Materials firm Clariant AG has partnered with compounder Floreon Transforming Packaging Ltd. to improve the performance of biopolymers.
Clariant of Muttenz, Switzerland, and Sheffield. England-based Floreon will work together to extend the performance properties and market potential of biopolymers, while preserving those materials' environmental benefits, officials said in a March 18 news release.
Floreon makes proprietary compounds based on polylactic acid bioresin containing 70-90 percent renewable, plant-based raw materials. Officials said the materials are tougher than traditional PLA and can deliver significant energy savings in processing. Floreon compounds are recyclable and can be composted via industrial composting.
Clariant's portfolio of sustainable additives includes a wide range of bio-based additives, which officials said deliver high performance and sustainability to the plastics value chain. Clariant introduced some of these bioadditives at the K2019 trade show under the Exolit, Licocene and Licocare trade names.
The partnership aims to combine Clariant's additives with Floreon's proprietary material solutions. It's intended to open up possibilities for plastic manufacturers and brand owners to consider biopolymers as a viable, low carbon footprint alternative to fossil-based plastics, officials added.
Markets that could benefit from the new enhanced biocompounds include rigid and flexible packaging, electrical and electronic, hygiene products, consumer goods and automotive.
"Brand owners and plastic converters are seeking more sustainable material solutions to offer their customers, driven by goals ranging from recyclable solutions and improving waste management to lowering carbon footprint and reducing resource use," Floreon CEO Shaun Chatterton said in the release.
He added that Floreon expects to launch its first product from the Clariant collaboration during the first half of 2020.
Clariant business unit head Stephan Lynen said that his business "is are excited to be working together with Floreon, using the advantages of our range of sustainable additives to close the performance gap between biopolymers and other materials."