CJ Biomaterials develops and manufactures innovative bio-based materials to address plastic waste and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Building on decades of expertise in biotechnology and fermentation, the company combines bioscience, chemical engineering, materials innovation, and application development to deliver sustainable material solutions at a commercial scale.

CJ Biomaterials specializes in polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a family of biopolymers produced through microbial fermentation, and is a global leader in the manufacture and application of amorphous and semi-crystalline PHA.

Under its PHACT™ brand, the company offers innovative PHA materials with excellent biodegradability and compostability properties, including grades certified for biodegradation under industrial and home composting conditions and in soil and marine environments.

Its amorphous PHA technology can also enhance the mechanical properties of other biopolymers, such as toughness and ductility, while supporting improved compostability and biodegradation performance in suitable formulations.

With applications spanning packaging, coatings, agricultural films, personal care, healthcare, and more, CJ Biomaterials is advancing material innovation across a wide range of industries.

Supported by CJ Group’s global resources and drawing on its own extensive expertise in fermentation and manufacturing, the company continues to develop practical alternatives to conventional fossil fuel-based plastics.

Combining advanced technology with global manufacturing capabilities, CJ Biomaterials is committed to supporting the transition toward a more circular and sustainable economy.

More information at CJ Biomaterials

The FKuR group is a medium-sized, privately held group of companies focusing on the development, production and marketing of high-quality special compounds and the distribution of plastic specialties. The group currently includes FKuR Kunststoff GmbH, one of the leading suppliers of bioplastics compounds and recyclates for fl exible packaging solutions and engineering applications, and FKuR Polymers GmbH, specializing in the development and production of TPE and PP / PE compounds. The product portfolio of the FKuR group comprises the FKuR Kunststoff GmbH product groups marketed as Bio-Flex®, Biograde®, Cerofl ex®, Fibrolon®, Terralene®, Terraprene®, Terrasol® as well as the FKuR Polymers brands Macoprene®, Macolen® PE and Macolen® PP. The distribution business comprises the biobased PE ‘I’m green™’ of Braskem, the biobased PET Eastlon of the FENC group as well as high-quality recyclates of KASKADA ltd. More information at FKUR.

NatureWorks is an advanced materials company off ering a broad portfolio of biopolymers and biochemicals made from renewable resources. With performance and economics that compete with oil–based materials, naturally advanced Ingeo™biomaterials are valued for their unique functional properties and used in products from coff ee capsules and appliances to tea bags and 3D printing filament. NatureWorks is jointly owned by Thailand’s largest ASEAN leading integrated petrochemical and refi ning company, GC, and Cargill, which provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. More information at NATUREWORKS.

AGRANA Starch has a long history of producing starch products for the food industry, for more than 40 years. With its expertise in processing corn, potatoes and wheat it made sense to also develop skills in producing thermoplastic starch. And that‘s how AGRANA Starch becomes your reliable partner in creating thermoplastic starch and the compound – AGENACOMP® for your packaging solutions.

AGENACOMP®

AGENACOMP® combines thermoplastic starch with a biodegradable polymer which can be implemented in your existing set-up. It has excellent mechanical properties regarding flexibility and formability and is home-compostable. AGENACOMP® can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of different applications, such as flexible packaging films, mulch films, or 3D-printing.

AGENAMULCH

The process of laying out and retrieving conventional mulch films is very time-consuming and costly for agricultural businesses. This is why interest in compost­able alternatives is growing. In contrast to polyethylene (PE) films, the compostable variant such as AGENAMULCH does not require the film to be collected and no micro­plastic residues remain in the soil. Sustainability, the responsible use of renewable raw materials and a functioning circular economy are core values at AGRANA. As a reliable partner to agriculture, it was a logical step for us to develop mulch films based on thermoplastic starch – functional in the field, environmentally friendly in decomposition. 

For more information, visit AGRANA.

ITENE Compostability Lab is a specialised laboratory for the assessment of the compostability and biodegradability of materials under industrial and home composting conditions, in accordance with international, European, American and Australian standards. Accredited by ENAC under the UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard (accreditation No. 316/LE678) and recognised under the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ILAC MRA), the laboratory provides reliable, high-quality testing services whose results are recognised by leading international certification bodies and organisations, including TÜV AUSTRIA, DIN CERTCO, BPI, European Bioplastics, Compostable Materials (REAL) and the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA).  

 The laboratory is part of ITENE, a leading technology centre with +30 years of experience in research, development and innovation, testing, consultancy and training. Its facilities include over 5,000 m² of laboratories and pilot plants equipped with state-of-the-art technology, supported by a multidisciplinary team of specialists committed to technical excellence and reliable results.    

ITENE Compostability Lab conducts tests covering all four stages of compostability assessment: material characterisation, biodegradation, disintegration and compost quality. With new testing processes starting every week, the laboratory provides ongoing testing capacity and responsive support to meet companies' needs. 

For more information, please visit ITENE.

With over 50 years of scientific expertise, Mérieux NutriSciences provides testing and consulting services across the food, packaging, environmental, and healthcare sectors. The Packaging Hub is a dedicated laboratory offering testing and technical services for food contact materials, as well as pharmaceutical and cosmetic packaging. Combining advanced analytical capabilities with regulatory expertise, it supports companies in ensuring compliance, product safety, and performance throughout the entire packaging lifecycle, while also conducting studies on sustainable end-of-life solutions such as compostability and recyclability. 

For more information, visit Mérieux NutriSciences.

Normec OWS provides laboratory and consulting services to a wide range of clients in both the public and private sectors. We support our clients with consulting services in the areas of biodegradability, microplastics, compostability, ecotoxicity and relevant legislation in Europe, Canada, and the United States. In addition, we offer contract laboratory testing to determine the biodegradability, compostability and ecotoxicity of various materials, enabling our clients to have their materials screened early-on in the development process, or certified to support market introduction. Normec OWS is an active member of several normalization organizations, such as ISO, CEN and ASTM, and is the official Belgian delegate on several ISO and CEN committees. In this capacity, Normec OWS has developed several standard methods and is project leader of some new standards in development. Normec OWS is also a member of several industrial associations and is involved as an expert in a number of certification committees active in the field of biodegradable, compostable and/or biobased materials and products.

For more information, visit Normec OWS.

Sukano is a global specialist in the development and production of additive and color masterbatches and compounds for polyesters, biopolymers, and specialty resins. The company is driven by expertise and devotes its technical knowledge to developing innovative products and highly specialized solutions that go into Packaging, Durable Goods, Building and Construction, Healthcare and Textile markets. The company is a family-owned business headquartered in Switzerland, with additional manufacturing facilities strategically located in the USA and Malaysia. Sukano is able to leverage its global knowledge base to provide outstanding local support, creating additional value for customers through flexibility, reliability, technical expertise and agility.

For more information, visit SUKANO.

nova-Institut GmbH has been working in the field of sustainability since the mid-1990s and focuses today primarily on the topic of renewable carbon cycles (recycling, bioeconomy and CO₂ utilisation/ CCU). As an independent research institute, nova supports in particular customers in chemical, plastics and materials industries with the transformation from fossil to renewable carbon from biomass, direct CO₂ utilisation and recycling.

Both in the accompanying research of international innovation projects and in individual, scientifically based management consulting, a multidisciplinary team of scientists at nova deals with the entire range of topics from renewable raw materials, technologies and markets, economics, political framework conditions, life cycle assessments and sustainability to communication, target groups and strategy development. 50 experts from various disciplines are working together on the defossilisation of the industry and for a climate neutral future.

More information at: nova-institute.eu – renewable-carbon.eu

For almost 20 years, we’ve been the go-to destination for insights into the dynamic world of bioplastics. In 2023, we celebrated our 100th edition and simultaneously announced our official rebranding from “bioplastics MAGAZINE” to „Renewable Carbon Plastics” (RCP). This transformation signified our commitment to a broader and more inclusive vision for the plastics industry, one that embraces innovative approaches to address the critical challenges of plastic pollution and climate change.

While plastics play an irreplaceable role in our modern society, their production from fossil-based resources has exacted a toll on our environment. We’ve witnessed decades of mismanagement, abysmal recycling rates, and the alarming consequences of unchecked plastic waste. It’s high time for a sustainable shift. RCP is dedicated to ushering in this transformative era by exploring and championing a spectrum of sustainable plastic solutions. Our new focus extends beyond traditional bioplastics to encompass plastics derived from renewable carbon sources, including Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU), and Advanced Recycling technologies.

With an average of 10,000 readers each issue of the digital version of the magazine plus an average print run of 3000–6000 (depending on large events, exhibitions, etc.). The publication is complemented by a bioplastics basic book (in 7 languages) and high-class conferences, published and organized by Polymedia Publisher GmbH.

More information at Bioplastics Magazine.