2016 has been another eventful, promising, and successful year for bioplastics. While the discussions around the EU Circular Economy Package and first regulatory changes in the Members States reshape the legislative and economic landscape for businesses involved in the bioeconomy in Europe, the bioplastics industry continues to drive innovation in new bioplastics solutions and the development [...]
Novamont opens first commercial-scale production plant for biobased BDO Novamont, the Italy-based producer of the Mater-Bi family of bioplastics, has opened the world’s first commercial-scale plant for the production of bio-based butanediol (1,4 BDO), in Bottrighe (Veneto Region), North East Italy. Novamont invested over €100 million in MATER-BIOTEC, which is now the world’s first dedicated [...]
Bio-TPV as a substitute for soft PVC on floors: Fraunhofer Umsicht is developing a bio-based TPV material that could conceivably replace soft PVC in vinyl flooring. The researchers at Fraunhofer Umsicht are exploring the possibilities of a new, plasticizer-free, bio-based, thermoplastic vulcanizate (Bio-TPV) consisting of a soft, bio-based component, such as natural rubber, dispersed in [...]
Partnership between BASF and Avantium to produce FDCA and PEF Earlier this year, BASF and Avantium announced their plans of a joint venture for the production of furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and polyethylenefuranotate (PEF) from renewable resources. FDCA is the essential chemical building block for the production of PEF, which is particularly suitable for certain food [...]
Thai PPT to invest $1.1 bln in bioplastics: Thailand's energy firm PTT Pcl said it’s planning to invest 40 billion baht (1.11 billion US Dollar) in bioplastics and environmentally-friendly products from 2014 to 2020. The state-controlled group aims for bioplastics to account for 2 percent of the firm's revenue by 2020. FDCA and [...]