ADBioplastics develops industrially compostable single

The single-use packaging for olive oil made from PLA-Premium

With the European Union’s plastics strategy demanding that all packaging placed on the market by 2030 be reusable or recyclable, manufacturers have been taking a closer look at the use of bio-based and compostable plastics as potential alternatives to conventional oil-based plastics in the packaging industry.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a popular bioplastic alternative to polyolefins, usually derived from corn, sugarcane, or beets. While bio-based, it needs a thermal trigger of at least 50 C to start degrading, meaning it is practically non-biodegradable in landfill or the ocean.

To create its new industrially compostable PLA-Premium, ADBioplastics added an impact modifier called ADBio PLA+ to virgin PLA to enhance the processing properties of the material. The Spain-based manufacturer has partnered with oils and dressings producer Capricho Andaluz, a subsidiary of Borges International Group, to produce single-serve packaging for extra virgin olive oil.

“These single-use products will be marketed in the coming months, initially under the Capricho Andaluz and Borges brands, but with the plan to launch new references on the market in the near future,” ADBioplastics said in a statement.

TÜV Austria has certified PLA-Premium to disintegrate within three months under industrial conditions. ADBioplastics said that the product can be disposed of in the organic waste bin for treatment at industrial composting facilities where available.

ADBioplastics offers a range of PLA-Premium grades, aimed at different industrial applications of extrusion and injection. It claims that the new material improves elongation at break by up to 70% compared to virgin PLA, resulting in a more elastic and less brittle product. The manufacturer also says that PLA-Premium has cycle times and density compared to polyethylene terephthalate (PET), as well as a similar level of transparency.

The material is also suitable for food contact in accordance with the applicable European legislation, allowing its use in packaging applications for food, beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and other products.

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