Bioplastics Bulletin
News from our Members:
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 industrial plant for the production of bio-based BDO. Genomatica, a leader in the field of bioengineering based out of California, has developed the microorganism that can produce BDO directly from glucose or sucrose. Having licensed Genomatica’s technology, the MATER-BIOTECH plant will produce 30,000 tons of [...]
Member portrait: Kaneka Belgium N.V.
In each issue of the Bioplastics Bulletin, we present 5 facts about a member of European Bioplastics. In this issue, Dr Erwin Lepoudre, Business Manager Biopolymers at the Green Polymer Division at Kaneka Belgium N.V., based in Westerlo-Oevel, Belgium, shares some information about the producer of high-performance polymers. 5 facts about Kaneka Erwin Dr Erwin Lepoudre, Business Manager Biopolymers, Green Polymer Division, Kaneka Belgium N.V. Kaneka Corporation, headquartered in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan, was established in 1949. Besides the plant in Belgium, Kaneka Corporation has sites in USA, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Vietnam, India, Taiwan, South Korea and Australia. [...]
EU parliamentary debate: “Time to rethink plastics? Going bio-based is the new black!”
On 18th October 2016, Member of Parliament (MEP) Fredrick Federley and European Bioplastics (EUBP) organised a lunch debate “Time to rethink plastics? Going bio-based is the new black” in the European Parliament. A group of 40 representatives from the European Commission, the Parliament, the Council, the industry, and NGOs met to discuss the role of bioplastics in the transition to a circular economy in Europe. MEP @federley_eng opens Time To Rethink Plastics? in the #EP - #bioplastics are an important piece of the puzzle of #circulareconomy #eubp pic.twitter.com/f0wlfIzWCa — Henri Colens (@HenriColens) October 18, 2016 In his opening speech, MEP [...]
Programme announced for the 11th European Bioplastics Conference
With just two months to go, the preparations for the 11th European Bioplastics Conference on 29/30 November 2016 in Berlin are in full swing and the speaker line-up for the two-day event features some exciting new faces and innovations. The 2016 edition of the leading business and networking event for the bioplastics industry in Europe will present you with a programme that will showcase the outstanding progress of our industry in ‘rethinking plastics’ in a sustainable and resource-efficient way. The agenda covers a wide range of important areas, including the EU policy landscape, the latest technological innovations in materials and conversion of [...]
Buying new furniture just got more sustainable
It was one of the most shared news headlines of this month: IKEA and Neste announced their partnership to deliver bio-based plastics for the Scandinavian homeware giant. At the 10th European Bioplastics Conference in November last year, IKEA first announced its ambitious plan to make 100 percent of their plastic products from renewable and recycled sources by 2020. Now we know that Neste will be delivering the renewable solutions. Neste is an oil refining company and supplier of renewable diesel and renewable polymers located in Finland. The partnership between the two companies aims to produce plastics and other materials that [...]
Bioplastic cones improve efficiency of Thailand’s local rubber agriculture
Corbion, Global Bio-Polymers, and Maxrich announced their collaboration on the development of a biodegradable root growth container to improve the agricultural efficiency and environmental performance of rubber tree plantations. Initial trials for new, bio-based and biodegradable root protection cone for rubber trees by Corbion, Maxrich and Global Bio-Polymers have been promising Natural rubber is a key agricultural product in Thailand. Currently, rubber trees are planted in nurseries, above ground, in either polyethylene (PE) film bags or polypropylene (PP) cones. These containers ensure that the roots grow in a contained vessel, enabling the farmer to transport and plant them [...]