- On display will be cosmetic applicators and the innovative BioLoop Band, a new development that will mainly benefit the food, agricultural and consumer goods industries, as well as many other sustainable products.
- From the US, they aim to meet 30% of the demand for chemicals from bio-manufacturing over 20 years. Compostability is presented as one of the possible alternatives to fossil-based plastics.
ADBioplastics will present its latest single-use product solutions made from its PLA-Premium compostable bioplastic for various industry sectors such as food, cosmetics, agriculture and consumer goods at NPE 2024, which will take place from 6 to 10 May in Orlando, Florida, USA.
During this event, ADBioplastics will have an exhibition space for these solutions at booth S13192 on the ground floor of the South Hall of the Orange County Convention Centre (OCCC).
New solutions to be presented at the show
Among the latest success stories to be presented is a cosmetic applicator, which was made from PLA-Premium bioplastic with the aim of being an alternative to applicators made from fossil-based plastics.
During the development of this product, the manufacturing cost and injection moulding cycle times were kept under control. This applicator was processed with conventional equipment with the aim of being a substitute for PP (polypropylene) applicators, while achieving desired characteristics such as: adequate mechanical properties, in terms of flexibility and strength, and a high quality finish.
Another major innovation on display will be the BioLoop Band filament, a twistband closure (flexible wire, usually made of aluminium or steel, coated with a plastic layer, used to secure the closure of products) that will be presented for the first time at NPE 2024 and has the potential to revolutionise single-use applications in sectors such as food, agriculture and consumer goods.
This filament is used as an alternative to twistband closures with or without metal core made of PVC (polystyrene chloride) or LDPE (low density polyethylene) commonly used as closures for packaged products such as sliced bread or other consumer goods such as toys and electronic products (cables, extension cords, etc.). In the agricultural sector, it is used for tying in horticultural crops, assisting in the correct fastening in Guyot pruning methods, this pruning style being one of the most widely used in grape production for the wine sector. The mixture of materials used in conventional fasteners is environmentally polluting and difficult to recycle due to its size and composition.
The BioLoop Band filament, made of PLA-Premium bioplastic, has some competitive advantages such as saving up to 55% less material than the conventional metal core twistband for the same amount of metres, the recyclability of the material (it can be thrown in the organic waste bin), the environmental friendliness of the material (it does not contaminate fertile soil), its elongation with heat (allowing the healthy growth of vines in agriculture) and its resistance to impact and twisting, allowing the twisting to be repeated multiple times.
International commitment to sustainability
In addition to the latest solutions, ADBioplastics will present other examples of its product range, such as 3D filament spools, bottles, jars, candle holders, single-dose, flowpack, clamshells, caps, film, etc., which cover many of the sustainability needs of companies in sectors such as food, cosmetics, medicine, 3D printing, textiles and consumer goods.
In the innovative field of 3D printing, PLA-Premium is setting a precedent in the development of biocomposites. This milestone is due to its stabilisation in both flowability and mechanical properties. In addition, PLA-Premium 3D printing grades have the ability to be combined with plant or inorganic fibres to create bio-based filaments.
Products made with PLA-Premium bioplastic are compostable and bio-based, and improve the mechanical properties and processability of virgin PLA. The material comes from natural sources such as sugar cane and corn and disintegrates in only 3 months under industrial composting. Proof of this is the OK Compost Industrial certificate, awarded by TÜV Austria.
These compostable solutions align with the sustainability goals of countries such as the United States, which, under the administration of President Joe Biden and in order to promote US biotechnology and bio-manufacturing, has set a target of replacing 90% of fossil-based plastics with bio-based alternatives over the next two decades.
The goal is to meet 30% of US chemical demand from bio-manufacturing over 20 years. The Department of Energy’s Plastics Innovation Strategy programme encompasses several areas of research, including expanding work to recycle or recycle plastic waste, with an emphasis on multicomponent plastic waste that is not currently recycled. Within this strategy it is proposed to redesign plastics to improve end-of-life properties such as recyclability and compostability.
