BIOPACK aims to develop B4Tips; a novel water-soluble polymer compound to make packaging material for household applications that is bio-based and meets the ambitious EN13432 standard biodegradable criteria. Two formulations of B4Tips will be developed to be compatible with injection moulding and blown film extrusion respectively. Both will meet biodegradability criteria and water-solubility and have excellent mechanical properties for optimal functionality during storage and transportation, thereby meeting the market’s user needs.
The majority of plastic packaging available today originates from non-renewable fossil resources and lacks biodegradability, leading to environmental concerns. The European Union (EU) is suggesting actions aimed at motivating Europe to embrace eco-friendly methods of plastic disposal, which involve the utilization of non-persistent plastics, leaving no traces to the environment. In the context of detergent tablets, substitutes for conventional water-insoluble packaging plastics have been created, one of which is Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH). However, the effectiveness of this solution is restricted due to its incomplete biodegradability, as evidenced by the discharge of over 8,000 tons of PVOH into wastewater treatment systems annually.
BIOPACK aims to develop B4PTips, a novel water-soluble material for household applications that is fully bio-based and meets ambitious criteria in non-persistency. Two formulations of B4Tips which are compatible with blown film extrusion and injection moulding process will be developed. By developing B4Tips using these two industrial processes, the BIOPACK project can scale the B4Tips application for a wider market application.
The compatibility of the material with existing industrial polymer processing techniques, its controlled water solubility and complete biodegradability will speed up the adoption of B4Tips; a sustainable alternative for various packaging and product applications. The development of this innovative technology is challenging as the material will have to be made water-soluble and moreover meet high convenience standards for the end-user.
To develop this innovative product the consortium partners will combine their forces. Lactips has already developed CareTips®, a material sourced out of casein derivatives. B4Plastics will build on the knowledge of their current technology platform TriggerPlastics. The properties of TriggerPlastics are very tunable, through the implementation of B4Plastics’ polymeric architecture know-how. In this project the strengths of TriggerPlastics will be combined with the strengths of CareTips®, to compound a novel water-soluble polymer B4Tips with improved mechanical, and ageing properties that will allow us to capture a larger market share.
About the partnersB4Plastics is a Belgium based Polymer Architecture company (SME) that catalyzes the introduction of novel biomaterials and growing them from niche to bulk applications. It’s B4Plastics’ mission to push the old fossil plastics towards the New Plastics Economy by striking the best balance between functionality, ecology and cost. B4Plastics’ excellence centre has an extensive polymer library and a unique set of expertise to redesign plastics tackling the material challenges of various high impact markets. Lactips is a French based company (SME) that specializes in the production of thermoplastics based on proteins, compliant with REACH as Natural Polymer and compatible with SUP directive. Lactips’ product, called CareTips®, is biosourced, water-soluble, biodegradable, printable, has barrier properties (to oxygen, fats, and mineral oils), |
