. greater stiffness or
more elasticity of the film, according to the final requirements,
can be reached. This is shown in charts 1 and 2. By combining
Bio-Flex A 4100 CL with F 2201 CL, the tensile modulus of
A 4100 CL can be significantly reduced, while the elongation at
break is still at the level of a pure F 2201 CL. The result of this
is a 3-layer structure that not only offers superior toughness
and flexibility, but at the same time high transparency.
In addition to having high quality clarity, the content of
renewable resource materials is outstanding for a blown film
application. The content of renewable resource materials of a
film made from Bio-Flex A 4100 CL / S 1100 / A 4100 CL is 30
to 50%, depending on the structure, whereas with a film made
from Bio-Flex A 4100 CL / F 2201 CL / A 4100 CL the content
of renewable resources is between 60 to 80% depending on
the final film structure. There are no transparent or flexible
blown film types similar to the Bio-Flex resins available today.
u
Chart 1: Tensile Modulus of Bio-Flex mono and multilayer films
(MD = machine direction, TD = transversal direction)
Modulus of elasticity MD [MPa]
2000
1750
1500
1250
Bio-Flex A 4100 CL / F 2201 CL / A 4100 CL
(20 / 60 / 20 [%], 20µm)
1000
Bio-Flex F 2201 CL
750
Bio-Flex A 4100 CL / F 2201 CL
A 4100 CL (15 / 70 / 15 [%], 20µm)
500
Bio-Flex S 1100
0
Bio-Flex A 4100 CL / S 1100 / A 4100 CL
(20 / 60 / 20 [%], 20µm)
Modulus of elasticity TD [MPa]
Bio-Flex A 4100 CL
| | | | | | |
500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000
Chart 2: Elongation at Break of Bio-Flex mono and multilayer films
Elongation at break MD [%]
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Bio-Flex A 4100 CL / S 1100 / A 4100 CL
(20 / 60 / 20 [%], 20µm)
Bio-Flex A 4100 CL
Bio-Flex F 2201 CL
Bio-Flex A 4100 CL / F 2201 CL / A 4100 CL
(15 / 70 / 15 [%], 20µm)
Bio-Flex A 4100 CL / F 2201 CL / A 4100 CL
(20 / 60 / 20 [%], 20µm)
Bio-Flex S 1100
| | | | | |
50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Elongation at break TD [%]
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 15

Films|Flexibles|Bags
Multilayer made from Bio-Flex F 2110 / A 4100 CL / F 2110 Multilayer made from Bio-Flex A 4100 CL / Bio-Flex F 2110 /
Bio-Flex A 4100 CL for deep freeze applications
Opportunities through new Bio-Flex grades
The combination of organically grown food with packaging
made from sustainable bioplastics is a logical step and
completes the overall sustainable message while providing
consumers with the positive feeling of contributing to an ecofriendly
environment.
Compared to conventional plastics, bioplastics offer an
alternative ‘end-of-life’ option. The ability to use bioplastics
after their useful life in composting facilities or energy
recovery systems are important factors. In particular,
renewable plastics can contribute to the efficient utilization
and conservation of our resources in terms of ‘renewble
energy‘.
The following practical examples will prove the expansion of
the range of applications for bioplastics by means of efficient
utilisation in multilayer systems. For both examples, the high
content of natural resources (provided by Bio-Flex A 4100 CL)
as well as the excellent strength and flexibility (provided by
Bio-Flex F 2110) were the decisive factors for choosing a
multilayer system made from Bio-Flex.
• McCain uses a three layer combination made from Bio-
Flex A 4100 CL / Bio-Flex F 2110 / Bio-Flex A 4100 CL for
packaging of their ‘Bio-Ernte’ product line. This multilayer
allows for the production of a very flexible and extensible
film with a great stiffness also at low temperatures. (deep
freeze)
• A three layer system made from Bio-Flex F 2110 / Bio-
Flex A 4100 CL / Bio-Flex F 2110 was used by Umbra
Olii for wrapping their ‘Ecolive’ laundry soap, which is
made from 100% natural olive. The film allows for a very
appealing glossy surface along with a great toughness and
chemical resistance as well as good barrier properties for
a bioplastic.
• One of the leading producers of napkins uses a three layer
film made from Bio-Flex A 4100 CL / Bio-Flex F 2110 / Bio-
Flex A 4100 CL for their compostable product line.
Metallization as a possible solution to
increase barrier
The lower barrier of many bioplastics against water and
oxygen, when compared to conventional plastics, can be
improved by coating techniques such as metallization. Chart
3 shows the improved barrier of a metallized Bio-Flex co-ex
structure. Most notably, the oxygen barrier is highly improved
which makes these films suitable for new applications in
food packaging. Usually the layer thickness in metallization
processes is below 0.1 µm. Therefore compostability/
biodegradability of the final film structure can still be
achieved. u
Chart 3: Transmission rates of Bio-Flex films in comparison
to other plastics (WVTR = Water Vapour Transmission Rate)
350,0
WVTR [g / (m 2 · d)]
300,0
250,0
200,0
150,0
100,0
50,0
0
PLA
Bio-Flex A 4100 CL / F 2201 CL / A 4100 CL
Bio-Flex F 2201 CL
Bio-Flex A 4100 CL
Testing conditions (25 µm film):
H 2
O: 23°C / 100% hum.
O 2
: 23°C / 0% hum.
Metallized Bio-Flex
A 4100 CL / F 2201 CL / A 4100 CL
PET
| | | | | | |
250,0 500,0 750,0 1000,0 1250,0 1500,0 1750,0
Oxygen [cm 3 / (m 2 · d)]
PP
16 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

Films|Flexibles|Bags
Multilayer made from Bio-Flex
A 4100 CL / F 2201 CL / A 4100 CL
(In-House) Recycling of compostable
multi-layer structures made from
Bio-Flex
To achieve an overall sustainable and cost effective
multilayer product it is also necessary to recycle the
production scrap (e.g. edge trims) and to use the
regrinds in the middle layer of the film. Various Bio-
Flex resins used in the layers could have an effect on
the mechanical properties and optical appearance of
the middle layer. Analysis have been done using the
multilayer structure Bio-Flex A 4100 CL / F 2201 CL /
A 4100 CL (with layer ratios 20 % / 60 % / 20 %) as
this is the most commonly used structure containing
multiple Bio-Flex types. As the production scrap
will be added into the middle layer all of the trials
carried out are only reflected upon this middle layer.
It is assumed that as a maximum 20 % of production
scrap will be used in this middle layer.
Degradation of the biopolymers during the different
production steps normally implies a higher melt flow
and softer end product. Comparing the results of
these trials it is shown that the amount of Bio-Flex
A 4100 CL in the regrind compensates the negative
effects of possible mechanical degradation. The
results of the tensile test indicate a shifting of the
properties in transversal direction (TD) and machine
direction (MD), the tensile test results increase by 5%
measuring in TD but decrease by 10 % in MD. The
optical appearance of the film is still the same, as a
reduction of the transparence and a decrease of the
haze is not visible.
Although the results of all tests have shown that
the usage of regrind will not affect the properties
negatively, it is recommended to processors to
conduct own tests. Since the shear during production
and recycling has a high influence on the material
these results can vary and should be tested and
reviewed independently. •
Chart 4: Tensile Modulus of Bio-Flex mono layer,
multilayer and recycled films
Modulus of elasticity MD [MPa]
1000
750
500
250
0
www.fkur.com
Bio-Flex A 4100 CL / F 2201 CL / A 4100 CL
(20 / 60 / 20 [%], 20µm)
| | | |
250 500 750 1000
Modulus of elasticity TD [MPa]
Chart 5: Elongation at Break of Bio-Flex mono layer,
multilayer and recycled films
Modulus at break MD [MPa]
400
300
200
100
0
Bio-Flex F 2201 CL
+ Recyclat
Bio-Flex A 4100 CL / F 2201 CL / A 4100 CL
(20 / 60 / 20 [%], 20µm)
Elongation at break TD [MPa]
Bio-Flex F 2201 CL
+ Recyclat
Bio-Flex F 2201 CL
Bio-Flex F 2201 CL
| | | | | | |
50 100 150 200 250 300 350
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 17

Films|Flexibles|Bags
Longer Shelf Life
in PLA Packaging
Pepper and tomatoes stay longer fresh
By
Paolo Serafin
Sales Manager NATIVIA
Taghleef Industries
San Giorgio di Nogaro, Italy
Consumer awareness with regard to more sustainable
packaging is also pushing the use of bioplastics in the
fruit and vegetables market, but there’s more than just
an environmental advantage. Taghleef Industries, manufacturer
of BOPP and BOPLA films, in cooperation with EOSTA
and Bio4Pack, commissioned a study on the shelf life of bell
peppers and vine tomatoes packed in PLA vs PP to the Univeristy
of Wageningen, which produced some very interesting
results.
PLA (polylactic acid) is emerging in the packaging industry
as the most promising alternative to oil-based plastics,
thanks to its performance, availability and versatility. It’s
already in use in rigid packaging (injection molding), semirigid
(thermoforming and blow molding) and flexibles (film).
At Taghleef Industries Italy, PLA is extruded into sheet and
sequentially oriented in machine and transversal direction, in
a production process very similar to that of BoPET and BoPP.
PLA film is heat sealable and used for packaging products on
traditional horizontal and vertical form/fill sealing machines,
as well as on twist wrap and overwrap machines. Recent
developments have also seen the use of PLA films for windows
on paper bags, adhesive tapes, paper lamination and labels.
Eosta, the market leader in the organic fruit and vegetables
market in Europe, have used PLA for many years for the
thermoformed trays and overwrapping film in which they
pack their products. Besides contributing to minimizing the
environmental impact of their packaging, PLA gives Eosta
the chance to differentiate themselves from the competition
and offer a packaging solution which fits perfectly with their
mission and target customers.
Having noticed an improvement in the preservation of their
products using PLA compared to the standard PP packaging,
Eosta, Taghleef Industries and Bio4pack have decided to
carry out a detailed analysis, and commissioned this task
to Wageningen University, one of the most experienced in
this field, choosing two of the most common products: bell
peppers and vine tomatoes.
The test:
Samples of the peppers and tomatoes were taken from the
same lot, making sure that the harvest date was the same for
the whole batch. Peppers were packed using a horizontal FFS
(Form Fill Seal) machine and macro-perforated transparent
PLA and PP films. The same packaging films were used
for the thermoformed trays containing the vine tomatoes.
Packaging and storage were done under the same conditions
for all samples, also simulating the conditions available in
retail stores. Unpacked products were also included in the
analysis for a complete comparison and reference.
The monitored parameters were:
VINE TOMATOES:
• Firmness
• Fruit rot
• Dehydration of wood stem
• Stem rotten
• Colour
BELL PEPPERS:
• Firmness
• Dehydration/wrinkling
• Fruit rot
• Stem rotten, and freshness
18 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

Films|Flexibles|Bags
Results:
TOMATOES:
As depicted in Fig. 1, PLA packaging contributed to
delaying by approx. two days the crown and stem dehydration
index, which emerged as the first aging sign of this product in
comparison with the product packed in PP. This ageing factor
is rather important, being clearly visible to the consumer.
The other parameters did not show relevant differences and
they all crossed the ‘acceptable’ threshold several days after
the crown and stem index was negative, confirming that
stem dehydration is the limiting parameter in the shelf life
of tomatoes.
PEPPERS:
With regard to bell peppers, a positive effect of PLA was
noticed in the firmness of the fruit when compared with PP
(Fig. 2), but an improvement can also be observed on the stem
index, which shows a slower degradation, remaining within
the acceptable limits for 1-2 days longer than product packed
in PP (Fig. 3). The other parameters did not show noticeable
differences. In the case of peppers, dehydration (shrivelling)
emerges at the same time as the limiting quality parameter
for both PP and PLA, well before the others and even earlier
if the product is unpacked. Nevertheless, this means that, as
the use-by date gets closer, peppers packed in PLA will show
a better stem and firmness compared to those packed in PP.
Conclusions:
From these tests it emerges quite clearly that unpacked
product has a shorter shelf life.
In general, it can be said that the most important
parameters to be considered in the shelf life of tomatoes
are degradation and dehydration of the stem, where PLA
packaging has a positive effect, followed only later by the
dehydration of the fruit. Tests confirmed that the shelf life of
tomatoes packed in PP is 11 days, which becomes 13 days if
they are packed with PLA.
For peppers, the factor limiting the shelf life is dehydration
of the fruit, where PLA and PP behave similarly, followed by
the degradation of the stem and crown, where PLA shows a
positive influence. Shelf life is therefore limited to 8-9 days
for both packaging solutions. However, given the same age,
peppers wrapped in PLA show a better stem.
The next target on Taghleef Industries’ agenda is to make
a similar test on washed and cut fresh produce, another
growing application where PLA could play a role. Given the
very short shelf life of such products (normally no longer than
4-7 days), even 1-2 days extension would help considerably.
www.ti-films.com
www.eosta.com
www.bio4pack.com
Figure 1: Crown and Stem Index
6.0
Crown and stem index, [0-5]
Firmness index, [02]
Time, [day]
Figure 3: Stem Index
Stem index, [1-9]
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Time, [Days]
Figure 2: Firmness Index
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
3.50
3.00
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Time, [Days]
PLA
PP
Ref.
PLA
PP
Ref.
PLA
PP
Ref.
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 19

Films|Flexibles|Bags
New Applications for
BoPLA films
Biaxially oriented PLA films are widely used on flexible
packaging applications, as alternative to oil-based
films like PE, PET, PP. Taghleef industries, in cooperation
with various converters, is looking beyond traditional
packaging, to explore new opportunities for its NATIVIA
range of BoPLA (bi-axially oriented) films. Here’s a few examples:
Adhesive tapes go green
Logotape — a German manufacturer from Harrislee of
specialty adhesive tapes, has developed ‘Bio tape’, a biobased
alternative to traditional PP or PET products.
The environmental advantages of PLA combined with these
innovative and eco friendly tapes will help saving resources
and minimize carbon footprint, without compromising on
performance and processability vs traditional oil-based
materials, thanks to the excellent mechanical properties
of BoPLA films. Logotape is developing tapes that offer
compostability of the film as well as the glue according to
EN 13432.
The PLA adhesive tapes are fully compatible with the paper
and carton recycling process, can be printed and are available
in white as well as transparent or brown.
Bio-based and compostable self-adhesive
labels
Self adhesive labels are normally made of paper or films
(PP, PE or PET), or a combination of these. They are an
excellent, flexible, simple and cost-effective solution to
provide information and appeal to the products, but in case
of compostable packaging, traditional labels can be an issue.
Bio4life from Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has developed
a self adhesive label made of Nativia BoPLA films, which
allows all those brand owners who already use compostable
packaging to label their product without the risk of breaching
the norms on compostability. The BoPLA labels are coated
with a compostable permanent adhesive, so that the complete
labels are certified by DIN Certco according to EN 13432. The
potential applications for such labels are numerous, like for
example the tiny labels applied on fruits (apples, oranges,
bananas…): same appeal and moisture resistance of oilbased
plastics, but compostable altogether!
20 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

group
Let’s twist again
Constantia Topepal, a leading packaging manufacturer in
Spain, has developed a bio-based twist wrap material using
a high gloss PLA film.
This film can be used for candy, pralines, chocolate, and
combines the excellent twist performance and appeal of a
metalized film, with the environmental advantages of PLA.
Nativia twist films have already been tested with excellent
results on ACMA GD and Carle Montanari twist wrap
machines
bioplastics MAGAZINE & BoPLA films:
perfect combination
This issue of the bioplastics magazine (just like the last two
issues) comes to the subscribers wrapped in a transparent
bag made by Maropack and printed by SFV Verpackungen.
This is the first commercial application of Nativia in the
magazine market. In this
case it’s a pre-made bag
with adhesive strip, but tests
performed in cooperation
with SITMA, the world leader
in printed media distribution
systems have confirmed that
the same films can be used on
high speed automatic reel-fed
wrapping machinery.
www.ti–films.com
www.logotape.de/
www.compostiket.com
www.constantia-tobepal.com
High Quality Film Production:
Efficiency, Productivity, Flexibility
High uptime, throughput
and raw material efficiency
Fast product changes
Easy operation and low
maintenance
Reduced manpower and
energy consumption
Excellent film quality
www.brueckner.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 21

Opinion
The Future of the
Shopping Bag in Italy
Are newly developed, biodegradable and
compostable polymers the ideal solution?
By
Stefano Facco
New Business Development Director
Novamont SpA
Novara, Italy
Currently we are facing a quite chaotic debate about the ideal
solution for the incredible amount of disposable shopping
bags used by consumers today. Recycling, environmental
impact, re-use, littering and especially marine litter are
some of the main keywords arising when this important topic is
discussed.
Some facts related to the use of such bags are quite impressive.
In Italy, some 300 bags per year per capita are used, which
corresponds roughly to 25% of the total European consumption,
and corresponding to 100 billion units. About 2/3 of these products
are imported from countries such as China, Indonesia or Thailand,
where many of them are being produced under conditions which
are not allowed in Europe. This creates an unfair competitive
advantage. The recycling quota of post-consumer shopping bags
is below 1% on a world-wide level, albeit in some countries the
collection rate is much higher, but not all collected bags end up
in recycling.
At this point, I feel that beside the environmental discussion
about raw materials and products, we should strongly bear
in mind the fact that right now the plastic converting industry,
especially the European companies producing bags and sacks,
are not facing easy times. The competing converters, mainly
located in the Asia/Pacific area, quite often accept commercial
conditions which may be described as dumping conditions (on
an EU level, only a few years ago, some anti-dumping measures
were taken). Especially in the southern European region, where
most of the European production was located, more and more
medium and small size companies are struggling to survive.
Taking these aspects into account, it really may be considered
a natural reaction to somehow strengthen again our European
industry by converting new families of polymers (also produced in
the EU) locally. A fair competition would arise again, and the basis
for a healthy economic growth.
Furthermore, the use of renewable resources combined with
the property of being B&C (biodegradable and compostable)
would, in addition to the aspects related to the growth of local
companies, help us to better deal with the scarcity of fossil raw
materials and to add new end-of-life options such as the organic
recycling of polymers.
22 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

Films|Flexibles|Bags
The new Italian decree, which came in force on January 1 st ,
2011, imposing the use of B&C shopping bags, somehow
perfectly supported the three major aspects I have described
above: the strengthening of local or European enterprises,
the use of renewable resources (as most of the polymers
available on the market do contain a significant amount of
renewable raw materials (RRMs)) and their compostability,
which finally offers an end-of-life option which may help
the Italian composting industry to get rid of some of the
100,000 tonnes of plastic film pollutants sieved out during
the composting process itself.
The incredible speed with which major Italian B&C polymer
producers (such as Novamont) and other European groups
(such as BASF) were able to increase production capacity has
enabled most of the traditional shopping bag converters to
switch to these new materials in order to satisfy the growing
market request. Due to the high technological level of these
materials, the production switch was immediately carried out
without loss of time and without additional investment.
Major groups such as Matrica (ENI/Novamont JV),
Roquette, Cereplast and other companies started, or
have announced, huge investments in the production of
monomers, intermediates and polymers based on RRMs or
in compounding facilities. Therefore, the coming into force
of this new decree not only boosted once more the optimism
of local converters, but it also helped to attract huge
investments in future-oriented technologies such as fully
integrated biorefineries.
Briefly summarizing the positive outcome of the new
situation that we are experiencing in Italy, we may affirm
that the composting industry is easily able to handle the
increase and treatment of the new compostable shopping
bags. Retailers have reduced consumption of shopping
bags in general by 30% to 50%, which may be considered
environmentally beneficial, converters are again increasing
their production and replacing partially imported products,
and new industrial investments have proven that investors
believe firmly in the future of these new technologies.
www.novamont.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 23

Films|Flexibles|Bags
Mulch Film
Certified
Novamont, Novara, Italy recently received the first certificate guaranteeing
ecological quality of the Technical Resources for Organic and Sustainable
Agriculture from ICEA for its mulching film in biodegradable
Mater-Bi ® .
ICEA, the Ethical and Environmental Certification Institute from Bologna, Italy,
inspects and certifies firms respectful for the environment, workers‘ dignity
and collective rights. With more than 300 experts inspecting over 13 thousand
firms from 20 branches in various countries, ICEA is one of the most prominent
inspection and certification bodies in the field of sustainable development.
The institute has launched a specific certification scheme for the
environmental performance of technical resources for organic and sustainable
agriculture. Their main objective is to evaluate and reward the ability of technical
resources in helping create a more sustainable agricultural system to improve
the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the land, as well as to
reduce external water requirements. The regulations also aim to reduce the
risk of the contamination and pollution of waters and soil caused by agricultural
inputs and to obtain agricultural products free from chemical residues. ICEA
certification is therefore intended to enhance and guarantee ecological quality
requirements that go beyond the minimum requirements of current legislation;
it is not intended to replace the authorisations currently required by the law.
In order to certify the agricultural mulching film made from Mater-Bi,
ICEA examined factors such as the composition and characteristics of the
end product, the nature and origin of the raw materials used, the production
process for the raw materials (Mater-Bi granulate) employed by Novamont, the
manufacture of the end product (Mater-Bi film) and the end-of-life scenario.
For Mater-Bi agricultural mulching film the Institute considered the
fundamental aspects and characteristics of its application and end-oflife
(considering the aspects under Technical Report CEN/TR 15822 for
biodegradable plastics in or on soil, and (Italian) UNI standard 11183 which
defines the requirements and test methods for biodegradable plastic materials
at room temperature); aerobic biodegradation in the soil at the end of the crop
cycle; the environmental safety of the product in terms of the release and
dissemination of contaminants into the soil and eco-toxic effects in the soil
after degradation.
bioplastics MAGAZINE will have a closer look into mulch films in general in one
of the coming issues — stay tuned… MT
www.novamont.com
www.icea.info
24 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

Challenging Convention
Biodegradability with exceptional
seal integrity
Renewable and high barrier
Coloured and compostable
Even higher performance
achieved when combined with
other biopolymers
Variety of ‘end-of-life’ options
www.NatureFlex.com
use our imagination...

Films|Flexibles|Bags
Biopolymer Coatings for
Sustainable Packaging
By Klaus Noller
Head of Material Development Department
Fraunhofer-Institut für
Verfahrenstechnik und Verpackung IVV
Freising, Germany
Whey powder (picture: ttz Bremerhaven)
The Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging
IVV, Freising, Germany, has developed a packaging
film having a barrier layer made of whey protein. This novel
packaging film was developed as part of the EU funded „Wheylayer“
project. Large quantities of whey arise during cheese manufacture
and whey also contains antimicrobial substances which
prolong the shelf-life of foods. The work of the Fraunhofer IVV
involved optimizing the barrier properties to oxygen and water vapor
and also the antimicrobial effect of the coating. In order to do
this, very pure protein isolates were recovered from the whey. The
film-forming properties of proteins from sweet and sour whey
were optimized by chemical modification. The result was innovative
protein formulations having a high barrier effect and excellent
adhesion and resistance to mechanical stress. This means there
is no longer a need to use synthetic barrier polymers to coat conventional
packaging materials - these can be replaced by the new
biopolymer made of whey protein. This reduces CO 2
emissions
and lowers the usage of material resources for production. The
ability to subsequently dissolve the whey layer means that properly
sorted recycling of the plastic film is possible. The multilayer
film was manufactured using a patented roll-to-roll method. This
processing method is a key precondition for fulfilling commercial
criteria. The products and processes that have thus far been developed
on a laboratory and pilot plant scale will be transferred to
an industrial scale this year before the end of the project, meaning
that the new whey layer material will soon be able to be used
in the packaging sector.
The Fraunhofer IVV is also developing coatings from renewable
raw materials for paper which can be used, for example, for
beverage packaging. The BioPaperCoating project, funded by the
Federation of Industrial Research Associations (AiF), is developing
biocoatings for paper and processes for their manufacture.
The aim is to produce biocoatings on paper, paperboard, and
cardboard for use as packaging for solid and liquid foods. These
new packaging materials will replace the currently used plastics
based on fossil raw materials, and especially polyethylene,
in laminated packaging systems. The systems are based on
compatible blends of polylactic acids and polyhydroxyalkanoates
which combine the benefits of the individual components. At the
Fraunhofer IVV the formulations are being tested for coating
at near-industrial coating rates and are being optimized in
collaboration with Fraunhofer UMSICHT. Other functionalities
such as an extra co-extruded layer are also being added to the
material system.
26 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

Films|Flexibles|Bags
The FlexPakRenew project, which is being funded under the
7 th Framework Programme of the EU, is developing novel flexible
papers with multilayer structures (50 to 90 g/m²) made entirely of
renewable raw materials for food and non-food applications. The
multilayer structures in combination with the latest developments
in nanotechnology and surface coating allow barrier properties to
be achieved that are equivalent to traditional plastic laminates and
composites having medium and high barriers. Low permeability to
water vapour and oxygen and to fats and flavours is the goal. The
environmentally friendly manufacturing process and optimized
recyclability or biodegradability of the material means that the
emission of greenhouse gases is reduced. The Fraunhofer IVV
is undertaking advanced development of the process of vacuum
coating with SiOx and Al 2
O 3
in order to optimize the water vapour
and oxygen barriers of the coated papers.
www.ivv.fraunhofer.de
OTR at 23°C and 50% RH (cm 3 / m 2 d bar)
10000
1000
100
10
1
0,1
PE-HD PP
BOPP
COC
PE-LD
PVC-P
PS
PC
0,01 | | | | | |
0,01 0,1 1 10 100 1000
PLA
PVC-U
PET
PA 6
PAN
PEN
Wheylayer
PVDC
EVOH, 44%
EVOH, 38%
EVOH, 32%
(LCP)
EVOH, 27%
WVTR at 23°C; 85% RH (g/m 2 d)
Oxygan and Water Vapour Transmission rate
Cellulose
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 27

Opinion
‘Bagislation‘ in Europe
Italy‘s bag ban challenges the (bio-) plastics industry
Analysed by
Harald Kaeb
narocon InnovationConsulting
Berlin, Germany
Fig. 1: The negative consequences of
littering triggered and heated up ‘bagislation‘
Italy does it, Spain has planned it, the European Commission is
considering it: the banning of non-biodegradable single-use
carrier bags has become a ‘battlefield‘ of product legislation in
Europe. For the first time ever legal regulation could exert a huge
impact on the market and the development of technology for bioplastics
in Europe. For manufacturers of biodegradable plastic
resin Italy became the ‘promised land‘ and a magic blueprint for
so-called ‘bagislation’ in Europe and abroad. However, the battlefield
is peppered with strong incumbents, diverse interests, sustainability
constraints, waste management obligations and, last but
not least, a complex political and legal landscape. Italy‘s ban triggered
a public debate and further action: EU authorities put it under
scrutiny and they now are evaluating how to reduce the consumption
of, and littering by, bags. In the past a bag ban was considered
non-compliant with EU Directives - from a legal point nothing has
changed since then. But as the political perception most likely has
changed, will Italy‘s bag ban now be allowed? What are the arguments?
Which ones are really convincing and practicable? I have
been analysing this market and the relevant policies for years. This
article provides a first assessment of the situation with focus on
motives and actions. The author also points out the risks that the
protagonists need to be aware of.
Dealing with littering issues
Most likely there is no other plastic product which is under so
much (legal) pressure as the plastic bag today. A vigorous discussion
about littering and over-consumption has led to measures aimed at
a far-reaching reduction of single-use bags around the globe. From
Bangladesh to China, from Tanzania to the Philippines – it seems
that every country on this planet has introduced bans or regulations,
or is at least discussing the subject. Google reveals 1.2 million
results (searching ‘carrier bag ban’) and three million pictures
(searching ‘bag littering’) - all within one second. The photograph of
a turtle with a remnant of blue plastic film in its mouth has become
the accusatory symbol against plastic bags.
The damage caused by littering heated up the debate and gave it a
spin towards biodegradability as a proposed solution. This used to be
a forbidden ‘No-Go-Area’ for many good reasons: If the bioplastics
industry were to advertise in this way, it would not take long for
studies to prove the opposite: biodegradable and compostable bags
floating in the sea, eaten by animals, wrapped around branches on
trees, piling up on the ground and NOT biodegrading. It would be a
disaster. A great opportunity to fuel ‘anti-bioplastics’ PR campaigns
and damaging the whole concept of biodegradable and compostable
plastics. Whatever the plastic product and material type, littering
is anti-social behaviour which must not be encouraged by “it just
disappears!” adverts. Only oxo-additive producers and users go that
way and they are failing to build a market in Europe.
28 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

Films|Flexibles|Bags
Putting a price on carrier bags brings double
benefits
Most experts agree that the best way to fight littering is give a
value to bags. The easiest way is to charge for them – no bags for
free anymore! Many European food supermarkets charge for bags: A
typical 50 µm (micron) loop handle PE bag is priced at 0.10 to 0.20 €
(Bio-PE bags marketed at 0.15 to 0.25 €). Despite carrying a price of
0.20 to 0.40 € compostable plastic bags are successfully introduced
in more and more EU markets where no bans are in place. Their
market share reaches up to 25% in German or Austrian grocery
stores. The concept of selling bags and keeping a high margin has
become a strong trend in Europe. When adding a price the stores
often switch from free-of-charge 15 to 25 µm thin-gauge PE bags to
40 to 50 µm bags. With a lot of benefits: the added weight prevents
bags from blowing in the wind, the added performance (more kg
loading capacity) turns the single-use bag into a reusable bag (used
between 4 to 7 times, studies say). The number of bags per capita
would drop from hundreds to a few dozen, or from more than two
kilogrammes to less than one.
This effect is a perfect contribution to the waste prevention goal
which stands at the top of the EU waste hierarchy. Just by charging
significantly for a bag the result is lower consumption and less
littering. This concept is favoured by most of the food retailers. If
it is objected to, then politicians are eager to enforce it: the Irish
bag tax was a consequence of the objection of British retail stores
to reducing the number of bags. The levy of 0.15 € per bag led to a
90% reduction. In the UK Prime Minister Cameron recently warned
the British retail sector to reduce bags - or taxation will be applied.
He was not pleased with the weak results of a voluntary retail
commitment. It seems it is only a matter of time until all carrier
bags in the European food retail sector will be charged. Retailers
love money and avoiding taxes.
National and EU bag policies
In 2005 the French government banned single-use carrier bags
with the exception of biodegradable and compostable bags. This
first attempt at a legal ban was not targeting littering, France had
no big issues with it. The idea of the ‘Grenelle de l‘Environnement’
was just to promote new outlets for feedstocks from French
agriculture. Biodegradable and biobased bioplastics were regarded
as an opportunity for French farmers and companies. Legislation
was promoted despite the fact that there is little infrastructure for
collecting bio-waste and composting in France. Whilst the European
Commission (EC) blocked the enforcement of the French law the
Italian one successfully came into force. u
Fig 2: Lightweight bags blowing in the wind – they
are much more of a litter problem than heavier ones
(Photo: Kaeb)
Fig. 3: Compostable bags conquer markets despite
higher prices - even if ‘non-regulated’ (Photo: BASF)
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 29

Opinion
Fig. 4: Bags for fruits and vegetable are not included in
bagislation. It is the perfect bio-waste bag (Photo: Kaeb)
Both laws breach the principles of the European Packaging
and Packaging Waste Directive and the EU trading and
competition rules. However between 2005 and 2011 the public
perception of bags has changed. Over the last two years
television programmes, news and articles, and even movies,
criticised overconsumption and its contribution to littering.
Therefore, the EC did not directly react with a rejection of the
Italian ban but with a public consultation. By August 15,000
answers had arrived to questions that covered “the need for
reduction, possible measures such as levies and bans, the
need for differentiation between biodegradable and nonbiodegradable
bags, EN 13432 standard and labelling issues“
and more. DG Environment Commissioner Potocnik, who is
currently responsible, is running an impact assessment on
possible measures. As he made clear in his 2011 statements,
the EC very likely will develop harmonised Europe-wide
measures to reduce carrier bags and their environmental
impact.
The first reaction of the EU plastics industry to the Italian
ban was, like the French case, heavy lobbying against a
severe market distortion. But as the EC signalled “we will
regulate bags“ the strategy changed and was turned into a
self-regulation approach. In October 2011 European plastics
industry organisations presented to the EU Commission
an alternative to regulatory measures on plastic carrier
bags. The draft proposal involves the whole value chain and
has the objective of working towards more sustainable use
of the plastic carrier bag in Europe by promoting reusable
bags, avoiding bags being given for free and the use of more
renewable and recycled materials in the production of new
plastic carrier bags. While self-regulation is being discussed
in the value chain Spain has come up with legislation similar
to Italy. In a staged approach all single-use bags will be
banned from 2018 onwards unless they are biodegradable
and compostable according to EN 13432.
The importance of waste management and
recycling
The very solid and valid argument for compostable
shopping bags is that they will help to collect more bio-waste,
e.g. food and garden waste. Diverting such waste from landfill
or other recycling schemes is a significant contribution to
better waste management and more efficient recycling. The
precondition is to have established organic waste collection
and recycling schemes. However, in many regions, e.g. in
Southern and Eastern Europe, in France or the UK this
infrastructure is hardly developed. The legal promotion of
biodegradable bags occurs in countries where, at least in
wider regions, composting is not well established (Southern
Italy, Spain). There are huge differences when regarding
the situation in EU countries. The consumption pattern is
differing significantly from member state to member state.
This includes the type of bag, the film gauge and the number
of bags used, which is widely varying. For example in central
and northern Europe, e.g. Germany, Denmark or Austria,
carrier bags are rarely given away for free – resulting in
low numbers of consumption. What is more, the available
regional waste management and recycling infrastructure is
ranging from ‘almost nothing in place’ to ‘far developed for all
types of waste’. For PE carrier bags - the dominant product
on the market - specific sorting and recycling schemes were
developed and are working well in some EU countries. Any
policy against PE bags would be a policy against recycling.
Rather vigorous and negative debates earlier sensibilised the
European bioplastics industry to the fact that the recycling of
conventional plastics is an issue: when bioplastics interfere
in a negative way with this view then a confrontation with the
recyclers can be expected. As recycling is a strong pillar of
the European sustainability and resource efficiency policies
the end-of-life attributes will play a major role in future EU
bagislation.
30 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

Films|Flexibles|Bags
Fig. 5: Bio-based PE bags are well recyclable and eco-efficient –
but discriminated in Italy (Photo: Zabel / European Bioplastics)
Environmental performance will be
scrutinized
This holds also true for the environmental performance
of carrier bags which is building another corner stone when
evaluating the concepts and designing the ‘most wanted’
products. The available LCA results comparing different types
of carrier bags concur, i.e. reusable and recyclable bags have a
very good environmental profile. The less material is used for
a bag of a certain load capacity, the more often it is reused and
recycled, and the better will be the profile. Biobased PE bags
from sugar cane perform very well according to this measure.
However, as these are non-biodegradable bioplastics they
suffer from the existing bag bans. Biodegradable plastics
today yield rather low LCA credits from organic recycling
compared to mechanical recycling. They would benefit from
a calculation of the indirect (secondary) effect when diverting
food waste from landfill or keeping recycling streams clean.
This, however, is difficult to quantify.
Many questions remain open
There are many questions to be answered to find the best
‘bag solution’ serving the needs of the environment and the
businesses involved. Depending on the region and purpose
of application different types of bags will be favoured.
Biodegradable bags are no solution to littering but are great
products for organic waste recovery. Biobased PE bags
perfectly fit to the established plastic recycling schemes.
In all regulations the scope and the definition of the bags
concerned is a huge challenge: What is single-use, what
is reusable, what is a bag for life? In the Italian or Spanish
legislation single-use plastic bags are not exactly defined. It
is known that very thin plastic t-shirt bags are used only once
before ending up as waste bags, while loop-handle or griphole
bags are used several times. Is there a maximum film
gauge separating single-use from reusable?
Only very good and very solid arguments covering littering,
waste management and proof of sustainability will allow us
to justify measures that have a strong impact on the market.
Bans violate EU law and are most often being regarded as a
too strong in terms of market distortion - even by industry
organisations like European Bioplastics. Targets for bag
reduction or taxes on specific bags might be more acceptable
alternatives. A voluntary branch agreement and selfregulation
can be an alternative to legislation if it achieves
the same results for reaching the objectives in a smarter way.
Charging for bags at a reasonable price seems to be a smart
and effective measure.
In Europe it can be expected that the process of sorting
out the options will be systematic and sound. The bioplastics
industry has very good arguments to get a good share of
the 750,000 tonne market for plastic carrier bags. National,
sectorial or even company related interests however most
likely will not be good enough to develop or defend regulations
that are not in line with the principles of legislation, sustainable
development or competition. NGOs and those who see their
stakes at risk most likely will take care for unredeemed
promises and proclaim their findings in the media.
www.narocon.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 31

Films|Flexibles|Bags
A lightweight coffee pouch made from
renewable resources using NatureFlex
from Innovia Films.
Renewable
Lightweight
Coffee Pouches
Today metal cans, glass jars and rigid plastic containers
dominate instant coffee packaging, all of which are recyclable
but none are made from renewable resources or offer
compostability.
The move to conventional flexible packaging began some
time ago for many premium gourmet makers of ground
coffee and coffee beans with some every day instant coffee
brands mirroring this trend. Many of these lightweight packs
are stand-up bags or pouches with some using vacuum
packed blocks.
Innovia Films, a leading innovator in filmic solutions for
packaging, has developed a range of cellulose-based films
that when laminated together with other bio materials, can
provide a fully renewable filmic structure suitable for coffee
pouches – NatureFlex.
“Coffee producers are moving towards packaging which
weighs less to save on transportation costs in the supply
chain and to lower the product’s carbon footprint,” expressed
Innovia Films Neil Banerjee, Market Developer – Cello.
He continued “NatureFlex films offer a viable alternative to
coffee producers who want a complete packaging structure
that is lightweight and able to not only protect their product
but at the same time is also compostable and made from
renewable resources. This is the real point of differentiation
for NatureFlex as existing laminate structures for lightweight
coffee packaging can be difficult to dispose of except through
landfill, whereas NatureFlex can be composted.”
Typical comparison of conventional versus NatureFlex film
structures:
Existing Structure
Flexible packaging for the roast and ground coffee and
coffee bean market typically consists of a laminate structure
made up of three layers:
1. A reverse printed outer layer: 20μm BOPP (biaxially
oriented PP) or 12μm PET
2. A high barrier middle layer: 6-10μm Aluminium foil
or 12μm metallised PET
3. An inner sealant layer: 50-90μm Polyethylene
The NatureFlex Solution
Innovia’s NatureFlex films can be combined with other
biopolymers by a converter, to produce a renewable
alternative to the above structure.
The comparison properties are highlighted in the graph
below:
Thickness / µm
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
PET, 12 µm
Aluminium Foil, 7 µm
Polyethylene, 60µm
NatureFlex 20N
Printable, transparent barrier
NatureFlex 20N921M
Metallised high barrier layer
Bio-Polymer sealant layer
High seal strength and integrity
PET, 12 µm
Metallised
Polyester, 12 µm
Polyethylene, 60µm
Clear
NatureFlex NK,
20 µm
Metallised
NatureFlex,
20 µm
Biopolymer
Sealant,
50 µm
0 Standard Packaging 1 Standard Packaging 2 NatureFlex based
Bio-Laminate
NatureFlex films comply with standards for compostable
packaging, including EN13432, AS4736 and ASTM D6400.
Depending on the individual films selected, the finished
laminate structure could be certified compostable to the
same standards subject to appropriate ink, print design and
adhesive choices. If required, the pouches can be vented or a
fully compostable zip closure could be added.
Neil Banerjee explained “We are happy to work with coffee
manufacturers to ensure that they get the right laminate
structure to protect their product all they need to do is
contact us.”
www.innoviafilms.com
32 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

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Application News
New Laminate
Centroplast Spa from Meldola, Italy has a long and robust
story in producing flexible packaging for the food industry.
They are conscious of the importance to offer a sustainable
packaging, with a significant reduction of the environmental
impact, to food end-users.
This is the reason why Centroplast, since years, has been
searching solutions with a lower environmental impact.
Now Centroplast is presenting to the market a new type
of compostable packaging, satisfying different packaging
requirements to achieve the same shelf life properties for the
packed goods. However, compared with standard solutions
no special settings on the production lines are required.
This packaging has been developed using films
compostable according to the EN 13432 standard.
Regarding this project the R&D Manager Stefania
Milandri explained that the development was carried out in
collaboration with the main suppliers of raw materials and
films. This led to a two layer laminate with high mechanical
properties and excellent machinability in complex
applications.
The outer layer of consists of Ingeo PLA. It is laminated
using a special adhesive to an inner layer which itself is
coextruded from two different materials. This coextruded
layer combines again PLA with a ‘new bioplastics’ derived
from starch. More details were not disclosed at this time due
to a proprietary recipe. This layer, however, gives the laminate
a very good sealing strength, so that the packaging can hold
even heavy products, such as rice and dried food.
The adhesive used to laminate the two layers is completely
compostable, providing at the same time a perfect bonding
between the layers.
In addition to the above mentioned compostable laminate,
Centroplast has developed another laminate made out
of paper with metalized poly-lactic acid for other food
applications. MT
www.centroplast.it
Eco-Labels for
Biobottles
As a result of the extensive research in the field of
environmental sustainability, Goglio Cofibox S.p.A.,
leader in the production of flexible laminates for the
packaging of food products from Cadorago, Italy has
developed a new eco-friendly label in PLA for its client
Fonti di Vinadio SpA. The label is being applied on
Sant’Anna PLA bottles, the first eco-friendly bottles that
biodegrade within 80 days.
The label has been developed to work with the reel
fed technology, the most common one in the beverage
market thanks to its high speed labeling, and it is
suitable for all common standard gluing systems. Labels
are available in thickness starting from 30µm.
Furthermore, the transparency of the film is highly
appreciated in the mineral water market, since it
guarantees perfect clarity in the see through graphics in
a mono-web structure.
The PLA resin used for the label, Ingeo by
NatureWorks, assures excellent film performances
even on those equipment which up to today have used
‘traditional’ materials.
In addition to this, Goglio Cofibox has developed
exclusive bio inks to be used for printings on eco-friendly
materials which, thanks to the Company’s 10-colors
print rotogravure technology, allow to manufacture
tailor-made, eye-catching printing effects on 100% green
labels. The inks are certified compostable by Vinçotte
and do of course not contain any toxic substances or
heavy metals.
This is one more example of Goglio Group’s flexible
innovations towards environmentally friendly products.
MT
www.gogliocofibox.com
34 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

Application News
Hoses Made from Biobased
Raw Materials
NORRES Schlauchtechnik from Gelsenkirchen, Germany
is a leading manufacturer of industrial hoses, hose systems
and other innovative, high-performance plastic products.
The company has formulated a corporate sustainability
strategy which specifies that all Norres products should
be developed according to certain basic principles. One of
these principles is that defined hose types should be made
from bio-based raw material sources.
Norres has a number of hose types that are either
manufactured from a ‘bioplastic’ raw material as standard
or can be supplied as variants made from raw materials
based on derivatives. Castor oil is a typical example of the
derivatives used for this purpose. The share of the bioplastic
in each product is in the region of 20 to 50%, depending
on the hardness and the nature of the synthetic material.
The mechanical properties and chemical resistances of
bioplastic raw materials are not significantly different from
those of the standard Norres types, and they represent
an altogether competitive option. Moreover, several
Norres hoses are made using raw materials with a low
environmental impact based on the life cycle assessment
(LCA), in other words with a good ecobalance. The focus
is on bioplastic monomers derived from renewable raw
materials for polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes and
vinyl polymers. Hoses produced using these materials are
offered as an alternative to the standard products. The
Protapw ® PUR 335 MHF FLAT, Airduc ® PUR 350 MHF and
Airduc ® PUR 355 are among the hose types. MT
www.norres.com
Biodegradable Bags
for Home Compost
Concern about the environment ranks high on Flexico’s
R&D agenda. Always keen to contribute to a better world
and curb waste, Flexico is adding new biodegradable bags
for home compost to its Biopryl range, which already
includes biodegradable bags for industrial compost. The
Flexico group is a French company created in 1950 with five
production sites and six subsidiaries in France Germany,
UK, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Romania.
Benefits for the community are twofold: with this
biodegradation system, packaging can be collected together
with the green waste by the community and turned into
compost. At home, the end user, can place the packaging
in their home compost together with other organic waste.
The biodegradable Biopryl bags for home compost are
made of compostable films, using renewable material
(such as starch and vegetable oils) and biodegradable
co-polyesters, all complying with standard EN 13432 and
authenticated ‘OK Home Compost’ by Laboratory Vinçotte.
No genetically modified plants (GMO) are being used for the
production.
Home Compost biodegradable Biopryl bags are produced
with or without a drawstring closure. They are particularly
useful as packaging for bioproducts such as cotton, but also
for textile, fresh produce, and cosmetics. Biopryl bags offer
a high water vapour transmission rate but a good barrier
against oxygen. This means moisture can escape faster,
fresh produce is less susceptible to mold and to oxidation
and stay fresh for a longer period of time. MT
www.flexico.fr
36 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

Joint Approach
Innovia Films, Cumbria, UK and Sappi Fine Paper
Europe, Brussels, Belgium have joined forces to
demonstrate potential laminate structures, using their
respective products, suitable for end users in the food,
confectionery and pharmaceutical industries. These
laminates provide technical functionality in addition
to being made from renewable resources and offering
compostability – a focus which many packaging end
users are keen to pursue.
Both companies recognise that the best end-of-life
options for flexible paper/film laminates are either
industrial, home composting or ultimately anaerobic
digestion which turns waste into a useful energy source,
compared to current landfill or incineration solutions.
Innovia Films with its NatureFlex product range,
brings its unique expertise in manufacturing renewable
and compostable cellulose-based films with tailored
moisture and barrier properties.
Sappi brings its expertise in manufacturing flexible
packaging papers and now offers coated and uncoated
compostable paper options; Algro ® Nature is a unique
compostable one side coated paper; Leine ® Nature is an
uncoated equivalent, which is also compostable.
The Sappi and Innovia products have been
independently tested and have received the ‘OK
Compost Home’ certification by Vinçotte, and also the
compostability DIN E13432 certification by DIN CERTCO.
Innovia Films and Sappi have now started trials with
converters to demonstrate the capabilities of such
laminates in terms of sustainability and technical
packaging solutions. Trials have been made on both
extrusion and adhesive laminate systems, targeting
end users who are seeking alternatives to existing noncompostable
structures.
John Fell, Global Marketing Director for Innovia
Films commented “Both companies are committed to
evolving this joint partnership and will announce future
developments of sustainable packaging solution, based
on renewable and recyclable forest products, as and
when they become available.”
Shaping the future
of biobased plastics
www.purac.com/bioplastics
www.innoviafilms.com
www.sappi.com
Laminate pack
structure
(used here for
packaging dried soup)
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 37

Consumer Electronics
Bioplastic Mouse added
to Green Line
Fujitsu is extending their portfolio of ’Green IT TM ’ products.
The KBPC PX ECO keyboard with bioplastic components
has been available for quite some time already.
bioplastics MAGAZINE reported about it in its issues on 03/2010
and 05/2010. Earlier this year, Fujitsu Technology Solutions
GmbH from Munich, Germany, a subsidiary of the Japanese
Fujitsu Limited, added an optical USB mouse to their Green IT
line of products. “The environmentally friendly keyboard was
and still is quite successful in the market so it was only a
logical step to introduce a mouse,” said Christian Sandmeier,
Senior Product Manager Accessories of Fujitsu.
Like the keyboard, the optical USB mouse M440 with a
resolution of 1000 dpi features a housing and 3 keys made
of BIOGRADE ® C 7500, a cellulose acetate compound from
FKuR in Willich, Germany. The 100% biodegradable material
is predominantly composed of natural resource materials
and completely recyclable. In addition, the mouse features
halogen free circuit boards along with a PVC free cable.
“One of the many advantages of using Biograde was the
fact that existing injection moulding tools could be used,”
explained Christoph Lohr, injection moulding expert working
in the department of Applications Technology at FKuR. Thus,
the existing manufacturer could produce the mouse without
any problems. All necessary requirements for electronic
devices, which include computer equipment, could be fulfilled
(e.g. fire tests). In Germany, a special glow wire test is required
whereas in other countries the UL94HB flammability test has
to be met. All of these tests were passed without adding any
special flame retardant additives. A colour masterbatch with
a biobased carrier allows the colourisation of the mouse at
a very high quality. The black version of the mouse can be
laser-marked, also without the need for any additives.
In addition to its ergonomic design for right and left handed
users, due to the special properties of Biograde the haptic
appearance of the mouse is very pleasant. This is quite
important, as many users spend hours and hours with their
hands in direct contact to the mouse, a fact that must not be
neglected. Also, Biograde offers a ‘self-polishing’ effect, as
Christoph Lohr explained. This means that small dents and
scratches will disappear after a while, simply by touching
and using it. The Swedish computer magazine ‘PC för Alla’
tested the mouse and certified its robustness: “The mouse
is as durable, hard-wearing and robust as other mice made
from hard plastics”.
With a reduction of oil based plastics of about 66 tonnes per
year the ‘green’ mouse obviously is the best companion for
the ‘green’ keyboard, as stated on Fujitsu’s website.
Beside the environmental benefits, quality design
and superior performance what’s the best benefit to the
consumer? Both the keyboard and mouse are sold at a retail
price comparable to ‘conventional‘ products.
www.fujitsu.com
www.fkur.com
Our cover kitty cat Olivia
likes ‘organic food‘ ...
Her comment: „Miaouw“
38 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] 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
marketing@uhde-inventa-fi scher.com
www.uhde-inventa-fi scher.com
Uhde Inventa-Fischer

Report
Polylactic acid is a
polymer which is made of
renewable raw materials
and is available in
the market on an
industrial scale.
(Photo: ecopuls)
Bioplastics in Practical Use
A project by the Austrian Plastics Cluster
providesexperience with PLA
This article is an excerpt from a comprehensive report
of the Austrian Plastics Cluster.
Bioplastics: From the Lab to the
Product Shelves
An EU project led by the St. Pölten office of the Austrian
plastics cluster has developed practical knowledge in the
use of bioplastics which has been further extended thanks
to the participation of numerous industry partners.
A number of food producing companies process products
from organic farms. They could improve the sustainability of
their overall product if the films that are used for packaging
were also made from renewable raw materials. Within
a CORNET project (COllective Research NETwork), from
1998 to 2001, practical knowledge in this subject has been
developed, and now many companies benefit from it.
Initiated by ecoplus, the business agency of Lower
Austria and supported by the government of Lower Austria
an application was submitted for financial support. Eleven
institutes from six European countries, as well as a large
number of company partners (20 from Austria alone),
finally came together to pursue the common goal. “We
want to learn how to deal with bioplastics,” says Alexander
Komenda, who managed the entire project for the plastics
cluster. The participating companies invest in the project, but
each Euro from an Austrian company has been quadrupled
by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG. Overall
the project volume totals 1.6 million Euros.
In addition, the project was limited to material already
available in the market and produced on a significant scale.
Another definition set the benchmark for the project even
higher, namely that any material used, including additives,
must be biodegradable.
Everyone Does What He Does Best
Based on this general framework, the participants
started to develop a project structure. Each of the countries
involved, together with the respective scientific partner, took
the lead in a different field.
The experts in materials selection came from France,
with the ‘Institut National des Sciences Appliquées’. It
was important to take into account a series of physical
properties which are essential to the processability and the
practical use of bioplastics. Different applications require
permeability or barrier towards certain gases, others need
resistance to temperatures exceeding 60°C.
The German ‘Institute for Polymers’ (DKI) was in charge
of testing the raw materials. At the beginning it had to be
decided whether standard test procedures for conventional
plastics were applicable to bioplastics. Some methods had to
be adapted to the special characteristics of the biopolymer.
However, the results of these tests were necessary to
characterise the materials to be used for the subsequent
project phases. As Komenda says, “All participants were
given large amounts of the same material in order to
achieve comparable results.”
The Slovenian ‘Tool & Die Development Center’ took the
lead in processing the bioplastics on machines which are
commonly used in the production of packaging, in close
cooperation with the industry partners
40 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

The Polish institute ‘Cobro’ coordinated the tests of
the new packaging materials in order to identify their
behaviour under particular stress situations (e.g. bumping
and banging during transport in trucks). Experts from the
Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology
(OFI) examined whether the packaging material made of
polylactic acid (PLA) meets the special requirements of the
food sector.
Finally, ‘Celabor’ from Belgium was in charge of testing
thermoformed plastic films from the waste-management
end of the supply chain, as well as life-cycle analysis. This
is a hot issue, as the ecological balance is one of the main
arguments for the use of bioplastics.
The challenge was to develop a transparent, easily
adaptable report, which would withstand technical
discussions and allow an emotional discussion to be seen
from a more objective point of view. One option was to
clearly identify certain measurable parameters such as the
portion of carbon from renewable raw materials, which can
be determined by radiocarbon dating.
Application Food Packaging
Now a stage has been reached where the raw material,
PLA, can be characterised regarding its processability as
a packaging material. It is known that it will be difficult to
improve diffusion barriers without moving on to multilayer
systems. It is known on which parameters temperature
stability depends. It is known how to design production
processes in order to obtain a usable product. In addition,
knowledge has been distributed among the participating
companies. “Ultimately it is important to create a product
which a company can sell. Then the companies will need
people to manufacture the product and we from the cluster
will have done a good job,” Komenda summarises. It is
exactly to this objective that the cooperation with the food
cluster is committed.
PLA – Properties of the Material and How
to Improve Them
PLA is available in different qualities in the market.
A specific task of the CORNET project dealt with the
properties of the materials and developed the basis for
their improvement with suitable additives, guided by INSA
Lyon. u
Photo: ecoplus
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 41

Report
Photo: ecoplus
Methods of Material - Characterisation for PLA
The properties of PLA depend on its molecular structure. One of the
task groups has developed methods which enable an accurate and reliable
characterisation of this structure, guided by DKI-Darmstadt.
Processing of PLA
Learning to use a new type of plastic primarily means learning to process
it. This task group conducted extensive tests on the processing of PLA,
using different procedures and various different products. In this process a
number of surprising discoveries were made!
What was particularly fascinating about this task was the gradual gain
in knowledge about the properties of the biopolymer, not least because
its producers, the bacteria, do not disclose all of their secrets of chirality.
A generally noticeable feature were the substantial differences between
the various commercial types, which were seen above all in different
molar mass distributions and represented significant differences in the
applicability of the products. Extreme examples, in which PLA could be
processed at 300°C without showing any noteworthy degradation reactions,
are countered by cases in which discolouration became visible even under
normal conditions.
Testing Products Made of PLA
Packaging products made of PLA have to meet the same requirements
as packaging made from conventional plastics. Generally PLA can be
processed without problems. However, processing, like additives, can have
a significant influence on whether a future packaging development will
meet the desired requirements. For example all processors have to find
out whether drying of the raw material is necessary or not. Runners or
gates for example cannot simply be re-used. The presence of expiry dates
on PLA granulates and products will take some getting used to for plastics
processors. But that’s how ‘bio’ works!
PLA in Contact with Food
One of the CORNET project’s topics was the use of PLA packaging in
the food industry. A work group within the project examined whether PLA
meets all of the requirements regarding contact with food, guided by OFI
Vienna.
PLA packaging appears to be particularly suitable for high-price and niche
segments, such as organic products with a limited shelf life or fermented
dairy products. Future research projects could analyse the influence of
special additives and the combination with other biodegradable materials
in greater detail.
(Photo: Naku)
a.komenda@ecoplus.at
The Life Cycle of PLA
When products made from PLA reach the end of their useful life various
questions arise: How is the material disposed of? Can it be composted?
Does PLA have an advantage over conventional plastics throughout its entire
life cycle? This part of the project was guided by CELABOR of Belgium.
To summarise in frank terms: There is the green advantage, but it’s not
as big as it seems.
Biopolymers will guide us to a green future, but it will be only one part of
a general and massive change. The most important part is the human being
himself and his wealth. MT
The complete report can be downloaded from www.bio-packing.at
42 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

Opinion
Agricultural Resources
for Bioplastics
Feedstock for bio-based plastics today and tomorrow
By
Michael Carus
CEO nova-Institute
Achim Raschka
biotech expert at the
nova-Institute
Hürth, Germany
1 st and 2 nd generation crops: Pros and cons
To produce bio-based plastics there is a broad spectrum of feedstock options. Today biobased
plastics are mainly based on sugar, starch, plant oil and natural rubber, the so-called
first generation feedstock. Because of potential competition with food and animal feed
politicians and scientists have introduced, in the last ten years, the idea of using lignocellulose
feedstock by transforming it into fermentable sugar (whether this will have less impact on
food security will be discussed below). Lignocellulose means wood, short rotation coppice
such as poplar, willow or miscanthus, or lignocellulose containing agricultural by-products.
Another option is to use by-products which contain sugar and starch.
The following table shows the pros and cons for different feedstock options:
Criteria
Yield per hectare in terms of
fermentable sugar equivalents
Green House Gas Emissions for
biomass derived Bio-based Plastics
(cradle to factory gate)
First Generation
(Sugar, Starch, Oil,
Natural Rubber)
Second Generation
(Lignocellulose – Wood and
Short Rotation Coppice)
Broad range, but more or less on the same level
Broad range, but more or less on the same level
Technical maturity Very high Still a lot to do
Economically competitive
Secure supply with raw materials
at a reasonable price
Not yet (except for specific
properties)
Competing for food, animal
feed and bioenergy
Not yet
Competition with bioenergy
and traditional industrial
material use
By-products from
agriculture and forestry
If the by-products have no markets
yet, this means an extra yield
Very low, because of the
methodology of LCA
Depending on the content
of the by-product
Not yet, but close
Still a huge potential for
inefficiently used by-products, or
even those not used at all
Direct competition with food and feed Yes No No
Indirect competition to food and feed Yes – on land use No
Emergency reserve for food and feed Yes No No
Feedstock for Bio-based
Plastics and Composites
(source: nova-Institute)
Second Generation
Lignocellulose
Saccharification
First Generation
Sugar Starch Plant Oil
Natural
Rubber
feedstock
Natural
Fibres
Wood
Timber
Byproducts
Lignin
Wood Plastics
Composites
for example
bagasse
Natural Fibres
Reinforced
Plastics
Compressionmoulded
parts
Biobased Plastics
thermoplastics or thermosets
biodegradable or permanent
Elastomers
biomaterials
Carbon Fibre
44 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

Opinion
The table shows in a clear way that there is no easy answer.
Are second generation feedstocks really a better solution?
To answer this question on a solid scientific base nova will
conduct a multi-client study in 2012/2013: What is the best
sustainable feedstock to generate fermentable sugar?
Interested companies and associations can still join the
advisory board.
Non-food discussion
Forced by the public discussion during the food crisis in
2008 politics and industry gave a very simple answer to the
potential food versus industry conflict: Industry should only
use non-food crops as feedstock.
From our point of view the question of food versus non-food
crops for industry is itself oversimplified and misleading. The
real questions and conflict are different:
• Question 1: Are there - in the EU, in the member states
or in the region – free agricultural areas left, which are
not necessary for food and animal feed, domestic use and
export? If yes (and in many regions the answer is yes),
continue:
• Question 2 (the real question): How can we use these free
areas for industry with the highest resource efficiency and
the highest climate protection?
• In many cases food crops will best fulfil these criteria -
just because they have been specially cultivated to produce
maximum yields over many, many years and all logistics
are established.
• Food crops for industry can also serve as an emergency
reserve for food and feed supply – second generation
lignocellulose cannot! This is exactly what is happening
this year in Brazil. The Brazilian government has reduced
the bioethanol fuel quota to save sugar for the demanding
food and feed market.
So ‘No food crops for industry’ can lead to a misallocation
of agriculture resources. We need a comprehensive concept
for feedstock for food, feed, industrial material use and
bioenergy.
The amount of land needed to grow
feedstock for bio-based plastics -
How much is needed, and how much will
be needed in the future?
Both answers to the above questions show how the
agricultural area is used today. Most of the arable land is
used for animal feed (69%), followed by food (17%), material
use (7%, including bio-based plastics) and finally bioenergy
(3.5%). The data on biomass in tonnes look slightly different
and the main reasons are different yields per hectare
for different crops, dedicated to certain applications. For
example cotton, the leading crop for industrial material use,
has considerably lower yields than most of the energy crops.
Using the recent data from Prof. Endres (FH Hannover)
and European Bioplastics, today (2010) about 724,000 tonnes
of bio-based plastics are produced, and this will increase to
1.71 million tonnes by 2015. According to a rough average
estimation 2.5 tonnes of bio-based plastics can be produced
per hectare and per year. This means that crops for bio-based
plastics were grown on 290,000 hectares (0.02% of global
arable land) in 2010 and will be grown on 684,000 hectares
(0.05%) in 2015.
To substitute all 250 million tonnes of plastics in the world
with bio-based plastics will demand 100 million hectares
or 7% of the global arable land. This will only happen when
crude oil is really scarce and very expensive. Then solar
and wind energy will also be taking over the energy sector,
including bioenergy, so these arable areas will be set free for
bio-based chemicals and plastics.
Global land use for food production and renewable resources 2008
(source: nova-Institute)
Use of harvested agricultural biomass worldwide (2008)
(source: nova-Institute)
Total land area
world wide
13.4 bn. ha
cities, residental area,
0.2
road and rail
Arable land
world wide
5.0 bn. ha
Cropland
world wide
1,500 mn. ha
Total biomass ca.
10 billion tonnes
Biomass for
industrial material
use 4,3 %
Biomass for energy
use 3,7 %
waste land (deserts,
mountains, ...)
4.3
3.55
pastures
260
Food
18 %
Food
forest
3.9
1.030
Feed
agricultural
area
5.0
1.45
cropland
today
55
100
Bioenergy
Material use
74 %
Feed
in bn. ha
in bn. ha
in mn. ha
Allocation of biomass to production target (main product).
Respective amounts include raw materials and by products,
even if their use fall into a different category.
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 45

Opinion
Is there enough land for food, animal feed,
bioenergy and industrial material use,
including bio-based plastics?
Due to increasing demand for food and animal feed, and
also bioenergy and industrial material use, the crucial
question is how to increase the biomass production – in
a sustainable way. But how to increase the agricultural
feedstock worldwide?
1. Increasing the yields
The tremendous potential for increasing yields in the
developing countries is hindered by lack of technology and
infrastructure, unfavourable agricultural policies such as
no access to credits, an insufficient transmission of price
incentives, poorly enforced land rights.
2. Expansion of arable land
Some 0.6 (nova 2008) to 1.6 billion (FAO 2009) hectares
could be added to the current 1.4 billion hectares of crop
land (excluding forests, urban areas, protected areas). The
figure shows that even in the year 2020 more than 200
million hectares of free arable land will be available.
The solution to points 1 and 2 are: Political reforms and
huge investment in agro-technologies. Compared to these
potentials, the impact of GMO on the increase of biomass
production will stay low.
On the other hand there is also a huge potential for saving
biomass:
• To switch from meat to vegetarian food would set free a
huge amount of arable land for other uses. To get proteins
from cattle demands 40 to 50 times the biomass input
compared with proteins obtained from wheat or soya.
• To reduce food losses will also set free huge amounts of
arable land: The results of a recent study showed that
roughly one-third of food produced for human consumption
is lost or wasted globally, which amounts to about 1.3 billion
tonnes per year.
• Finally solar energy, which will be fully competitive in 10 to
15 years, is 40 to 50 times more land efficient compared
with bioenergy (and biofuels) and also will mainly use non
arable land. This will also release huge areas of arable
land, today used by bioenergy.
So the conclusion is, yes, there is enough feedstock – but
… due to the results of different nova studies, there will be
only enough feedstock for industrial material use including
bio-based plastics, if:
• we are able to activate strongly the potentially free areas
(0.6 – 1.6 billion hectares) for agriculture and to increase
the productivity in developing countries - that means huge
investment and political reforms,
• we switch to more vegetarian food and also reduce losses
in the food chain,
• we switch from bioenergy to solar and wind energy and
significantly increase the use of solar and wind energy,
• we establish a new policy for equal support of bioenergy
and industrial material use based on their efficiency,
GHG reduction/hectare and employment/hectare (‘level
playing field’ – for more information please look at
www.bio-based.eu/policy/en).
Otherwise ‘Food & Feed First’, high subsidies for bioenergy
and increasing population and meat consumption could
mean: No feedstock left for high-volume industrial material
use, bio-based chemistry and bio-based plastics.
Summary
In principle there are sufficient and sustainable biomass
resources available for food, animal feed, bioenergy and
industrial material use, including bio-based plastics but
we should change and optimize the biomass allocation and
therefore the political framework. And we should invest in
agriculture, and, not forgetting political reforms in the rural
areas of the world, optimizing our food habits to sustainability
and switching from bioenergy to solar energy – to secure a
sufficient and sustainable supply of biomass for bio-based
products also for the next 100 years and further.
www.nova-institute.eu
Available
rainfed
arable land
(cropland)*
3.300
100
Residential area;
road and rail (ca. 3%)
1.500
Cropland
today
800
Potential
forest land
570
‘Free’ agricultural area in 2006 and the global demand of area 2020
(source: nova-Institute)
‘Free’
agricultural
area in
2006**
570
year 2006 year 2020
The global demand on land use in 2020:
➊ Increasing demand of food per capita due to an
increase in purchasing power (more meat, ...)
➋ Increasing demand of food due to
population growth
➌ Residential area, road and rail
➍ Biofuel in the most important Biofuel countries***
ca. 96 mn. ha
ca. 64 mn. ha
ca. 32 mn. ha
ca. 18 mn. ha
∑ 210 mn. ha
➊
➋
➌
➍
in mn. ha
in mn. ha
330
Protected area (ca. 10%)
in mn. ha
* FAO 2000 indicates a potential of 4.2 bn. ha
** De facto parts of the ‘free’ crop lands could be considerably disadvantageous
in terms of natural recources or market access
*** The calculation is based on OECD-FAO 2007: It is assured that most of the recourses are from
the demand region; yield increase of 1/%a, extrapolation of production from 2006 to 2020
46 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

BIOADIMIDE TM IN BIOPLASTICS.
EXPANDING THE PERFORMANCE OF BIO-POLYESTER.
2011
B E S T
P R A C T I C E S
AWA R D
Global Bioplastics Additives
New Product Innovation Award
Whatever is beautiful. Whatever is meaningful. Whatever brings you happiness.
May it be yours this holiday season and throughout the coming year.
Whatever requirements move your world:
We will move them with you.
www.rheinchemie.com
www.bioadimide.com

Personality
Photo:
European
Bioplastics
bM: What is your educational background?
JW: At the university I studied chemistry and then started
to work for Henkel. I did my PhD in polymer chemistry later,
whilst I was already working in the industry.
bM: What is your professional function today?
JW: I’m the Head of materials at the NNFCC, the UK’s
National Centre for Biorenewable energy, fuels and materials.
And materials here cover all renewable materials including
plastics, fibres, composites, wood etc.
bM: How did you ‘come to’ bioplastics?
John Williams
JW: I came to bioplastics when I worked in R&D on adhesives
and surface coatings. In the early 1990’s I worked on a Joint
Venture with Zeneca on ‘Biopol’, a PHA-resin, which indeed
reached the supermarket shelves in form of a Wella shampoo
bottle. That’s how I came across bioplastics and ever since I
have dabbled with it.
bM: When were you born?
JW: I was born in September 1961 in Widnes, a
small town in what was then Lancashire, in the UK.
bM: Where do you live today and how long have you
lived there?
JW: Today I live right in the middle of the historic
city of York and we moved there about 5 months ago.
Before that I lived on a farm in Lincolnshire.
iBIB 2012
International Business Directory for Innovative
Bio-based Plastics and Composites
Pictures: nova-Institut, Sainsbury’s, Proganic
www.bio-based.eu/iBIB
Book now: www.bio-based.eu/iBIB
For the 2 nd time worldwide:
An entire overview of all suppliers of bio-based plastics and composites!
In spring 2012 iBIB 2012 the second international directory of major suppliers of biobased
plastics and composites will be published. Becoming an iBIB 2012 participant will
enable you to reach about 20,000 potential industrial clients from all over the world.
The print version will be distributed by the publishers and partners at trade fairs,
exhibitions and conferences worldwide
The PDF-version will be distributed widely by email and websides
Online-database with detailed index to reach your supplier in a target oriented way
iBIB 2012 : 250 pages – 100 companies, associations, R&D – 20 countries
Book your page(s) now at: www.bio-based.eu/iBIB
Deadline: 15 th January 2012 – Publication Date: 14 th March 2012
bM: What do you consider more important: ‘biobased’ or
‘biodegradable’?
JW: Biobased. Biodegradability is a function of a material
that you might require or you might not. Biobased is the basis
for the whole bioeconomy process.
bM: What has been your biggest achievement (in terms of
bioplastics) so far?
JW: I think it’s raising awareness of the materials, their
properties, their markets and the sustainability issues and
providing the context for their growth.
bM: What are your biggest challenges for the future?
JW: The biggest challenge, I think, is the next step. To
convince the main players to more rapidly adopt more of these
materials.
bM: What is your family status?
JW: I have two daughters, 17 and 19 years old from my first
marriage. I have a new partner, Sandra and actually we are
going to get married next year.
bM: What is your favorite movie?
I like ‘Spy Game’, with Robert Redford and Brad Pitt from
2001.
bM: What is your favorite book?
JW: I have a lot of books on military history but my favourite
fiction stories are espionage like,‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’. It
is a British spy novel by John le Carré from the mid Seventies.
bM: What is your favorite (or your next) vacation location?
JW: I love to go to Turkey, but next we go to South Africa.
bM: What do you eat for breakfast on a Sunday?
JW: Bacon-sandwich and coffee…the bacon has to be nice
and crispy!
bM: What is your ‘slogan’?
In cooperation with
Publisher
JW: One of my favourites is:
“You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough”
nova-Institute GmbH | Chemiepark Knapsack | Industriestrasse 300 | D-50354 Hürth
48 Dominik bioplastics Vogt MAGAZINE | Phone: [06/11] +49 (0)2233 Vol. 64814 – 49 | dominik.vogt@nova-institut.de

Basics
Glossary 2.0
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
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.
Aerobic - anaerobic | aerobic = in the presence
of oxygen (e.g. in composting) | anaerobic
= without oxygen being present (e.g. in
biogasification, anaerobic digestion)
[bM 06/09]
Amorphous | non-crystalline, glassy with unordered
lattice
Amylopectin | Polymeric branched starch
molecule with very high molecular weight (biopolymer,
monomer is → Glucose)
[bM 05/09]
Amylose | Polymeric non-branched starch
molecule with high molecular weight (biopolymer,
monomer is → Glucose) [bM 05/09]
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 02/06, bM 01/07]
Blend | Mixture of plastics, polymer alloy of at
least two microscopically dispersed and molecularly
distributed base polymers.
Bisphenol-A (BPA) | Monomer used to produce
different polymers. BPA is said to cause
health problems, due to the fact that is behaves
like a hormone. Therefore it is banned
for use in children’s products in many countries.
updated
such as ‘PLA (Polylactide)‘ in various articles.
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)
BPI | Biodegradable Products Institute, a notfor-profit
association. Through their innovative
compostable label program, BPI educates
manufacturers, legislators and consumers
about the importance of scientifically based
standards for compostable materials which
biodegrade in large composting facilities.
Carbon neutral | Carbon neutral describes
a product or process that has a negligible
impact on total atmospheric CO 2
levels. For
example, carbon neutrality means that any
CO 2
released when a plant decomposes or
is burnt is offset by an equal amount of CO 2
absorbed by the plant through photosynthesis
when it is growing.
Catalyst | substance that enables and accelerates
a chemical reaction
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.
CEN | Comité Européen de Normalisation
(European organisation for standardization)
Compost | A soil conditioning material of decomposing
organic matter which provides nutrients
and enhances soil structure.
[bM 06/08, 02/09]
Compostable Plastics | Plastics that are biodegradable
under ‘composting’ conditions:
specified humidity, temperature, → microorganisms
and timefame. Several national
and international standards exist for clearer
definitions, for example EN 14995 Plastics -
Evaluation of compostability - Test scheme
and specifications.
[bM 02/06, bM 01/07]
Composting | A solid waste management
technique that uses natural process to convert
organic materials to CO 2
, water and humus
through the action of → microorganisms.
When talking about composting of bioplastics,
usually industrial composting in a managed
composting plant is meant [bM 03/07]
Compound | plastic mixture from different
raw materials (polymer and additives)
[bM 04/10)
Copolymer | Plastic composed of different
monomers.
Cradle-to-Gate | Describes the system
boundaries of an environmental →Life Cycle
Assessment (LCA) which covers all activities
from the ‘cradle’ (i.e., the extraction of raw
materials, agricultural activities and forestry)
up to the factory gate
Cradle-to-Cradle | (sometimes abbreviated
as C2C): Is an expression which communicates
the concept of a closed-cycle economy,
in which waste is used as raw material
(‘waste equals food’). Cradle-to-Cradle is not
a term that is typically used in →LCA studies.
Cradle-to-Grave | Describes the system
boundaries of a full →Life Cycle Assessment
from manufacture (‘cradle’) to use phase and
disposal phase (‘grave’).
Crystalline | Plastic with regularly arranged
molecules in a lattice structure
Density | Quotient from mass and volume of
a material, also referred to as specific weight
DIN | Deutsches Institut für Normung (German
organisation for standardization)
DIN-CERTCO | independant certifying organisation
for the assessment on the conformity
of bioplastics
Dispersing | fine distribution of non-miscible
liquids into a homogeneous, stable mixture
Elastomers | rigid, but under force flexible
and elastically formable plastics with rubbery
properties
EN 13432 | European standard for the assessment
of the → compostability of plastic
packaging products
Energy recovery | recovery and exploitation
of the energy potential in (plastic) waste for
the production of electricity or heat in waste
incineration pants (waste-to-energy)
Enzymes | proteins that catalyze chemical
reactions
Ethylen | colour- and odourless gas, made
e.g. from, Naphtha (petroleum) by cracking,
monomer of the polymer polyethylene (PE)
European Bioplastics e.V. | The industry association
representing the interests of Europe’s
thriving bioplastics’ industry. Founded
in Germany in 1993 as IBAW, European Bioplastics
today represents the interests of over
70 member companies throughout the European
Union. With members from the agricultural
feedstock, chemical and plastics industries,
as well as industrial users and recycling
companies, European Bioplastics serves as
both a contact platform and catalyst for advancing
the aims of the growing bioplastics
industry.
Extrusion | process used to create plastic
profiles (or sheet) of a fixed cross-section
consisting of mixing, melting, homogenising
and shaping of the plastic.
Fermentation | Biochemical reactions controlled
by → microorganisms or enyzmes (e.g.
the transformation of sugar into lactic acid).
FSC | Forest Stewardship Council. FSC is an
independent, non-governmental, not-forprofit
organization established to promote the
responsible and sustainable management of
the world’s forests.
Gelatine | Translucent brittle solid substance,
colorless or slightly yellow, nearly tasteless
and odorless, extracted from the collagen inside
animals‘ connective tissue.
50 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

Basics
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.
Granulate, granules | small plastic particles
(3-4 millimetres), a form in which plastic is
sold and fed into machines, easy to handle
and dose.
Humus | In agriculture, ‘humus’ is often used
simply to mean mature → compost, or natural
compost extracted from a forest or other
spontaneous source for use to amend soil.
Hydrophilic | Property: ‘water-friendly’, soluble
in water or other polar solvents (e.g. used
in conjunction with a plastic which is not water
resistant and weather proof or that absorbs
water such as Polyamide (PA).
Hydrophobic | Property: ‘water-resistant’, not
soluble in water (e.g. a plastic which is water
resistant and weather proof, or that does not
absorb any water such as Polyethylene (PE)
or Polypropylene (PP).
IBAW | → European Bioplastics
Integral Foam | foam with a compact skin and
porous core and a transition zone in between.
ISO | International Organization for Standardization
JBPA | Japan Bioplastics Association
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 01/09]
Microorganism | Living organisms of microscopic
size, such as bacteria, funghi or yeast.
Molecule | group of at least two atoms held
together by covalent chemical bonds.
Monomer | molecules that are linked by polymerization
to form chains of molecules and
then plastics
Mulch film | Foil to cover bottom of farmland
PBS | Polybutylene succinate, a 100% biodegradable
polymer, made from (e.g. bio-BDO)
and succinic acid, which can also be produced
biobased.
PC | Polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyester,
petroleum based, used for e.g. baby bottles
or CDs. Criticized for its BPA (→ Bisphenol-A)
content.
PCL | Polycaprolactone, a synthetic (fossil
based), biodegradable bioplastic, e.g. used as
a blend component.
PE | Polyethylene, thermoplastic polymerised
from ethylene. Can be made from renewable
resources (sugar cane via bio-ethanol)
[bM 05/10]
PET | Polyethylenterephthalate, transparent
polyester used for bottles and film
PGA | Polyglycolic acid or Polyglycolide is a
biodegradable, thermoplastic polymer and
the simplest linear, aliphatic polyester. Besides
ist use in the biomedical field, PGA has
been introduced as a barrier resin [bM 03/09]
PHA | Polyhydroxyalkanoates are linear polyesters
produced in nature by bacterial fermentation
of sugar or lipids. The most common
type of PHA is → PHB.
PHB | Polyhydroxybutyrate (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
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.
PHBH | Polyhydroxy butyrate hexanoate (better
poly 3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate)
is a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA),
Like other biopolymers from the family of the
polyhydroxyalkanoates PHBH is produced by
microorganisms in the fermentation process,
where it is accumulated in the microorganism’s
body for nutrition. The main features of
PHBH are its excellent biodegradability, combined
with a high degree of hydrolysis and
heat stability.
[bM 03/09, 01/10, 03/11]
PLA | Polylactide or Polylactic Acid (PLA) is a
biodegradable, thermoplastic, linear 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 01/09]
Plastics | Materials with large molecular
chains of natural or fossil raw materials, produced
by chemical or biochemical reactions.
Renewable Resources | agricultural raw materials,
which are not used as food or feed, but
as raw material for industrial products or to
generate energy
Saccharins or carbohydrates | Saccharins or
carbohydrates are name for the sugar-family.
Saccharins are monomer or polymer sugar
units. For example, there are known mono-,
di- and polysaccharose. → glucose is a monosaccarin.
They are important for the diet and
produced biology in plants.
Semi-finished products | plastic in form of
sheet, film, rods or the like to be further processed
into finshed products
Sorbitol | Sugar alcohol, obtained by reduction
of glucose changing the aldehyde group
to an additional hydroxyl group. S. is used as
a plasticiser for bioplastics based on starch.
Starch | Natural polymer (carbohydrate)
consisting of → amylose and → amylopectin,
gained from maize, potatoes, wheat, tapioca
etc. When glucose is connected to polymerchains
in definite way the result (product) is
called starch. Each molecule is based on 300
-12000-glucose units. Depending on the connection,
there are two types → amylose and →
amylopectin known.
[bM 05/09]
Starch 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.
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).
Thermoplastic Starch | (TPS) → starch that
was modified (cooked, complexed) to make it
a plastic resin
Thermoset | Plastics (resins) which do not
soften or melt when heated. Examples are
epoxy resins or unsaturated polyester resins.
WPC | Wood Plastic Composite. Composite
materials made of wood fiber/flour and plastics
(mostly polypropylene).
Yard Waste | Grass clippings, leaves, trimmings,
garden residue.
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 51

Event Calendar
Event Calendar
You can meet us!
Please contact us in
advance by e-mail.
Feb. 06-08, 2012
The 2012 Packaging Conference
OARIA Resort at CityCenter, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
www.thepackagingconference.com/
Feb. 20-22, 2012
Innovation Takes Root 2012
Omni ChampionsGate Resort in Orlando, Florida, USA.
www.innovationtakesroot.com
Feb.28-29, 2012
Solpack 1.0
Munich, Germany
www.solpack.de
March 13-14, 2012
World Biofuels Markets
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com
March 14-15, 2012
5th International Congress on Bio-based Plastics
and Composites
Cologne, Germany
www.biowerkstoff-kongress.de
March 20-22, 2012
Green Polymer Chemistry
Maritim Hotel, Cologne, Germany
www.amiplastics.com
March 27-30, 2012
BioPlastek 2012
Westin Arlington Gateway, Arlington, VA, USA
http://bioplastek.com
March 29-30, 2012
Sus Pack 2012
Conference on Sustainable Packaging
Cologne, Germany
www.suspack.eu
April 1-5, 2012
NPE 2012
Orlando, USA
www.npe.org
April 18-21, 2012
Chinaplas 2012
Shanghai, China
www.chinaplasonline.com
visit bioplastics MAGAZINE
at booth 58047
19-20 April 2012
2 nd Congress on biodegradable polymer packaging
Sala Aurea, Camera di Commercio, Parma (Italy)
www.biopolpack.unipr.it.
23-24 April, 2012
Biopolymer World Congress
NH Laguna Palace Hotel, Mestre-Venice (Italy)
www.biopolymerworld.com
March 26-27, 2012
EcoPack Systems
Cologne, Germany
www.ecopack-conference.com/
May 8-9, 2012
Bioplastics Compounding & Processing
The Hilton Downtown Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
www.amiplastics-na.com
May 9-10, 2012
5. BioKunststoffe
Hannover, Germany
www.hanser-tagungen.de/
May 15-16, 2012
2 nd PLA World Congress
presented by bioplastics MAGAZINE
Holiday Inn City Center, Munich Germany
www.pla-world-congress.com
May 16-18, 2012
SPE Bioplastic Materials Conference
Renaissance Seattle Hotel, Seattle, Washington USA
www.4spe.org
June 13-15, 2012
BioPlastics: The Re-Invention of Plastics
Hilton - Downtown, San Francisco, USA
www.BioPlastix.com
June 19-20, 2012
Biobased materials
WPC, Natural Fibre and other innovative
Composites Congress
Fellbach, near Stuttgart, Germany
www.nfc-congress.com
Oct. 2-4, 2012
BioPlastics – The Re-Invention of Plastics
Caesars Palace Hotel, Las Vegas, USA
www.InnoPlastSolutions.com
52 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6

A Collaborative Biopolymers Forum
for the Global Ingeo Community
February 20 - 22, 2012
Orlando, FL
Omni Orlando Resort
www.omniorlandoresort.com
www.innovationtakesroot.com
Global companies collaborate and share successful Ingeo
products and applications at Innovation Takes Root 2012
Stonyfield Farm and other major international corporations will present how
they have successfully incorporated Ingeo bio-based products into their
brands at the collaborative, biennial biopolymers forum.
The conference will include unique presentations and exhibitions for
companies actively pursuing Ingeo applications and those desiring to learn
more about this growing class of biopolymers. Company representatives will
also discuss how they envision sustainable practices to change business in
the future.
Sessions include:
• Advances in Ingeo Packaging Films
• Ingeo in Fibers and Non-Wovens
• Expanding Ingeo Applications in
Durable Products
• Growth of Ingeo Lactides and
Lactide Derivatives
• Just added! Emerging Markets
and Technologies
• Driving Economics to Sustainable
Commercialization
• Opportunities in Food Service and
Food Packaging
• Legislative and Regulatory Issues
Who should attend?
• Academia
• Brands
• Editors & Journalists
• Green Marketers
• Packaging Professionals
• Process Engineers
• Product Designers
• Product & Process Developers
• Researchers
• Retailers
• Sustainability Managers
Exhibitor & sponsorship
opportunities available
Contact: Andy Ziadi
Tel. 952-562-3303 /
Toll free. 855-562-3300
andrea_ziadi@natureworksllc.com
Innovation Takes Root 2012
Let us know you’re coming on LinkedIn!
Follow us on Twitter for the most up to
date conference info @natureworksllc
Full day seminar:
The Future for Bioplastics Feedstocks
by Jim Lunt & Associates
Pre-conference workshop:
Adhesives and Key Essentials for Laminating
Biopolymer Films into Flexible Packaging
Ingeo, and the Ingeo logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NatureWorks LLC in the USA and other countries.

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1. Raw Materials
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
PSM Bioplastic NA
Chicago, USA
www.psmna.com
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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
Zhejiang Hangzhou Xinfu
Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd
Tel.: +86 13809644115
www.xinfupharm.com
johnleung@xinfupharm.com
1.1 bio based monomers
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
API S.p.A.
Via Dante Alighieri, 27
36065 Mussolente (VI), Italy
Telephone +39 0424 579711
www.apiplastic.com
www.apinatbio.com
www.cereplast.com
US:
Tel: +1 310.615.1900
Fax +1 310.615.9800
Sales@cereplast.com
Europe:
Tel: +49 1763 2131899
weckey@cereplast.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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
54 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

Suppliers Guide
2. Additives/Secondary raw materials
4. Bioplastics products
Arkema Inc.
Functional Additives-Biostrength
900 First Avenue
King of Prussia, PA/USA 19406
Contact: Connie Lo,
Commercial Development Mgr.
Tel: 610.878.6931
connie.lo@arkema.com
www.impactmodifiers.com
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
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
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
3.1.1 cellulose based films
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
Huhtamaki Forchheim
Sonja Haug
Zweibrückenstraße 15-25
91301 Forchheim
Tel. +49-9191 81203
Fax +49-9191 811203
www.huhtamaki-films.com
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
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
Postbus 26
7480 AA Haaksbergen
The Netherlands
Tel.: +31 616 121 843
info@bio4pack.com
www.bio4pack.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 55

Suppliers Guide
6. Equipment
8. Ancillary equipment
6.1 Machinery & Molds
9. Services
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
FAS Converting Machinery AB
O Zinkgatan 1/ Box 1503
27100 Ystad, Sweden
Tel.: +46 411 69260
www.fasconverting.com
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
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
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
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
Institut für Kunststofftechnik
Universität Stuttgart
Böblinger Straße 70
70199 Stuttgart
Tel +49 711/685-62814
Linda.Goebel@ikt.uni-stuttgart.de
www.ikt.uni-stuttgart.de
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
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
narocon
Dr. Harald Kaeb
Tel.: +49 30-28096930
kaeb@narocon.de
www.narocon.de
nova-Institut GmbH
Chemiepark Knapsack
Industriestrasse 300
50354 Huerth, Germany
Tel.: +49(0)2233-48-14 40
Fax: +49(0)2233-48-14 5
Bioplastics Consulting
Tel. +49 2161 664864
info@polymediaconsult.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
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
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
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
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
10. Institutions
10.1 Associations
BPI - The Biodegradable
Products Institute
331 West 57th Street, Suite 415
New York, NY 10019, USA
Tel. +1-888-274-5646
info@bpiworld.org
56 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

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Companies in this issue
Company Editorial Advert Company Editorial Advert
A & O FilmPAC 55
ACMA GD 21
Adsale (Chinplas) 41
Ajax Amsterdam 9
Alesco 56
API 55
Arkema 56
BASF 23, 29
Bio On 8
Bio4Life 20
Bio4Pack 18 56
Biosphere 55
BPI 57
Braskem 5, 6, 9 35
Brückner 21
Carle Montanari 21
Celabor 41
Centroplast 34
Cereplast 55
Cobro 41
Constantia Topepal 21
Cortec 37, 57
Danone 3, 10, 11
Deutsches Kunststoff-Institut (DKI) 40
DSM 11
Du Pont 55
Ecomann 49
ecoplus 40
Eosta 18
European Bioplastics 10, 11 57
European Plastics News 10
FAS Converting 57
FH Hannover 7 57
FH Hannover (IfBB) 7
FKuR 5, 14, 38 2, 55
Flexico 36
Fraunhofer IVV 26
Fraunhofer UMSICHT 26 57
Fujitsu 38
Goglio Cofibox 34
Grace biotec 55
Hallink 57
HallStar 56
Henkel 7, 48
Huhtamaki 56
ICEA 24
IKT Uni Stuttgart 57
Innovia Films 32, 37 25, 56
Institut Nationale des Sciences Apliquées 40
Institute of Bioplastics & Biocomposites 7
Iowa State University 8
Kingfa 55
Lanxess 6
Limagrain 55
Logotape 20
Lower Austrian Plastics Cluster 40
Mann+Hummel 57
Maropack 21
McCain 16
Michigan State University 57
Minima 57
Naku 42
narocon 28 57
NatureWorks 5, 6, 34 53
Natur-Tec 55
NNFCC 48
Norres 36
nova-Institut 44 57
Novamont 22, 24 57, 60
Plastic Suppliers 56
President Pck. 57
PSM 55
PTT Chemical 5
Purac 37
PURAC 37, 55
Rhein Chemie 47, 56
Roll-o-matic 57
Saida 57
Sant‘Anna 34
Sappi Fine papers 37
SFV Verpackungen 21
Shenzhen Brightchina 55
Showa Denko 55
Slovenian Tool and Development Centre 40
SPI (NPE) 12
Sukano 56
Synbra Technology 9
Taghleef Industries 18, 20 56
Tecnaro 7
Telles 55, 59
Tianan Biologic 55
Transmare 55
Uhde Inventa-Fischer 38, 57
Umbra Olii 16
USDA 8
Wei Mon 43, 57
Wuhan Huali (PSM) 27
Xinfu 55
Editorial Planner 2012
Issue Month pub-date deadline Editorial Focus (1) Editorial Focus (2) Basics Event / Fair
01/2012 Jan/Feb 06.02.12 06.01.12 ed.
20.01.12 ad.
Automotive Foam PLA NPE 2012 (Preview)
02/2012 Mar/Apr 02.04.12 02.03.12 ed.
16.03.12 ad.
03/2012 May/Jun 04.06.12 04.05.12 ed.
18.05.12 ad.
04/2012 Jul/Aug 06.08.12 06.07.12 ed.
20.07.12 ad.
Rigid Packaging Additives /
Masterbatches
Injection Moulding
Bioplastics from Waste
streams
Natural Fibre
composites
Blow moulding
Thermoforming
Castor Oil for
Bioplastics
Bioplastics from
Protein
Chinaplas (Preview)
NPE 2012 (Review)
Chinaplas (Review)
Subject to changes
58 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6

A real sign
of sustainable
development.
There is such a thing as genuinely sustainable development.
Since 1989, Novamont researchers have been working
on an ambitious project that combines the chemical industry,
agriculture and the environment: “Living Chemistry for
Quality of Life”. Its objective has been to create products
with a low environmental impact. The result of Novamont’s innovative
research is the new bioplastic Mater-Bi ® .
Mater-Bi ® is a family of materials, completely biodegradable and compostable
which contain renewable raw materials such as starch and vegetable oil derivates.
Mater-Bi ® performs like traditional plastics but it saves energy, contributes
to reducing the greenhouse effect and at the end of its life cycle, it closes
the loop by changing into fertile humus. Everyone’s dream has become a reality.
Living Chemistry for Quality of Life.
www.novamont.com
Inventor of the year 2007
Mater-Bi ® : certified biodegradable and compostable.