Bioplastics manufacturer Green Dot Bioplastics has considerably expanded its expanded its Terratek BD line of bioplastics. The company has added nine new compostable grades - for film extrusion, thermoforming, and injection moulding - all targeted at single-use and packaging applications.
The new materials join the company’s extensive bioplastics portfolio, which includes biocomposites, elastomers, and natural fiber-reinforced resins, all of which are produced at the company’s newly expanded manufacturing facility in Onaga, Kan.
“This launch culminates our extensive development of a new category of compostable materials for single-use applications and packaging markets,” said Mark Remmert, Green Dot Bioplastics CEO. “We’ve successfully developed unique materials that have a faster rate of biodegradation in ambient composting conditions and the functional performance that the market demands.”
The five new film grades are compostable starch blends that require no tooling or process modifications when run on traditional blown or cast film equipment. Among them are Terratek BD3003 which exhibits high puncture resistance and tear strength and, like linear low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film, is heat sealable. Meanwhile, Terratek BD3300 is a stiff, high-modulus material with high heat resistance and overall properties similar to HDPE film.
The film grades deliver faster rates of biodegradability for home composting, industrial composting, and soil biodegradability. Suitable applications include produce bags, bubble wrap, agricultural films, and other lawn and garden packaging. The film materials are completing third-party certification by TüV Austria, Europe’s leading certifying agency.
The three new thermoforming grades provide a range of properties, including clarity. Other grades provide higher heat performance and greater flexibility for applications such as food service packaging, takeout containers, deli packages, and straws. The thermoforming grades are also completing final certification by TüV Austria.
Two injection moulding grades complete the new compostable offering. They deliver higher heat performance and enhanced processability (lower cycle times) for caps/closures, food service ware, and takeout containers. In a breakthrough application development effort, Green Dot worked with a customer to commercialise a living hinge design for an injection moulded package. Physical and mechanical properties of typical bioplastic resins have not previously allowed the moulding of a living hinge capable of hundreds of flexural openings and closures while delivering mechanical properties necessary for a polypropylene-type enclosure.