In order to meet the European Union’s climate and energy targets for 2030 and reach the objectives of the European Green Deal, the European Commission aims at directing investments towards sustainable projects and activities. This requires a common language and a clear definition of what “sustainable” means. Therefore, the Commission’s Action Plan on Financing Sustainable Growth called [...]
Berry Superfos and Neste equip Tchibo with bio-based coffee capsules for Qbo brand German coffee producer Tchibo is introducing a bio-based capsule for its Qbo brand made 70% from second-generation renewable raw materials. Coffee capsules are becoming more popular around the world. However, the downside is the environmental footprint they have by generating a [...]
Tetra Pak Expands Production of Plant-based Coatings for Aseptic Cartons to North America As demand for sustainable packaging continues to grow, Tetra Pak has expanded the production of aseptic cartons made with sugarcane-based polyethylene (PE) coatings to their Denton, Texas converting plant. The cartons incorporating plant-based PE will come with a plant-based cap, also [...]
Forthcoming EU policy framework on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics With the public consultation phase now closed, the forthcoming EU policy framework on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics is nearing completion and is expected to be adopted in the second quarter of 2022. It is a crucial piece of legislation for the bioplastics industry, and [...]
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 [...]
In each issue of the Bioplastics Bulletin, we present 5 facts about a member of European Bioplastics. In this issue, Gottfried Krapfenbauer, Product Manager Bioplastics AGRANA, shares some information about the Austrian producer of starch and starch-based bioplastics. 5 facts about AGRANA Starch, Austria As an Austria based, multinational company with over 9000 employees [...]
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 [...]
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) [...]
Constance Ißbrücker, Head of Environmental Affairs at European Bioplastics e.V. The EU Plastics Strategy presented a vision where innovative materials and alternative feedstocks would ultimately replace fossil resources. In this context, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) was tasked in 2018 by the European Commission to elaborate an appropriate life cycle assessment (LCA)-based method to evaluate the potential environmental [...]
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, [...]
