Synvina receives interim approval for bio-based PEF recyclability: Amsterdam-based Synvina CV has received interim approval from the European PET bottle platform (EPBP) for the recyclability of its bio-based polyethylenefuranoate (PEF) materials in the European bottle recycling market. The BASF-Avantium joint venture, which was set up in October last year, will produce bio-based furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) as main building block for the new polymer PEF. With the approval, PEF bottles are expected to be disposable through existing recovery systems the same way as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the conventional material for plastic bottles. The interim approval applies to a PEF market penetration of up to 2%.
BIO-FED adds bio-based engineering plastics to portfolio: Bioplastic marketer Bio-Fed has launched its M-VERA ECS series, renewable resource based polyamide compounds based on castor oil. The new M-VERA ECS line is partially biobased, but not biodegradable, because a long service life of the end product is desirable in technical applications, and high material resistance is required. “M-VERA ECS claims its place in the market as a technical polymer, since it is characterised by greater resistance to highly aggressive media and hot water compared with PA 6/PA 6.6. PA 6.10, for example, absorbs approximately 50% less moisture than PA 6, exhibits greater dimensional stability, and has better cold impact resistance and an excellent surface finish”, explains Roland Andernach, Product Manager at BIO-FED.
BASF joins Ellen MacArthur Foundation initiatives for circular economy: BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, announced its membership of two Ellen MacArthur Foundation programs at the beginning of May. BASF joined the Foundation’s “Circular Economy 100” program as well as the Foundation’s “New Plastics Economy” initiative that brings together key stakeholders to rethink and redesign the future of plastics, starting with packaging. Here, BASF will work closely with the initiative’s participants to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy for plastics, while ensuring that benefits such as food protection are upheld.
Bio-Lutions is winner of Bio-Based Material of the Year 2017 Innovation Award: This year’s winner was a start-up company called Bio-Lutions, a company that has developed packaging and disposable serviceware solutions made from agricultural waste. The price was awarded during the International Conference on Bio-based Materials, an annual event hosted by Germany’s nova-Institute, which was held in May this year for the tenth time in Cologne, Germany. Second place went to Paptic Ltd, for this company’s novel Paptic material, a recyclable biocomposite, created with the help of foam technology. Its first application are carrier bags. Phytowelt Green Technologies GmbH came in third. The company received the recognition for its development of the first raspberry fragrance produced via biotechnological methods.
