Packaging bioplastic

Since petroleum price does not raise to a level to offset the high cost of PHA production, all the current commercially available PHA have only a limited market share of 1.4% in the bioplastic packaging market, for example. Figure 16.3 shows global bioplastic packaging market by product type, 2010(%). °... 

Eco-compatible Bioplastic Packaging in China based on Polyesters from Renewable Resources, aims at accelerating in China the production of PHAs obtained from renewable resources to develop foamed rice-bowls and kitchenware to alleviate the problem of white pollution in China and also in other Asian countries. 

Purac has invested in new lactides that should potentially provide the food, pharma, and cosmetics industries with cheaper and more effective bioplastic packaging. Netherlands-based Purac, a producer of lactic acid for the food sector, has stated that the new lactides wiU contain L-(-h)- and D-(-)-lactic acids. The new lactides will be sold to companies that will use them to make bioplastics that can withstand greater heat than ever before. The new materials will be suitable for applications as diverse as hot-fill bottles, microwaveable trays, temperature-resistant fibers, and electronics, and will withstand temperatures of up to 175 C. 

Packaging is the largest application area for bioplastics in North America with 41 % of total volumes in 2005. Other significant markets are loose-fill packaging foam and bags and sacks. 

Also in the Netherlands, Eosta, a company that trades in organically grown vegetables and fruit decided to package all their products in starch-based bioplastics. 

Biomass-derived polymers are often touted as "green" alternatives to polyethylene and other plastics used for packaging. However, not all biopolymers are biodegradable (2). Moreover, as we shall see in section 8.5, degradability of biopolymers is sometimes overstated (3). In this chapter, we will quantify the contribution of plastics to municipal solid waste in the USA and examine some of the realities about biodegradability of "bioplastics."... 

J. Reske, "Beauty of Bioplastics. Compostable Packaging Sees a Bright Future Ahead, Waste Management World (March-April 2005). 

Biotec GmbH www.biotec.de/ensl/index ensl.htm Bioplast Thermoplastic starch bags, boxes, cups, cutlery, horticultural films, packaging films, planting pots, tableware, trays and wrap film... 

The properties required for plastic packaging mainly depend on the alterations presented by the product being protected and the conditions where it is stored. When a flexible packaging is required for food packing, the bioplastic must ... 

Two major issues that arise from this extensive use of plastics, especially in relation to short-life disposable packaging, are its carbon footprint and end of life - what happens to the product after use when it enters the waste stream. This chapter describes how bioplastics can provide a value proposition to address the twin issues of carbon footprinting and end of Ufe. 

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