AIMPLAS, Plastics Technology Centre and Spanish company Bandesur have joined forces to develop a polypropylene (PP) tray resistant to microwave heating and a biodegradable and compostable foamed polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA) tray.
Adding tiny shards of eggshell to bioplastic could create a first-of-its-kind biodegradable packaging material that bends but does not easily break, according to The American Chemical Society (ACS).
Polylactic acid (PLA) is already a part of our everyday lives in biodegradable drinking cups and vegetable wrapping foil but it is not yet considered a full alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics, because it costs so much to produce.
Bioplastics production capacities will grow by more than 400% with Asia expanding its role as a major production hub, according to figures released at the 9th European Bioplastics conference.
BI-AX International says its Evlon film is now close in price to petroleum-based products
BI-AX International is eyeing up opportunities for its Evlon biodegradable plastic film, which is made from corn, claiming the product is now comparably priced with petroleum-based products.
The global Polylactic Acid (PLA) market is expected to reach $5.2bn by 2020, according to Allied Market Research (AMR), but the material still faces stiff competition from other products on the market such as PET and PVC and PE.
Bio-materials developer NatureWorks LLC and Calysta Energy are partnering to research and develop a commercially viable method for fermenting methane into the building block for bioplastic packaging feedstock.
SPECIAL EDITION: GOING GREEN - THE SNACK PACKAGING QUEST
BakeryandSnacks analyzes the sustainable credentials of the most commonly used materials and formats for snack packaging and casts its eye on alternatives.
Bioplastic packaging applications have been strengthened, according to a Finnish research centre, after its development of a technique to dramatically improve the quality of bio-based packaging materials.
The bioplastics market is expected to change from being dominated by the US and Western Europe by 2015 as other regions in the world increase production, according to Freedonia.
A recent study that found no bio-based plastics are fully sustainable contained significant inaccuracies and was based on out of date information, according to the leading manufacturer of one of the materials covered in the research.
The trend for the development of next generation bioplastics will be led by the emergence of conventional materials such as polyethylene made from renewable and non-food sources, said Nestle’s global packaging chief.
CSM subsidiary Purac and Indorama Ventures Plc (IVL) are poised to reach agreement on setting up a polylactic acid (PLA) plant in Thailand to produce high quality material for the food packaging, textile and car industries.
An advanced polymer modifier that tackles a host of limitations linked with polylactic acid (PLA) could boost its take up in packaging, said DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers.
The production of bioplastic polylactic acid (PLA) with improved properties could soon be possible thanks to a technique under development that allows for manipulation of the material’s structure during the manufacturing process.
Snack maker Frito Lay has reverted to the original non-biodegradable material for five of its six SunChips brand bags after consumer feedback indicated its new 100 per cent plant-based polylactic acid (PLA) packaging was too noisy.
Demand for degradable plastics in the Unites States is forecast to grow by 16.6 per cent a year to be worth US$380m by 2014 thanks to increased capacity, falling prices and improved performance of materials, said a new report.
BoPP film producer Taghleef Industries (Ti) has announced plans to enter the bioplastics polylactic acid (BoPLA) packaging market by the end of this year.
A new sugar-based bioplastic that can be sourced from non-food crops and produced via a low energy process could be brought to market within the next five years, said UK scientists.
Global demand for bioplastics will rise more than fourfold to 900,000t by 2013 with a value of $2.6bn fuelled by high crude oil and natural gas prices, according to the latest report from market research group Freedonia.
Bioplastics are set to see double-digit growth but they must become effective and economical, not just ecologically sound, if they want to be widely adopted, said a new report by Lux Research.
Further signs that snack makers are delving deeper into green packaging initiatives with US behemoth PepsiCo attesting that by 2010 its SunChips brand will boast a 100 per cent compostable bag made from plant-based materials.
A new modifier for bio-based polylactic acid (PLA) packaging can enable it to withstand elevated temperatures during transport, storage and use, claims DuPont.
Food packaging is beginning to move away from plastics such as
petroleum-based polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and toward
biodegradable materials, according to a new report.
Major setbacks for UK-based Stanleco over the past year serve as a
warning that the road to riches in the bio-degradable and
recyclable packaging market is not yet paved with gold.
Sainsbury's will become first major retailer to shift to the large
scale use of biodegradable packaging, putting pressure on food
processors to make the conversion.
With biodegradable becoming less of a buzzword and more of a
reality in the packaging business, a machine maker has adapted a
blow moulder for use with corn-based plastics.
NatureWorks has produced a handling guide to help those along the
supply chain handle biodegradable plastic packaging made from its
polylactic acid (PLA).
In much the same way it has been at the forefront in driving RFID
technology up through the supply chain, the world's largest
retailer is leading the way in switching to biodegradable, natural
packaging.
The company that makes the proprietary, corn-based plastic resins
marketed under the NatureWorks PLA will be known as NatureWorks LLC
from this month onwards.
