In Chicago, Packaging World has assembled a comprehensive look at expanding uses of thermoplastic starch, polyhydroxyalkanoate, and polyethylene furanoate.
Derived from potatoes, tapioca, corn, maize, or rice, thermoplastic starch can be thermally processed and handled on traditional extrusion, injection-molding, blow-molding, or thermoforming equipment.
Dale Brockman of TPS-producer BiologiQ, says its potato starch-based material can be mixed with conventional resins to get new performance characteristics. Applications include beverage overwrap or a potato bag that can cut film gauge 35%.
PHA is an “interesting, exciting, and innovative material that has been in development for a while and has now finally entered the market at commercial scale,” Katrin Schwede, Head of Communications for European Bioplastics, tells Packaging World. “PHA polyesters are 100-percent bio-based and feature a wide variety of physical and mechanical properties, including improved barrier properties suitable for food packaging.” PHA applications include toys, cups, straws, lids, utensils, plates, bottles, food storage, shopping, and trash bags, among others.
Meanwhile, PEF is a potentially “game-changing” biomaterial, Schwede adds. Expected to enter the market in 2020, PEF has better barrier and thermal properties than PET. It is “ideal” for food and beverage packaging. “Currently PEF is still at the development stage,” she adds, “but with more players getting involved, the future for this new material is looking very optimistic.”