The difficult relationship between science, citizen science, and mass communication. A negative example Guest article by Francesco Degli-Innocenti, Novamont: “Recently, an article titled ‘The Big Compost Experiment: Using citizen science to assess the impact and effectiveness of biodegradable and compostable plastics in UK home composting’ caused quite a stir. I must acknowledge that I [...]
The big picture, as formulated in the European Green Deal, is quite clear: Europe needs to become a more sustainable, resilient, and competitive economy. The bioeconomy has a huge potential to contribute to the Green Deal transition as it encompasses all sectors involving the use of renewable resources, without comprising biodiversity goals. It is [...]
In its efforts to tackle the challenges related to waste, overpackaging, and sustainable production, the European Commission not only introduces additional regulations, such as the Single-use Plastics Directive, but also focuses on revising existing legislation. A milestone in the EU’s approach to respond to the environmental challenges we are facing is the revision of [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
EarthFirst Films by PSI produces first PHA home compostable packaging film EarthFirst Films by PSI, a global bioplastic film technology and manufacturing company, announced in an 18 May statement the successful completion of the first commercial run of PHA - polyhydroxyalkanoate - home compostable packaging film. Although the PHA materials have been certified, the film will go through [...]
There is no doubt: we use too much plastic, and the plastic waste, which is littered in the environment, on land, or in the seas, has a negative impact on nature and all living beings. Therefore, the bioplastics industry not only agrees, but also actively supports the demand for a major change in our [...]
Novamont starts construction of a demo plant for the production of FDCA Novamont has announced a 10 million-euro investment programme, as part of the expansion and diversification of its production plant in Terni (Italy), for the construction of a demonstration plant dedicated to a new monomer of vegetable origin derived from sugars (2.5 furandicarboxylic [...]
François de Bie, Senior Marketing Director at Total Corbion PLA In September 2019, Total Corbion PLA, a 50/50 joint venture between Total and Corbion, officially inaugurated its 75,000 tons per year PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) bioplastics plant in Rayong, Thailand. The new facility produces a broad range of Luminy® PLA resins from [...]
