 |
| Image Source: time.com |
The new bio-based plastic packaging technology is believed to outperform traditional packaging materials not just ecologically but also in terms of quality. “Bio-based plastics are a tangible step closer to a bio-based economy,” says Ali Harlin, research professor from VTT’s biotechnology and food research laboratory. “This new generation of plastic packaging not only reduces our dependence on oil but also offers superior quality compared to traditional plastic packaging.”
 |
| Image Source: icis.com |
VTT was able to invent a method that enables the production of the PGA monomer glycolic acid—the key ingredient of the new technology—from bio-based materials, such as sugar. Possessing excellent barrier properties, this PGA plastic can effectively protect food from oxygen exposure and keep it from spoiling. It is also between 20 and 30 percent stronger than PLA, the most commonly used biodegradable plastic on the market today.
While bio-plastics represent only 1 percent of the total plastics market today, research firm NanoMarkets projects that the amount can grow to 7 percent by the end of the decade. However, to reach full its potential, bio-plastics must become cheaper than they are now as they still cost two to three times the price of petroleum-based plastics.
 |
| Image Source: pelican.co.uk |
The bio-based plastic industry has the potential to reinvigorate the forestry sector, with the total volume of the global packaging market estimated to be more than US$ 600 billion. Ethical consumption principles and legislative changes are redirecting the packaging industry toward sustainable development.
Wohl Associates is a supplier of high-quality, refurbished processing and packaging machinery for the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. More about the company can be read on this blog.
