Tesco tackles food and plastic waste with plant-based protection for fresh produce Tesco is trialing a plant-based food protection branded Apeel to extend the shelf life of fruit and vegetables. This protective extra “peel” slows down the water loss and oxidation that causes produce to spoil. The trial will see approximately 80 UK Tesco [...]
In order to achieve the ambitious goals of the European Green Deal, respectively the Circular Economy Action Plan, the European Commission already initiated a significant number of regulatory processes. To improve Europe’s waste management in line with the waste hierarchy and the implementation of the polluter principle, the Commission had initiated a Call for [...]
Swell idea: Bioplastic surf boards gain traction In France, a company is using 3D printing and bio-based materials to bring the surf community a more sustainable experience. Wyve, based in the Basque beach area, is replacing the polystyrene and EPS foam “blanks” that make traditional surfboards buoyant with inner hexagons that trap air. The [...]
Dutch researchers join forces to boost PHAs market introduction Invest-NL and Wageningen University & Research are joining forces to accelerate the market introduction of PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates). Wageningen Food & Biobased Research has been conducting technological research for 30 years into the production and usage possibilities of PHAs for various applications. They are currently participating [...]
In modern agriculture you can find a great number of plastic products that help improving the efficiency and, thus, the yield of the cultivated product. However, due to certain conditions that accompany many agricultural procedures, a not-negligible share of plastic remains in the soil. Especially in areas of intensive agriculture, significant amounts of microplastic [...]
Sulzer PLA bioplastics production technology selected for NatureWorks' new plant with annual capacity of 75'000 tons Developed to support the increasing global demand for polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastics, NatureWorks’ fully integrated plant will utilize Sulzer Chemtech's advanced lactide purification and polymer production technology to produce 75'000 tons per year of Ingeo polylactic acid (PLA) [...]
Study Shows Consumers Favor Sustainability in Products & Packaging The Plant Based Products Council (PBPC) recently released its annual consumer research study showing growing consumer demand for products made from renewable and sustainable materials. In general, the study found 61% of consumers are more interested in companies who produce or use plant-based products. At [...]
Member portrait: Tetra Pak In each issue of the Bioplastics Newsletter, we present some facts about a member of European Bioplastics. This month, Anke Hampel, Innovation and Sustainability Director of Tetra Pak, shares some interesting insights on her company. 5 facts about Tetra Pak A one litre Tetra Pak® carton package is typically made of approximately 70% paperboard, 25% plastic and 5% aluminum. This high [...]
PLA with “20% recycled content” unveiled by Total Corbion Total Corbion PLA launched a new Luminy PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) made with chemically recycled post-industrial and post-consumer waste, which, according to the company, is the world’s first commercially available bioplastic product of its kind. Luminy PLA grades offer the same properties, characteristics, and regulatory approvals as virgin Luminy PLA, but are partially made from [...]
Berlin, 14 December 2021 – Last week the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) published a report assessing the sustainability of agricultural plastic products[1] recommending the replacement of non-biodegradable, conventional polymers with biodegradable, bio-based polymers. “We welcome this recognition of the environmental benefits of these bioplastic products”, commented François de Bie, [...]
