Ceepackaging

In an international context marked by a decrease in fossil resources and an increase in oil price, the development of materials made from renewable resources becomes the main challenge of sustainable development. Furthermore, today’s environmentally conscious consumers and brand owners are seeking out eco‐friendly products, such as biodegradable plastics.

“Coca-Cola does it, Frito-lay does it and so too do Samsung and Hyundai.” This is how Andy Sweetman, Chairman of the European Bioplastics’ Board summarises the fact that an increasing number of renowned brand owners are turning to bioplastics to enhance their products’ image.

The associations European Bio-plastics and the European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE) have recently published a jointly-commissioned study on bio-based plastics. It forecasts their capacity developments and technical substitution potential. The authors, from Utrecht University estimated a substitution potential of up to 90 percent of the total consumption of plastics by bio-based polymers to be technically possible.

For the fourth consecutive time, the European Bioplastics Association is presenting the latest trends and innovations in the bioplastics industry to an international audience on the 10/11 November at Berlin's Ritz Carlton hotel. Biodegradable materials and plastics are at the centre of the two-day event; these are manufactured out of sustainable raw materials and designed for the purposes of packaging, electronics and textiles.

homo ecos:, the Latvian representation of the bioplastics industry, has initiated a cabinet ordinance that is preparing to implement EN 13432 and EN 14995 into national legislation. European Bioplastics, the European representation of the bioplastics industry, supports the new legislative approach in Latvia.

Nestlé is teaming up with diverse industrial partners to sponsor research in bioplastics at the Ecole des Mines in Paris. This kind of multipartner collaboration in bioplastics is the first if its kind in the world of bioplastic sciences.

Yesterday, the industry association European Bioplastics elected a new Board during the General Assembly. The new Board is chaired by Andy Sweetman (Innovia Films). Francesco Degli-Innocenti (Novamont) and Joeran Reske (Interseroh) are Vice-Chairmen. The former Chairman, Harald Kaeb, was nominated Secretary General. On 1 March 2009, Hasso von Pogrell was appointed as the new Managing Director.

Amcor Flexibles has received the 2008 Bioplastics Award in the category 'Best Bioplastics Application – Packaging' for our NaturePlus compostable film that is used to pack Sainsbury's SO Organic Wild Rocket salad.

Iggesund Paperboard has received its first order for bioplastic-coated paperboard. This means Invercote can now be supplied with a barrier that is biodegradable and is also made from a renewable source. Uses include food packaging and drinking cups.

Birkel, a leading German manufacturer of brand name products, will now be the first to offer its organic pasta in organic film. Just as new is that the film will be printed in a high-quality 8-coloured flexoprint ¾ by the packaging specialist Kobusch-Sengewald. The plastic fabricator has also recently started to offer biodegradable and compostable film made of an extruded PLA (polylactide)-blend.