Bio-Polym Blog

Bioplastics and automotive industry are win-win – A point of view!

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Toyota’s Eco-plastic is, on the surface, a simple technology, but it is one with real potential. Rather than manufacturing some of the plastic components used in the Toyota Prius and Lexus HS 250h from petroleum, a number are made from the oils derived from non-food-grade plants. In the case of the HS 250h the seat [...]

Strong increase of the world bioplastics demand – A market study!

Global demand for bioplastics, which include plastic resins that are biodegradable or derived from plant-based sources, will rise more than fourfold to 890,000 metric tons in 2013. This extraordinary growth will be fueled by a number of factors, including consumer demand for more environmentally-sustainable products, the development of bio-based feedstocks for commodity plastic resins, and [...]

Biobased plastics and Design – A point of view!

At first glance, this little yellow giraffe looks like a lot of other kids’ bath toys. But Stella is made from Renuva, a little-known material that could change for the better the way hundreds of things, from upholstery to airplane wings, are made.

The story of how Stella came to be made from this material, a [...]

All bio-materials are a crime against humanity – A point of view!

At the question “And what about recycling?” Philippe Starck (French Designer) has answered after a long and deep reflection:

Some stupid people will say, “Oh, no problem.” Recycling? No, recycling is absolutely not the answer. Recycling is a fake good idea, a fake concept invented I think by very cynical marketing people twenty years ago to [...]

Bioplásticos

A maioria dos plásticos produzidos no mundo são sintéticos, compostos derivados de petróleo e demoram de 200-400 anos ou mais para se degradarem. No Brasil a produção é de 4,2 milhões de toneladas por ano. O problema maior dessa grande demanda é que estudos mostram que somente 15% dos plásticos de uso comum são reciclados, devido [...]

Life Cycle Thinking (LCT)

The ISO 14040 series defines the life cycle (see e.g., LCA) as: “consecutive and interlinked stages of a product system, from raw material acquisition or generation from natural resources to final disposal”. It can usefully be referred to as a ‘cradle-to-grave’ process.

Life Cycle Thinking (LCT): The United Nations Environmental Programme has proposed that: “the purpose of life [...]

Growth of the bioplastics market

Global Bio-Plastics Market to Grow 17% Per Year and Reach 1.2 Billion Pounds by 2012

Cereplast, Inc., a leading manufacturer of proprietary bio-based, sustainable plastics, announced today that it expects to benefit from continued strong global growth in demand for bio-plastics and bio-plastic resins.

The German-based Helmut Kaiser Consultancy estimates that the global bio-plastics market is growing [...]

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Carbon Footprint

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) involves careful “compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and the potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle” and within a given set of boundary conditions. The ISO 14040 series of standards are the reference source for the life cycle assessment technique and include the requirements for [...]

Production of biodegradable polyester from genetically modified tobacco

Metabolix Inc., a bioscience company focused on developing sustainable solutions for plastics, announced that it has completed a field trial of tobacco (non-food crop), genetically engineered to express polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biobased polymers ). Metabolix obtained the necessary permits from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to perform an open air field trial in March [...]

To transform algae into bioplastics

Breakthrough technology could eventually replace 50% or more of petroleum-based plastics content with algae-based resins.

Cereplast, Inc. manufacturer of proprietary bio-based sustainable plastics, announced that it has been developing a technology to transform algae into bioplastics and intends to launch a new family of algae-based resins that will complement the company’s existing line of Compostables® & [...]

Bioplastics today and tomorrow: major changes likely – A point of view!

Recently Jim Lunt, a consulting engineer and one of the founders of NatureWorks, predicted some significant changes for the bioplastics market, with a trend and focus away from single-use throwaway applications towards more durable products.

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Lunt noted that, although it seems certain to remain a niche market, processing of bioplastics is predicted to grow from its [...]

Bioplastic and Design

Bas van der Veer (Designer, Netherlang) believes in the future of biodegradable materials. “After use they serve as raw materials for the natural world.” Van der Veer devised the Bioplastic Planter: a biodegradable container that makes the transport and planting of young trees easier. The Planter supports the tree after it has been [...]

Las bolsas biodegradable también deben reciclarse

La utilización de bolsas de plástico biodegradable y las reutilizables minimiza el consumo de recursos materiales, pero el problema de la contaminación de montes y océanos no desaparecerá si los usuarios no toman conciencia de la necesidad de reciclarlas.

El director del Instituto del Plástico (AIMPLAS -Valencia, España), José Antonio Costa, ha explicado que ‘aunque las [...]

Production d’isobutene par biotechnologie

Global Bioenergies développe un procédé de production biologique d’hydrocarbures à partir de ressources renouvelables. Le procédé repose sur une voie métabolique artificielle constituée d’enzymes réalisant des réactions inédites. La mise en place expérimentale d’une telle voie métabolique artificielle est une première mondiale et ouvre de nouvelles perspectives à la biologie synthétique. Cette voie métabolique aboutit à l’isobutène, [...]

Zein – Video Presentation

Zein is a class of prolamine proteins that has a number of unique characteristics and functionalities. Pure zein is colorless, odorless, tasteless, hard, water-insoluble, edible and biodegradable. Zein has also achieved Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) status from the FDA. Zein can be used as a gum base or in films, packaging, adhesives, coatings and [...]

Des voitures vertes

PSA Peugeot Citroën s’est fixé un objectif ambitieux lié à l’éco-conception : atteindre 20% de matériaux verts dans les polymères des voitures dès 2011. Une voiture est constituée de 70% de métaux, déjà bien recyclés, de 5% de matériaux divers (verre,…), de 5% de fluides et le reste de matières plastiques (polymères).

Les matériaux verts regroupent [...]

Mar de plásticos – ¡Un punto de vista!

Durante décadas nos hemos esforzado por emponzoñar el planeta con plástico. Pero al fin, aunque un poco tarde, la dicha llega, y ahora caemos en la cuenta de que las millonadas de bolsas de plástico desechadas que encontramos desparramadas por doquier no favorecen la salubridad del medio natural y por tanto tampoco la nuestra.

Algunos de [...]

Is new biodegradable plastic the answer? – A point of view!

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The Risks of (Bio)Degradable Plastic

It sounds like a great breakthrough, right? But there are still some negatives to throw into the lifecycle analysis:

Increased consumption: Consumers will use more disposable plastics. This means more resources — whether petroleum or corn or other raw material for the plastic as well as energy and water and more — [...]

Protein-based bioplastics – Video Presentation

Protein based bioplastics, a video engineered by David Grewell

– Related posts / Billets à lire, en complément : Corn-based bioplastics – Video presentation Plastics from Potatoes – Video presentation Bioplastic from animal protein waste

Another production of biobased succinic acid

After BioAmber (ARD -France /DNP), the association between DSM and Roquette (France), Myriant Technologies LLC ( USA), and the recent cooperation between Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Japan) and PTT Public Company Limited (Thailand), BASF and CSM Announced Joint Production Development of Bio-based Succinic Acid BASF Future Business GmbH and PURAC, subsidiaries of BASF SE and CSM nv, respectively, are cooperating for the [...]

Bioplastics based on chicken feathers

Chicken feathers, usually an unwanted byproduct of poultry processing, may have a more valuable future as an ingredient in biodegradable flower pots, according to an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist.

Chemist Walter Schmidt, in the ARS Environmental Management and Byproduct Utilization Laboratory in Beltsville Md. (USA), has been developing practical uses for discarded chicken feathers. Each year, approximately 4 [...]

Biohybrid multilayer films for food contact market

Global sustainable resins supplier Cardia Bioplastics has announced a new range of Cardia Biohybrid (association between renewable thermoplastics and polyolefins) based films that comply with the European Commission standard 2002/72 EC for food contact.

Under the Cardia Bioplastics® name, the company continues to expand internationally as a developer, manufacturer and marketer of sustainable resins for packaging and [...]

Biotechnology can address global mega trends

Innovations in biotechnology can help address the growing global demand for food and fiber and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. DuPont Executive Vice President James C. Borel said “Through biotechnology, we have the opportunity to transform how we produce and distribute food and how we source energy and materials” …

Borel gave examples of how the DuPont [...]

Biobased thermoplastic elastomers from castor oil

Capitalizing on its experience in castor oil chemistry, Arkema has developed Pebax® Rnew100, a range of thermoplastic elastomers produced entirely from renewable raw materials.

Complementing the Pebax® Rnew range which is based on 20 to 95% plant origin carbon, Pebax® Rnew100, Arkema’s latest high performance thermoplastic elastomer range, is entirely derived from renewable resources by combining a bio-sourced [...]

Agriculture et chimie végétale

Après la biomasse et les agrocarburants, l’agriculture s’intéresse à la chimie végétale. Les dérivés des plantes peuvent en effet remplacer le pétrole dans nombre de process industriels. Reste à prouver l’efficacité et la rentabilité de ce débouché.

Ils sont renouvelables, biodégradables et peuvent remplacer dans de nombreux cas les procédés chimiques industriels. Les végétaux font l’objet [...]

Bioplastics Industry and Market

Bioplastics Council has recently published the Bioplastics Industry Overview Guide. Bioplastics — plastics that are biodegradable, have biobased content, or both– are currently being used in a variety of applications, including packaging, consumer goods, fibers for apparel, furnishings and home and garden. According to BCC Research, the current global market for bioplastics is estimated to be [...]

Development of biobased polybutylene succinate and succinic acid in Thailand

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC-Japan) and PTT Public Company Limited (PTT -Thailand) announced that they will jointly conduct a study for business development of bio-based polybutylene succinate (PBS), a bio-degradable polymer, made from biomass resources in Thailand. Currently, MCC produces GS Pla (MCC´s trademark for its polybutylene succinate), a bio-degradable polymer made from petro-based succinic acid in Japan and markets [...]

PLA – Cradle to Cradle

The green patented LOOPLA® technology is a chemical recycling process that goes back from PLA (polylactic acid) to lactic acid by depolymerisation through hydrolysis. The obtained lactic acid will be the starting ingredient to produce a new PLA with the exact same properties. The LOOPLA® process does not need harmful chemicals and is optimized to lower CO2 [...]

For true sustainability of bioplastics

To be truly sustainable, the development of bioplastics requires attention to a number of key principles:

• Reduce the amount of material, product and packaging used

• Eliminate single-use products that can be neither recycled nor composted

• Avoid fossil-fuel-based materials in favor of materials and products derived from renewable feedstocks

Le PE plus vert que le plastique biodégradable ?

Les sacs-poubelle en plastique biodégradable seraient-ils plus nocifs pour l’environnement que leur équivalent en polyéthylène (PE) vierge ? C’est la question que soulève une étude de l’Institut allemand de recherche pour l’énergie et l’environnement (Ifeu, Institut für Energie und Umweltforschung). Commandée par l’Association allemande des plastiques pour l’emballage et les films (IK, Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen), cette [...]

Environmentally friendly bioplastics from potatoes

… Corn is currently the preferred source for starches used in bioplastics as the crop is produced in large amounts in North America. The technologies for milling and fractionating the starches in corn are already well understood and available.

Now research in Canada to create bioplastics from potatoes is getting a boost through the newly-created BioPotato Network. [...]

Mass production of plant-based materials for automobile interiors

Toray Industries, Inc. announced that it has started full-fledged mass production of its environment-friendly fiber materials based on polylactic acid (PLA) and plant-derived polyesters for automobile applications. Toray has already been supplying the materials for the trunk and floor carpeting to Toyota Motor Corp.

Toray aims to have annual sales of 200 tons for the first [...]

Bioplastics Industry Getting a Second Wind – A point of view!

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It’s been nearly two decades since bioplastics got their first small foothold in niche markets. Successful research and invention – and patience after heading down some blind alleys – increased bioplastics’ market share, most notably in compostable packaging. Hurdles remain in the processing of biomass feedstocks and in uses of products that require tough performance [...]

Polyamide biosourcé à partir de ricin

Le polyamide 6.10 commercialisé par ECOGEHR est à base de 60 % d’une ressource renouvelable, l’acide sébacique (voir formule chimique ci-contre), qui est extrait à partir du ricin. Ce polymère montre une bonne stabilité dimensionnelle due à une absorption d’humidité faible et d’excellentes propriétés pour un grand nombre d’applications.

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– Related posts / Billets à lire, en [...]