Germany’s bioplastics Magazine has announced the names of the finalists for the 14th “Bioplastics Oskar” award, set for early next month in Berlin.
To be held during the European Bioplastics Conference in Germany on 3 Dec, the Global Bioplastics Award recognises innovation, success and achievements by manufacturers, processors, brand owners, or users of bioplastic materials.
The shortlisted finalists are:
Carbiolice of France, for developing an enzyme-based additive called Evanesto to make PLA home compostable.
“The masterbatch, in a concentration of less than 5%, is added to a compound with a high content of PLA during conventional converting processes like film extrusion, thermoforming, injection moulding. It accelerates the natural PLA biodegradation process, making it suitable for home composting,” explained Clémentine Arnault R&D manager at Carbiolice.
Bio4self project, with 15 European contributors for developing self-reinforced PLA composites.
Funded by European Research Fund H2020, the project has developed new industrial-scale composite materials that can open up completely new areas of application for the biobased plastic PLA.
In the project, two different PLA types with different melting temperatures are combined to create a self-reinforced PLA composite (PLA SRPC): the PLA with the higher melting point is embedded as a reinforcing fibre in the lower melting matrix. The resulting material stiffness can compete with commercially available self-reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites, according to the bioplastics magazine.
Kartell of Italy, for developing the first modular storage system from Bio-on’s bioplastic
The Componibili storage unit, cylindrical in form with sliding panels, was first created by Italian designer and Kartell co-founder Anna Castelli Ferrieri in 1967. Originally made from ABS plastic in the 1960s, the updated bioplastic unit is made from Bio-on’s PHB Material, made from agricultural waste.
Dantoy of Denmark, for biobased toys.
Toymaker Dantoy launched its new line of Bio products in 2018. Today, more than 15% of all Dantoy’s products are bio made from Braskem’s Green PE.
In addition to using biobased plastic raw materials for the bio and the brand new Tiny lines, Dantoy employs eco-friendly processes to manage the consumption of energy, water and raw materials to reduce its environmental impact.
Nölle Kunststofftechnik and Fraunhofer IAP of Germany for new splint for bone fractures.
The PLA Recast splint, designed for immobilising bone fractures, can be repeatedly reshaped during treatment, such as, for example, when the swelling subsides.
The splint makes use of variously sized preshaped splints made from biobased and biodegradable PLA.
The splints are heated to between 55 and 65 °C. The temperature of the splints is then reduced to a minimum. The now formable plastic is moulded to fit the corresponding part of the body. This process takes about five minutes.