The Brazilian Bioplastics Revolution

The production of plastics from renewable sources constitutes the next frontier in the search for ways to mitigate our dependency on oil and reduce our environmental footprint. The country at the forefront of these tantalizing developments, however, is not commonly perceived as being a technology powerhouse. Brazil is leading the way in this industry after decades of research and commitment to a technology based on sugarcane ethanol. The technology has proven to be environmentally sustainable and potentially capable of changing the way we manufacture everything, from personal care products to automobiles.

http://peakenergy.blogspot.com/2009/04/knowledgewharton-has-enthusiastic-look.html

Mrinal Bhattacharya, University of Minesota, Bioproducts and Renewable Energy

Mrinal Bhattacharya, Professor
bhattacharya
Director of Graduate Studies

Plants are Political Hot Potatoes

(EurekAlert) – A group of leading UK scientists and social scientists led by the ESRC Genomics Forum, based at the University of Edinburgh, calls for joined-up thinking on the emerging politics of plants.

Green is the new gold. The world is waking up to the potential of plants — from food to fuel, industrial feedstocks to carbon sinks, there is growing talk of plants replacing oil as the cornerstone of the global economy.

La société AGSources, distributeur exclusif en France du fabricant chinois de bioplastique (PSM) à base d’amidon de maïs 100% naturel

Lire interview de Mr David Fromager, société AGSources

La société AGSources, distributeur exclusif en France du fabricant chinois de bioplastique (PSM) à base d’amidon de maïs 100% naturel, biodégradable et compostable

ConAgra shrinks petro plastic use

ConAgra Foods is not only using biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) plastic to some of its packaged food products’ shrink films but the plastics themselves contain more than 50% recycled PLA.

Bioplastic resin: NatureWorks may add second plant Company is assessing locations for production of Ingeo resin used in packaging

Anticipating rising global demand for alternatives to petroleum based plastics, NatureWorks LLC, maker of Ingeo™ natural plastic resin, is assessing locations for a second manufacturing plant.

Metrohm equipment aids depolymerisation studies

Up to now, PHA products have only been used for tests purposes; PHA isolation and processing is still much more expensive than the manufacturing of plastic from crude.

In Prof Dr Jendrossek’s workgroup in the institute for Microbiology at the University of Stuttgart, the focus of interest is the degradation of the polymer in the cell itself (depolymerisation).

Biodegradable composites may obsolete wood and plastic / Artificial wood that is both durable and recyclable

Stanford University researchers have developed a synthetic wood substitute that may one day save trees, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shrink landfills.

Quelques brevets déposés en France autour des bioplastiques / 2009 04 16

Voici quelques brevets déposés en France, un pinceau à manche biodégradable, un emballage en carton ainsi que des billes (de paint ball?) oxo-dégradable

Formax Quimiplan – Brazil / Best Bioplastics Application – Non Packaging

Panorama européen sur les bioplastiques / incortournable pour trouver les principaux acteurs

Panorama européen sur les bioplastiques

Ce document, réalisé par l’ARIST Auvergne, a pour but de dresser un panorama de ce secteur en Europe avec des zooms spécifiques concernant :
- les principaux développeurs technologiques européens à travers une analyse des brevets, un panorama des programmes de recherche, les grands acteurs économiques du secteur ainsi que les principaux clusters, associations et plates-formes technologiques du domaine,
- un premier aperçu des secteurs utilisateurs, des manifestations sur le sujet et les revues et sources d’informations spécialisées.

Contact : Enterprise Europe Network Auvergne

Voici le plan du document téléchargeable à cette adresse

AFNOR pris en défaut avec des sacs oxo-dégradables / Packbec

Sacs « biofragmentables » : SERPBIO épingle l’AFNOR
L’association conteste le choix fait par l’organisme de normalisation d’utiliser des sacs « biofragmentables ».

Hard time for oxodegradation …

The National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) recently issued a decision that several “green” advertising claims GP Plastics made for its PloyGreen plastic bags should be modified or discontinued.

Bioplastics Close in Price to Regular Plastic

Bioplastics are no longer the Cadillac option.

Cereplast, which makes biodegradable and compostable resins for food containers and industrial parts, has managed to reduce the cost of some of its resins so that they compete with regular petroleum-based plastics, said CEO Frederic Scheer in an interview at the Cleantech Forum in San Francisco. That’s a big change from three years ago when bioplastics were more of a disposable status symbol.

Sweden’s Xylophane Raises $4M For Biopolymer Factory

Publication / ACs / Macromolecules / Biodegradable Porous Polymers through Emulsion Templating

New Renewably-Sourced Polymer Debuts in Radiator End Tank Program, Jointly Developed With DuPont Engineering Polymers, DENSO

Radiator End Tank with renewably sources polymer

The plant-derived DuPont™ Zytel® 610 nylon resin that debuts on a new automotive radiator end tank from DENSO Corp. illustrates the benefits of close collaboration throughout the value chain and marks the first use of DuPont renewably-sourced plastic in mechanical components exposed to the hot, chemically aggressive underhood environment.

Long time no news / DSM and Roquette still at work on bio base succinic acid plant

HEERLEN, NETHERLANDS -

Royal DSM N.V., the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company headquartered in the Netherlands, and the French starch and starch-derivatives company ROQUETTE confirmed during the international Life Sciences Forum, BioVision, that its bio-based succinic acid demonstration plant in Lestrem (France) will be operational by the end of 2009. The pilot scale production has proven that this biological route for producing succinic acid can be commercially viable. The first tests for customers are already underway with this ‘green’ succinic acid.

Stanelco R&D projects keep going

Biopolymer and RF equipment maker Stanelco is expected to have achieved the doubling of its bioresins business last year for which it had been on course at the half year point.

LCA Indicates Biodegradable Plastic from Plantic Saves Enough Energy to Power 2.5 Aussie Homes

Plantic Technologies Limited, manufacturer of starch-based polymers for packaging and other applications, commissioned RMIT University, Melbourne, to undertake a streamlined update of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Plantic® biodegradable plastic packaging system compared with alternative polymers. The updated LCA reveals that every tonne of Plantic® sheet purchased in place of petrochemical polymers will save up to 2.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide (the average annual emissions of a compact car) and enough energy to power 2.5 average Australian homes.

How come I didn’t know that blog !! biomassrules.com to get a rapid overview of all thing bio

http://biomassrules.com/BurningBioNews/?p=2245

Mission Statement: Biomass Rules, LLC provides solutions through the strategic utilization of all kinds of biomass; development of new markets for food, fuel and fiber; and streamlining regulations.

PURAC, a CSM company, and TOYOBO announce that they have formed a strategic partnership

PURAC, a CSM company, and TOYOBO announce that they have formed a strategic partnership for the production of renewable materials. These will be produced from the non-GMO lactides monomers of PURAC and will be broadly introduced into the European market by TOYOBO in March 2009 under the brand name VYLOECOL®.

Ecovio (PLLA/Ecoflex(PBAT)) / Going shopping with renewable materials

The large German discount supermarket chain ALDI SÜD is now offering its German customers shopping bags made of BASF’s biodegradable plastic Ecovio®. These bags are manufactured for ALDI by the VICTOR Güthoff & Partner Group, head­quartered in Kerpen, Germany.

Cereplast to Supply Bioplastics to Absorbent Specialty Products

HAWTHORNE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Cereplast, Inc. (OTCBB:CERP), a leading manufacturer of proprietary bio-based, sustainable plastics, today announced that it will supply Absorbent Specialty Products with bioplastic resin for its new “Bio-Bones” Bone Replacement Prosthetics.

Glycan / flexible plaques made out of starch

Mattress/Matting:

1. elastic memory (mattress only)
2. excellent ventilation
3. artificial fragrance absorbing
4. easy dyeing

100%biodegradable in nature

New Copolymers, Expandable Beads,Engineering Alloys & More

PLA Biopolymers /Interesting review

Up to now, the number-one biopolymer in commercial use, polylactic acid or PLA, has been available mainly from one supplier and in a limited range of varieties. But there appear to be a number of new sources waiting in the wings, who are preparing a profusion of new PLA variants—copolymers, alloys, “engineering” PLA and even “do-it-yourself” PLA.

EPS shape molder Synbra in Holland will polymerize its own PLA to get the properties it needs to make the world’s first expanded PLA bead foam.

Mazda jump into bio material applications

Bioplastic with high strength and heat resistance

Currently, petroleum-derived plastics are used in various parts of automobiles. New materials are being sought that eliminate petroleum-resource dependence, cut CO2 emissions and enable fuel economy to be improved through decreased car bodyweight. The bioplastics presently used in household electronic products, however, lack the strength (impact resistance) and heat resistance required for automotive applications.

Latest Lexus hybrid brings bioplastics inside

When Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus unit set out to create its first dedicated hybrid sedan, it decided to make more than the engine environmentally friendly.

Thirty percent of the interior trim and cargo area in the HS 250h sedan will be molded using plant-based resins, pushing the automotive bioresin picture well beyond its current levels.

SOWING SUSTAINABILITY: FORD PIONEERS GREEN SEATING ALTERNATIVE, LICENSES SOY SEATING TO JOHN DEERE

Last July, Ford showed off their newly-developed soy-foam seats. The new seat material has since gone into production in several 2008 models including the Mustang, F-150 and others. Ford has now reached a licensing agreement with John Deere and Sears Manufacturing Company for the soy-foam. Deere will be using the plant-based foam for seats in their tractors. Ford will be offering a variety of their technologies for licensing through Ford Global Technologies, LLC.

GEHR distributeur de bioplastiques / Allemange

GEHR remporte la Bioplastics Award 2008 comme meilleur transformateur de bioplastiques

Les Bioplastics Awards 2008 ont été décernées le 3 décembre 2008 pour la troisième fois à Munich en marge de la Bioplastics Conference. GEHR a reçu le prix du Meilleur Transformateur de Bioplastiques pour les semi-produits de la gamme ECOGEHR®.

A new environmentally friendly biofoam

Biopolymer Network Wins International Award

New Zealand researchers have again been honoured on the international stage with a new environmentally friendly biofoam winning a prestigious annual International Bioplastics Awards in the “Best Innovation in Bioplastics” category.

Braskem against the use of oxo-additives

Braksem, brazilian petrochemical company, currently highlight the fact that its PE grades do not contain any oxo-additives. See their data sheet (HDPE HF 0147).

AUSPACK 2009 to feature new Bioplastics Pavilion

Collaboration annoncée entre Cosun et Avantium

AMSTERDAM, January 21/– Production de bioplastiques et de biocarburants à partir des flux de déchets agricoles

Biomaterial forum / JEC END-USERS FORUMS AT THE 2009 JEC COMPOSITES SHOW

This year, JEC extends its forums program to 9 End-users Forums and propose a technical conference which will take place at the Paris JEC Composites Show, on March 24th – 26th 2009

More than 70 specialists will present the latest trends and innovations in composites and over 2,000 participants are expected.

BIOMATERIALS FORUM:
BIOMATERIALS FOR MASS PRODUCTION Thursday, March 26 2009 – 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm / Auditorium

DuPont Launches DuPont™ Cerenol™ – its Newest Renewably Sourced Polymer Family

Family of Polyols Contains 80-100 Percent Renewable Content While Enhancing Performance

WILMINGTON, Del., June 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — DuPont today announced its next polymer family made with renewable resources – DuPont™ Cerenol™, which is made from 100 percent renewable resources. This patented new product line joins DuPont™ Sorona® as the newest polymer family made with corn instead of petroleum. Cerenol(TM) enhances the performance of a diverse portfolio of end-use products that range from running shoes and ski boots to cosmetics, automotive components and spandex fiber applications.

All Cereplast published informations over the last few years

More about Cereplast

EUROPEAN POLYMER FEDERATION / EPF 4th Summer School / “Bioplastics and Related Materials”

Here is the last circular for the EPF summer school on bioplastics !!!!!

http://www.epfschool.eu/EPF_summer_school_file/II_circular.pdf

May 24-29th, 2009
Palazzo Feltrinelli
Gargnano (BS), Italy

LECTURERS
L. Cerruti (Italy):“Open-jaw ticket. High polymers history: from nature to nature”
R. Narayan (US): “Tutorial on biobased and biodegradable plastics–principles, concepts and technology exemplars”
E. Chiellini (Italy): “Polymers of natural origin, structure, properties & isolation”
J.F Gérard (France) : “Synthetic polymers from renewable resources”
C. Bastioli (Italy): “Industrial issues for bioplastics”
B. Pukanszki (Hungary): “Biofillers and bionanofillers”
A. Dufresne (France): “Bio(nano)composites”
L. Tighzert (France):“Bioblends and bioadditives”
I. Mondragon (Spain): “Role of bioresources in conventional plastic materials”
L. Paternostre (Belgium): “Green processes for bioplastics”
P. Dubois (Belgium): “ Bioplastics and reactive extrusion”
M. Malinconico (Italy): “Biopolymers in crop, food, health and building protection: a world of sustainable applications”
B. Vergnes (France): “Processing and rheology of bioplastics”
A. Duda (Poland): “New synthetic pathways to biodegradable polymers”
G. Camino (Italy): “Bioplastics degradation”
G.L. Baldo (Italy): “Lifecycle of bioplastics and environmental regulations”
S. Cavallo (Italy): “Ingeo(TM) bioplastic to stand the market test including end of life options”