Previous Winners
Bioplastics Awards 2007
Best Innovation in Bioplastics
Winner
Braskem, Brazil
Production of PE resin from sugar cane ethanol
Braskem’s announcement in the summer that it is to commercialise a technology to produce polyethylene from ethanol derived from sugar cane marked a milestone in the bioplastics industry.
The development promises for the first time to deliver bio-sourced polymers that do not just simulate but exactly match the performance of traditional durable oil-based polymers.
Braskem claims that its technology can be applied to any PE polymerisation process. The company says production of one tonne of green PE removes 2.5 tonnes of CO2 from the environment – it estimates that production of one tonne of traditional oil based PE adds around 3.5 tonnes.
Runners-Up
Dow Polyurethanes, US - Renuva range of bio-derived polyols
Merquinsa Mercados Quimicos, Spain - Pearlthane ECO range of bio TPE and adhesives
Teijin, Japan - BioFront heat resistant PLA fibres
Best Bioplastics Processor
Winner
Amcor Flexibles, UK
Production of NaturePlus film range
Amcor has been developing a strong position in the bioplastics packaging sector, with its latest innovation the development of a heat sealable VFFS coextruded film using Novamont’s Mater-bi resin.
The 40 micron co-extruded material is produced at Amcor’s extrusion site in Ilkeston in the UK and is printed and converted at AF Ledbury – the group’s centre of excellence for Fresh Produce packaging.
Amcor Flexibles supplies an expanding range of environmental films – including traditional induction sealable starch-based VFFS films and PLA capping stock – under its Amcor NaturePlus umbrella.
Runners-Up
Alcan Packaging, Ireland - Laminated bioplastics packaging films
Leoplast - Injection moulded cosmetics cases
Treofan, Germany - Production of Biophan PLA films
Best Bioplastics Application – Packaging
Winner
Alcan Packaging, Ireland
Jordans cereal packaging laminate
Alcan Packaging developed a compostable packaging film laminate for UK food company Jordans. Designed to provide the performance of a PVDC coated cellulose/PE laminate, the new film is claimed to be the first fully printable laminate of Natureflex cellulose and Novamont’s Mater-bi and is claimed to provide full home compostability.
The result of a three-year development project between Alcan Packaging in Ireland and Jordans, the pack combines a 30 micron Natureflex NE30 two-side coated compostable cellulose barrier film with a 90 micron Materbi NF1OU sealing layer. The two layers are joined using a two-component PUR adhesive in an offline solvent-less lamination process.
Runners-Up
Amcor Flexibles, UK - Sainsbury’s So-Organic packaging
Coopbox Europe, Italy - Meat packaging system
Wiedmer AG, Switzerland - Compostable beverage closures
Best Bioplastics Application – Non-Packaging
Winner
WIP, Italy
Lov’N range of hygiene products
WIP’s Lov’N range of biodegradable hypoallergenic sanitary pads and personal hygiene products have lead the way in this market sector, with several of the larger players now offering compostable equivalents.
WIP’s pads exploit the breathable nature of Mater-bi in the barrier layer while moisture is absorbed by three PLA Ingeo fibre filtering layers.
Aside from biodegradability, WIP claims that the unique property set of bioplastics provides better performance than traditional alternatives. One of the main causes of skin irritation in diapers, for instance, is creation of a moist microclimate due to the low permeability plastic layer. Mater-bi provides a more breathable alternative, the company claims.
Runners-Up
Arkema, France - Mizuno training shoe sole
Elastogran, Germany - Elastocoast sea defence system
NEC Corporation, Japan - NTT FOMA-N701iECO phone
Teijin, Japan - Mazda Premacy hydrogen hybrid car
Best Bioplastics Marketing Initiative
Winner
Excellent Packaging & Supply, US
BioMass Packaging programme
The US company Excellent Packaging & Supply may only be a distributor of bio-based products but its marketing approach provides a lesson to many producers. It provides customers with assistance in selecting the right product for its needs, supporting that with extensive support and promotional advice and materials.
The company’s marketing strategy is fully integrated into its BioMass Packaging programme. It includes providing its customers with paper and electronic based promotional materials explaining the benefits and reasons for using bioplastics, and advises customers on how to integrate this message into their own marketing message. Beyond its direct customer support, Excellent Packaging & Supply is an active campaigner in the US for establishment of organised composting schemes.
Runners-Up
Alcan Packaging, Ireland - Laminated packaging films
Novamont, Italy - Loreto Agorà dei Giovani eco-meeting
Best Bioplastics Retailer
Winner
Delhaize, Belgium
Belgian retailer Delhaize has been one of the longest standing supporters of the bioplastics industry.
In 2006, the group switched from PET to compostable NatureWorks PLA across its in-store self-serve salad packaging range, recently extending this to include tomatoes. It estimates it has since used some 7m PLA packages, replacing around 116 tonnes of traditional polymer.
In 2007, it switched its single-use carrier bags to starch-based plastics, a move that it says will generate demand for around 100 tonnes of bioplastics resin over the first 12 months.
Compostable plastics packaging is not currently accepted in the Belgian composting infrastructure. But the group is working with its national retail association FEDIS and waste association Fost-Plus to develop suitable end-of-life options.
Runners-Up
Sainsbury’s Supermarkets, UK
Wal-Mart, US
Personal Contribution to Bioplastics
Winner
Martin K Patel
Martin Patel is not, perhaps, seen by many as part of the bioplastics industry, but the work he has been doing over the past 15 years in techno-economic analysis of the energy savings and emission reductions available from new and existing industrial biotechnologies is likely to become hugely important in the years to come.
As assistant professor in the Department of Science, Technology and Society at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, Patel is an international authority on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Chemistry and Sustainable Development.
Martin Patel’s specialist area is data acquisition and modelling and development of tools to estimate energy use and CO2 emissions at a sectoral level. He has worked on a wide variety of projects examining production, recycling and energy recovery of synthetic organic materials, as well as life-cycle of biomass-derived materials.
Detailed understanding of the full impact of bioplastics production is likely to be essential in the future if society is to minimise its impact on the global environment.
NOTE: The Personal Contribution award is made by EPN alone.