In each issue of the Bioplastics Bulletin, we present 5 facts about a member of European Bioplastics. In this issue, Dr Sabine Amberg-Schwab, Materials Chemistry, Head Functional Barrier Coatings, Fraunhofer ISC shares some information about the research institute. Dr Sabine Amberg-Schwab, Head Functional Barrier Coatings, Fraunhofer ISC 5 facts about Fraunhofer Institute for [...]
InnoviaFilms sells Celophane business to Futamaura: Earlier in April 2016, InnoviaFilms announced it had signed an agreement with Japanese plastics manufacturer Futamura Chemicals Co Ltd to sell its Celophane business and assets, including its NatureFlex bioplastics film production. Innovia Group, which manufactures high-tech film products for industrial applications and banknotes says it will further strengthen [...]
The recent report by the World Economic Forum and Ellen MacArthur Foundation on ‘The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the future of plastics’ provides an overarching vision of a global circular plastics economy in which bioplastics play an essential role in decoupling the economy from fossil resources and help to return nutrients to the soil. [...]
The new wording of the French implementation decree on single-use plastic bags, which was published by the French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy on 1 February 2016, sets out clear requirements for the reduction of single-use plastic bags in favour of bio-based, biodegradable and home-compostable bags, in line with the EU Directive. [...]
Certified bio-based and compostable coffee capsule for Nespresso systems Original Food GmbH presented a certified compostable coffee capsule for Nespresso systems at Biofach 2016 trade fair earlier in February. With the launch of the capsule, the producer of the renowned Kaffa wild coffee underlines its commitment in environmental protection and sustainability, including the entire [...]
Tetra Pak to deliver 100m plant-based packs in 2016: Tetra Pak has announced that they expect to deliver more than 100 million of their Tetra Rex Bio-based to customers during 2016. It is the world’s first package made entirely from plant-based materials. When launched in 2015, it immediately became a success and is now [...]
Biobased plastics Biobased or partially biobased durable plastics, such as biobased or partially biobased PE, PET or PVC, possess properties, which are identical to their conventional versions. These bioplastics are technically equivalent to their fossil counterparts; yet, they help to reduce a product’s carbon footprint. Moreover, they can be [...]
Labels for bioplastics Due to their similar appearance bioplastics products cannot be easily differed from conventional plastic products. The use of independent and internationally respected labels marking bioplastics products is important for consumers to receive transparent and correct information and to safeguard the positive image of bioplastics. The objectives [...]
Certifications for bioplastics Product claims pertaining to compostability or the content of renewable resources are generally difficult for consumers to verify. Certification links harmonised standards and independent third party labels such as the compostability label ‘Seedling’ logo. Example compostability (EN 13432): Certification ensures that the product can be [...]
Harmonised standards for bioplastics Standardisation is an effort of industrial stakeholders to define criteria for the description of products and services. The idea is to ease the competition and the commercial growth by overcoming barriers that result from unclear or incompatible specifications. The use of standards is voluntary, which [...]