Packaging starch-based

The main use of thermoplastic starch alone is in foam applications. Starch-based foams have been found to be an effective alternative to PS foam in loose-fill protective packaging. Starch-based foams offer the advantage that they are readily biodegradable if they escape into the environment. They also offer superior antistatic properties. Starch-based foam, however, has some disadvantages it is brittle and the density is higher than PS. Foamed, starch-based articles are prepared by heating starch in an extruder in the presence of water with subsequent extrusion. 

Expanded polystyrene [13] Novamont starch-based [14] Free-fiow packaging starch-based [15]... 

Figure 15.9 System boundaries of the Life Cycle Assessment of potato starch based packaging. (Reprinted from Murphy et al., 2004, with permission from British Potato Council, UK).

Figure 15.10 Different potato starch based packaging products. (Reprinted with permission from Storey, 2003 Murphy et al., 2004 Potatopak NZ Ltd.).

Tsiapouris, A., Dresden, L. L. (2000). Water vapor sorption determination of starch based porous packaging materials. Starch, 52, 53-57. 

Since starch is biodegradable, it has found use as filler in polymers, such as extruded films applied to paperboard for use in packaging.295,296 The starch is incorporated in granular form,297 as an octenylsuccinate derivative298 and in other forms. Starch-based blown films are prepared from starch-poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) formulations.299... 

In terms of biodegradable polymers, PLA is finding growing use for manufacture of thermoformed articles such as single-use disposable cups and trays, particularly for outdoor events. Starch-based biodegradable polymers can also be thermoformed for production of trays and containers for packaging fresh food and convenience food. 

Excluding loose-fill packaging, which is a relatively more mature sector for starch-based biodegradable polymers, global market tonnage in 2005 is 71,700 tonnes and the compound annual growth rate for the period 2005-2010 is projected to be 20.3%. 

Starch-based materials represent the largest class of biodegradable polymer with 44,800 tonnes (including loose-fill foam packaging) consumed in 2005. Excluding loose-fill, starch-based materials amounted to 21,700 tonnes in 2005. Polylactic acid (PLA) is the second largest material class with 35,800 tonnes in 2005, followed by synthetic aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters with 14,000 tonnes. The embryonic PHA category amounts to around 250 tonnes. 

MATER-FOLIO (packaging film) Starch-based copolyester ASAHI SOGYO... 

Starch-based biodegradable polymers also have a better environmental image than synthetic biopolymers as they are based on sustainable resources, which open up marketing opportunities for brand owners who wish to promote their products as being packaged in materials based on sustainable resources. 

As a relatively mature market for starch-based biopolymers, loose-fill packaging volumes are forecast to grow by 8.6% per annum in Western Europe, 6.8% per annum in North America and by 5.6% per annum in Asia Pacific. 

Foams Wave by Mater-Bi, foamed sheet packaging is a biodegradable alternative to conventional protective foam packaging such as polystyrene, polyurethane and polyethylene. Wave by Mater-Bi is starch-based, and is expanded using water, extruded into sheets and then assembled into blocks that can be cut into any shape. The foams have a robust and resilient closed-cell structure. 

Netherlands based packaging company NNZ BV offers Okopack, a biodegradable starch-based material. Okopack is available in three varieties Okopack C is transparent with high gloss, with... 

In packaging, Ecoflex can be used as a coating material to make paper, cardboard or starch-based foam tougher and protect against fat, moisture and temperature variations. These are useful properties for hamburger boxes, coffee cups, packaging for meat, fish, poultry, fruit or vegetables, food dishes and fast-food boxes. 

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. 

---