Foreword

Here at NNFCC we recognise the potential of bioplastics to reduce the carbon footprint of packaging and create new opportunities for a more circular economy. We also recognise the term bioplastic is confusing to those not in the industry and is potentially inhibiting the growth the sector. The confusion lies in multiple reasons for the use of the ‘bio’ prefix. This is normally used to denote either a material produced from renewable resource such as biomass, or a material that will biodegrade under certain conditions. A product produced from biomass, correctly termed a ‘biobased product’, may or may not be biodegradable, and a biodegradable product may or may not be produced from biomass, hence the confusion......

Other News this Month Includes:

Policy

• Clearing up confusion about bioplastics

Markets

• Amyris continues debt reduction with equity conversion
• Amyris writing off debt faster than expected
• Future Market Insights predicts moderate growth for HDMA market
• Persistence Market Research's Castor Oil market forecast
• Strong first quarter showing for EcoSythetix​

Research & Development

• Metabolic breakthrough for Amyris could allow massive diversification of development
• Borregaard expands lignin capabilities
• Fast biodegradation of polyethylene by caterpillars
• Early-stage environmental assessment of biobased chemicals
• Assessing psychological reasons for buying biobased
• Life Cycle Analysis of Biobased vs Fossil-based plastic rubbish bags
• Hexion in pursuit of biobased wood-panel resins
• University of Maine operates pilot-scale biorefinery
• Noblegen looking to go global​

Polymers

• Success in test of anaerobic digestion of bioplastic bags
• Bio-Fed launches Castor-based polyamides
• Biobased Porous Membranes have wide ranging medical applications
• TIPA partnership pursues biobased food packaging film
• Eastman announces TREVEA cellulosic bioplastic for engineering
• New biobased sealant film from Plastic Suppliers Inc
• Cargill acquires Agrol polyol line
• Bolloré's films contain increasing amount of Braskem's biobased plastic
• Accsys announces consortium for producing Wood Elements​

Chemicals

• METEX branches out into butyric acid and PDO
• Amyris expects massive growth in Vitamin E exports
• BioAmber's succinic acid sales up 46%
• Huntsman & Clariant merge to form global speciality chemicals giant​

Consumer Products

• Synvina receives approval for PEF bottles in circular economy

Events

Price Information