Billerud Tenova Bioplastics, a developer and marketer of bioplastic materials, has partnered with Telles, a joint venture of Archer Daniels Midland Company and Metabolix, to introduce a new line of biobased films for commercial applications.
Tenova Bioplastics has chosen Mirel P5001 to create and launch new compostable bags and packaging products in Europe. The material has been selected for its good printability, excellent seal strength, tear resistance and puncture toughness and stable shelf life. The Mirel P5001 can be processed on both blown film and cast extruder lines and it is a biodegradable material with high biobased content.
There is fast growth of the compostable film market, which is driven by retailers and brand owners due to the rising regulatory standards and user demands for biobased packaging and bags. These biobased products provide disposal choice such as anaerobic digestion. Mirel P5001 is a biobased film grade resin that is ideal for backyard home compost and anaerobic digestion. With the use of this resin, Tenova can meet the increasing market demand in Europe.
The partnership will combine Tenova Bioplastics’ product development expertise with Telles technical team’s experience to offer new material applications that address the increasing demand for compostable film products. The launch of the new series of high-performance packaging solutions and compostable bags will address the existing issues associated with hygiene, organics disposal and waste management.
The U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) has tested the Mirel P5001 bioplastic material for biodegradation in marine locations as per ASTM D7081 standard specification and finally recognized it as a fully marine biodegradable material. Similarly, Organics Waste Systems tested and concluded that the Mirel P5001 has achieved 100% anaerobic biodegradation in 15 days. The resin has also received Vinçotte certification for OK Water Biodegradable in fresh water and OK Soil Biodegradable in natural soil; and BPI certification to ASTM D6400 standard for compostable plastics.
Source: http://www.metabolix.com/