Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Plastics News
  • Plastics News China
SustainablePlasticsFINAL
Subscribe
  • Login
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Recycling
    • Sustainability
    • Bioplastics
    • Technology & Materials
    • ExxonMobil joins Agilyx feedstock partnership
      Lidl
      PreZero pushing forward towards a circular value chain
      Wikipedia Foam Takeout-main_i.jpg
      Virginia lawmakers reach 'great polystyrene compromise,' pass EPS ban, chemical recycling law
      Vita Nova aims to ensure a new life for flexible packaging
    • Arburg publishes its first Sustainability Report online
      Wikipedia Foam Takeout-main_i.jpg
      Virginia lawmakers reach 'great polystyrene compromise,' pass EPS ban, chemical recycling law
      Natural household product supplier Aunt Fannie’s now certified plastic neutral
      Azek-Recycling-Bin-main_i.png
      Azek decking, Sika roofing boost recycled content
    • RenCom launches production of new lignin-based biomaterial
      SP Group, Nurel Biopolymers develop food-contact approved compostable barrier film structures
      SoluBlue’s seaweed-based polymer packaging wins Postcode Lotteries Green Challenge
      PHA: As green as it gets
    • Injection Moulding
    • Blow Moulding
    • Extrusion
    • Thermoforming
    • 3D printing
    • Technology
    • Materials
    • Machinery
  • Opinion
    • View Point
    • PHA: As green as it gets
      Opinion: The future of sustainable plastic
      A year to remember
      Opinion: California introduces world’s toughest plastic bottle recycling legislature – will other markets follow?
  • Events
    • Our Exhibitions
    • Plastics Industry Awards (PIA)
    • Ask the Expert
    • Sustainable Plastics Live
    • Reifenhäuser Technologies Livestreams
    • Plastics News Europe Live Archives
    • Plastics Recycling Show Europe
  • Prices & Resources
    • Polymer Prices
    • Data Reports
    • White Papers
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Media Pack
  • Subscribe
  • Digital magazine
    • Digital Magazine
  • Multimedia
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
November 05, 2015 06:00 AM

Taking bio-based plastics to smart phones

Steve Toloken
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Caroline Seidel
    Mitsubishi Chemical Performance Polymers is the first plant-based plastic capable of replacing the glass screen in smartphones.

    Mitsubishi Chemical Performance Polymers made headlines this summer with the world's first plant-based plastic capable of replacing the mineral glass screen in smartphones, but the push of the material into Europe remains a work in progress.

    The Tokyo-based firm used the Fakuma show to unveil a new marketing agreement with Germany's Grässlin Kunststoffe for its Durabio material, made from plant-based isosorbide as a replacement for the controversial chemical bisphenol A.

    MCPP's Japanese headquarters announced in July that Durabio would be used on the new Sharp Aquos 2 smartphone screens, and there are applications underway in Asia in cars, optical displays and glass substitution.

    While applications in Europe are in the pipeline, it's not as far along as in Asia. European-based officials with Mitsubishi were not yet ready to announce applications there.

    “The potential is obvious, everywhere you see polycarbonate or PMMA with optical requirements,” said Martin Parlings, manager of business development for Europe during an interview at Fakuma 2015 in Friedirchshafen. “For sure the potential is there. The main challenge is to find the acceptance of the customer in properties, and in respect to price for sure.”

    Ralph Meier, MCPP marketing and sales director for Europe, said “we are pretty close to starting” applications in Europe, with customers generally evaluating it on performance rather than any potential environmental concerns.

    MCPP said the chemical combines PMMA and polycarbonate in its performance properties, but not necessarily in its chemistry.

    It's being marketing on performance, with an additional appeal for customers looking for plant-based plastic or worried about health concerns surrounding BPA in polycarbonate applications. MCPP's parent Mitsubishi Chemical also makes conventional PC.

    Parlings described the marketing of Durabio as saying “it has good product performance, and by the way it is bio.”

    The company initially began developing the material looking for a better-performing alternative to polycarbonate for compact discs and other optical media.

    MCPP claims Durabio has higher resistance to abrasion and better optical properties than conventional PC.

    At the fair, MCPP executives also said they saw potential in Europe for the company's new grades of bioplastic polybutylene succinate, with increasing government concern about waste.

    They said they saw opportunities for marketing the material in plastic bags, disposable cutlery and film for composting and as replacements for PE liners on paper cups.

    The PE liners of paper cups can interfere with recycling systems, but the biobased PBS does not cause problems, Meier said.

    Mitsubishi Chemical currently is building a 20,000-tons-per-year biobased PBS factory in Thailand, in a joint venture with Thailand's PTT Chemical. It is the world's first commercial scale facility for biobased PBS, and is expected to come onstream this year, MCPP said.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Sustainable Plastics' news delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe

    Subscriptions to Sustainable Plastics, the leading Pan-European magazine for the circular plastics industry are coming soon.

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

    "In a changing world, Sustainable Plastics is a constant: a platform the plastics industry can rely on to deliver the news and knowhow impacting the industry going forward”

    SustainablePlasticsFINAL
    Contact Us

    11 Ironmonger Lane, EC2V 8EY
    United Kingdom 
     

    Customer Service:
    1-313-446-0450

    [email protected]

     

    Resources
    • Advertise
    • Sitemap
    • Careers
    • Subscribe
    Affiliates
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • LSR World
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Tire Business
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • Automotive News
    • Automotive News Europe
    • Crain Publications
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Recycling
      • Sustainability
      • Bioplastics
      • Technology & Materials
        • Injection Moulding
        • Blow Moulding
        • Extrusion
        • Thermoforming
        • 3D printing
        • Technology
        • Materials
        • Machinery
    • Opinion
      • View Point
    • Events
      • Our Exhibitions
        • Plastics Recycling Show Europe
      • Plastics Industry Awards (PIA)
      • Ask the Expert
      • Sustainable Plastics Live
      • Reifenhäuser Technologies Livestreams
      • Plastics News Europe Live Archives
    • Prices & Resources
      • Polymer Prices
      • Data Reports
      • White Papers
    • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Media Pack
    • Subscribe
    • Digital magazine
      • Digital Magazine
    • Multimedia