Plastics
Vincot newest certification for bioplastics : OK biobased
Vinçotte announces proudly the first OK biobased certificates of a whole range of raw materials. The first licensee holders are each located in a different continent: Asia, America and Europe. List of certified products >>
RENEWABLE RESOURCES
As active drivers for sustainable development, multiple companies are proactively searching for alternatives to fossil-based raw materials. Several manufacturers are making synthetic materials using as their base starch, cellulose, lactic acid, “bacterial fat”, etc. By so doing, these companies contribute in an innovative manner to resolving the economic and environmental problem of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases.
OK biobased – NEW AS OF SEPTEMBER 2009!
As a result of the increased environmental awareness among customers, there is a growing market for products on a basis of renewable raw materials. And that environmentally conscious motivation on the part of customers is exactly the reason why there is a need for an independent, high-quality guarantee of the renewability of raw materials. The “OK biobased” certification meets that need perfectly.
In contrast to LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), the investigation method behind the OK biobased certification is very simple and the exact value can be precisely and scientifically measured and calculated. This renders checks and re-checks very transparent and also allows “apples to be compared with apples” with the greatest ease.
On a basis of the determined percentage of renewable raw materials (% Bio-based), your product can be certified as one-star-bio-based, two-star-bio-based, three-star-bio-based or four-star-bio-based.
1 star stands for 20-40% biobased; 2 stars stand for 40-60% biobased; 3 stars stand for 60-80% biobased; 4 stars stand for more than 80% biobased
For Frequently Asked Questions about biobased certification, please visit the website of Vincot
Biotechnology could cut C02 sharply, help build green economy
Industrial biotechnology has the potential to save the planet up to 2.5 billion tons of CO2 emissions per year and support building a sustainable future, a WWF report found.
As the world is debating how to cut dangerous emissions and come together in an international agreement treaty which will help protect the planet from potentially devastating effects of climate change, innovative ideas how to reduce our CO2 are very valuable.
A recent report published by WWF Denmark identifies the potential to be between 1 billion and 2.5 billion tons CO2 per year by 2030, more than Germany’s total reported emissions in 1990.
Industrial biotechnology could help create a true 21st century green economy, the report states. Industrial biotechnology applications are already widely used in everyday life. They help reduce the amount of time needed to bake fresh bread, increase the yield in wine, cheese and vegetable oil production and save heat in laundry washing.
“Low carbon biotech solutions are a good example of hidden or invisible climate solutions that are all around us already today but are easy to overlook for policymakers, investors and companies.” says John Kornerup Bang, Head of Globalization Program at WWF Denmark and coauthor of the report.
A newer example on how biotechnology solutions could help reduce carbon emissions is the harvesting of biogas from waste digesters and wastewater streams.
The report emphasizes the potential of taking that existing technology even one step further and creating fully closed loop systems.
Biorefineries are able to transform any biobased waste material into a valuable feedstock for the production of other biobased materials. The possible emission reductions for such processes are estimated to be as high as 633 million tons of CO2.
The report indentifies four fundamental dimensions of industrial biotechnology: Improved efficiency, the substitution of fossil fuels, the substitution of oil-based materials and the creation of a closed loop system with the potential to eliminate waste.
But as with most technologies, the potential to achieve sustainability objectives does not automatically translate into such goals being realized.
“Politicians need to set the path toward a green economy. This will not be easy, and we must look for new solutions, which can help us reduce emissions very quickly. It is clear that there is no alternative to explore these innovative pathways,” John Kornerup Bang said.
Downloads: Biotech Technical Report Biotech Policy Report
PET, a unique plastic belonging to the family of polyesters
PET is a short name for a unique plastic belonging to the family of polyesters, the word is made up from ‘poly-’ , the Greek word for many and ‘-esters’ which are compounds formed by reaction of alcohols with acids via a chemical bonding known as an ester linkage. PET polyester is formed from the alcohol – ethylene glycol [EG] – and the acid – terephthalic acid [TPA],] – and its chemical name is – Polyethylene terephthalate or PET.
The raw materials for PET are derived from crude oil. After refining and separating the ‘crude’ into a variety of petroleum products, the two PET feedstocks or monomers are eventually obtained, purified, and mixed together in a large sealed, ‘cooking pot’ type of vessel and heated up to 300°C in the presence of a catalyst. Each intermediate has two identical points for reaction and is therefore capable of forming chains by linking several single molecules together and forming a polymer where the monomers are bonded by ester linkages.
Benefits of PET
Because PET is easily processed by or injection and blow moulding as well as extrusion when in the molten state, it can be tailored to almost any packaging requirement. Typical applications of PET include:
- Bottles for beverages such as soft drinks, fruit juices, mineral waters. It is especially suitable for carbonated drinks, cooking and salad oils, sauces and dressings and detergents.
- Wide mouth jars and tubs for jams, preserves, fruits & dried foods.
- Trays for pre-cooked meals that can be re-heated in either microwave or conventional ovens. Pasta dishes, meats and vegetables.
- Foils for ‘boil-in-the-bag’ pre-cooked meals, snack foods, nuts, sweets, long life confectionery.
- Other PET products with an extra oxygen barrier are ideal for containing beer, vacuum packed dairy products e.g., cheese, processed meats, ‘Bag in Box’ wines, condiments, coffee, cakes, syrups.
PlasticsEurope, one of the leading European trade associations
PlasticsEurope is one of the leading European trade associations with offices in Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan and Paris. We are networking with European and national plastics associations and have more than 100 member companies, producing over 90% of all polymers across the 27 EU member states plus Norway, Switzerland, Croatia and Turkey.
PlasticsEurope promotes the positive contributions of plastics by:
- Highlighting the material’s beneficial properties and its positive contributions to society throughout its life cycle;
- Providing society with educational information to help raise awareness and correct misconceptions;
- Liaising with European and national institutions in policy matters to secure decisions based on accurate information;
- Communicating plastics contribution to sustainable development, innovation and quality of life;
- Initiating indepth studies and sharing experiences.
The European plastics industry makes a significant contribution to the welfare in Europe by enabling innovation, creating quality of life to citizens and facilitating resource and energy efficiency as well as climate protection. More than 1.6 million people are employed in about 50.000 companies (mainly small and medium sized enterprises in the converting sector) to create a turnover of €300 billion per year. The plastics industry includes polymer producers (represented by PlasticsEurope), converters (represented by EuPC) and machine manufacturers (represented by EUROMAP).
For more information click on the following web links:
History of plastics
The history of plastics goes back more than 100 years. Compared to other materials however, plastics are a relatively modern.
View here a presentation of how plastics have developed over the last century.
PVC (Polyvinyl-chloride), one of the earliest plastics
PVC (Polyvinyl-chloride) is one of the earliest plastics, and is also one of the most extensively used. It is derived from salt (57%) and oil or gas (43%). PVC is made from chlorine – produced when salt water is decomposed by electrolysis – with ethylene, which is obtained from oil or gas via a ‘cracking’ process. After several steps, this leads to the production of another gas: vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). Then, in a further reaction known as polymerisation, molecules of VCM link to form a fine white powder (PVC). This powder is mixed with additives (stabilisers and/or plasticizers) to achieve the precise properties required for specific applications. The resulting PVC granules (compounds) or ready-to-use powders (pre-mixes) are then converted into the final product.
The benefits of PVC
PVC’s combination of properties enables it to deliver performance advantages that are hard to match. This material is durable and light, strong, fire resistant, with excellent insulating properties and low permeability. By varying the use of additives in the manufacturing of PVC products, features such as strength, rigidity, colour and transparency can be adjusted to meet most applications, including:
- Packaging, for toiletries, pharmaceuticals, food and confectionary, water and fruit juices, labels, presentation trays.
- Leisure products, including garden hoses, footwear, inflatable pools, tents.
- Building products, including window frames, floor and wall coverings, roofing sheets, linings for tunnels, swimming-pools and reservoirs.
- Piping, including water and sewerage pipes and fittings, and ducts for power and telecommunications.
- Medical products, including blood bags, transfusion tubes and surgical gloves.
- Coatings, including tarpaulins, rainwear, and corrugated metal sheets.
- Insulation and sheathing for low voltage power supplies, telecommunications, appliances, and automotive applications.
- Automotive applications, including cables, underbody coating andf interior trimmings.
New building Ecobliss Headquarters
After years of continuous growth the location of Ecobliss Headquarters had become too small. Therefore we are happy to tell you that the Ecobliss office has moved to a new location. Within a few months a fully equipped prepress area will become available as well as the showroom to show to our visitors our high visibility packaging solutions and related equipment. The brand new building is located in the Industrial Area “de Berk” in Echt. The distance to the highway A2 (Maastricht-Amsterdam) as well as to the new highway A73 (Echt-Venlo-Nijmegen) is only 2,5 km. Please see the Contacts page for updated direct telephone numbers.