Bioplastic (bottles)

Bioplastic bottles differ from conventional plastics in that the raw material of bioplastics is made from biobased material or that the material is compostable or both. The term “biobased” only says something about the origin of the material and nothing about the end-of-life. We use only (PLA) for our bioplastic bottles.

Our bioplastic bottles

By “biobased” is meant materials made from renewable raw materials such as starch, sugar, cellulose, lactic acid, proteins, or via micro-organisms. At present, it usually comes from corn, beet, sugar cane, wood, potato, tapioca root, or for example, nuts, but in the future mainly from residual materials and waste flows. The term “renewable” generally refers to a term within 10 years. Biobased plastics can be compostable or recyclable depending on the material. Today, there is a bioplastic alternative for almost every conventional plastic material and corresponding application.

Bio-plastics – plastics that are biobased, biodegradable, or both – have the same properties as conventional plastics and offer additional benefits. This includes a reduced carbon footprint or additional waste management options, such as composting.
Bioplastics are an essential part of the bio-economy and fast-growing, innovative industry that has the potential to decouple economic growth from resource depletion and environmental impact. Bio-plastics are a diverse family of materials with differing properties. There are three main groups:

-Bio-based or partially bio-based non-biodegradable plastics, such as bio-based PE, PP, or PET and bio-based technical performance polymers, such as PTT or TPC-ET;
Plastics that are both bio-based and biodegradable, such as PLA – PHA or PBS;
Plastics that are based on fossil resources and are biodegradable, such as PBAT

PLA is the bio-plastic that we use for our bioplastic bottles, caps, and labels. PLA is one of the bioplastics that has the highest volume of production and is the most widespread bio-plastic in the industry. Our PLA bottles are made from sugarcane and are NON-GMO.
The much newer bio-plastic PHA is at the moment researched and tested within our company to become a candidate for making preforms and bottles.
More information on the 2 Bioplastics below.

15,000,000+

For 2023 our goal is to supply our partners with more than 15,000,000 bottles, caps and labels.

PLA (Polylactic acid)

PLA (polylactic acid or polylactide) is by far the most promising bioplastic for the near future. Its characteristics resemble conventional fossil fuel-based plastics such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). It can easily be processed on manufacturing facilities that already exist for the production of common petrochemical-based plastics – no further industrial investments are required. PLA is mostly produced by the fermentation of starch from crops, commonly corn, wheat, or sugarcane into lactic acid followed by subsequent polymerization.
Its blends have a wide range of applications including computer and mobile phone casings, biodegradable medical implants, foil, moulds, tins, cups, bottles and packaging devices.

PLA and PLA copolymer plastics have already been uses successfully for medical and pharmaceutical purposes such as the production of screws, nails, plates and implants that can be resorbed by the body. Also, the use of PLA – nanoparticles as a drug carrier or MRI contrast agent is currently investigated. PLA is a very versatile bioplastic. By varying composition and quality it can be designed to biodegrade quickly or last for years. Additionally, PLA possesses extraordinary stability, as well as extremely high transparency.
However, PLA also has a disadvantage. The plastic softens at a temperature of about 60 degrees Celsius, which limits its application for the production of packages for hot drinks and food. Copolymerization with heat-resistant polymers and the addition of fillers overcome these drawbacks.

PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoaat)

PHA’s are a class of natural materials that exist in nature for millions of years. These materials are both bio-based and biodegradable, similar to other naturals materials such as cellulose, proteins, and starch. During fermentation, bacteria convert different types of feedstock into a product. In this case, the microbes produce PHA, a natural polymer. This natural process can be mimicked in an industrial setting.

Feedstock.
10 years ago, the main feedstock sources were corn, sugar and vegetable oils. Today, many PHA producing start-ups are working with innovative technologies that use waste water streams, plastic waste, renewable methane as well as carbon dioxide as feedstock. PHA has the following recycle/end of life options

1.Recycle products to be used again

2.Recycle products back to the polymer

3.Recycle products for raw materials

4.Recycle to environment composting

5.Recycle products for incineration

6.Recycle nutrients for living organisms

More information on the material PHA go to www.gopha.org

Different plants and their annual carbohydrate yield per hectare.
We use sugar cane for our PLA plant-based bottle.

Drawing of the difference on CO2 footprint per ton of produced polymer. Shown that PLA (bottles) have a much lowest outcome than all of the fossil polymers.