Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative

The Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative (SBC) is a network of organizations working together to spur the introduction and use of biomaterials that are sustainable from cradle to cradle.

Biobased Product Companies

The biomaterial industry is developing rapidly and many companies are already using products ranging from bottles and foodservice ware, to durable textiles and automotive parts. Manufacturers may claim that their products are green, sustainable, eco-friendly, environmentally neutral, or even that "they return to nature without a trace." However, like their fossil-fuel-based counterparts, not all bioproducts are created equal. Some are 100% bio-based; others are made with fossil-fuel-based feedstocks; some are free of genetically modified organisms; and others are not. Some products may be certified as commercially compostable. Others may also be biodegradable in the marine environment. Some may be made with additives or blended with a variety of materials. Product applications and product performance will differ too. Ask for the data!

The following companies produce a wide variety of products and packaging made from biobased materials. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance has not tested nor assessed any of these products for material content or performance.

Companies

Biodegradable Product Associations

Bioplastics Industry Associations


BioBag USA

Contact: Dave Williams
President
dave.williams@biobagusa.com
Phone: 800-959-2247
Fax: 208-694-9019
P.O. Box 369
Palm Harbor, FL 34682-0369

BioBag Canada

Contact: Greg Beresford
gregb@biobag.ca
Phone: 604-876-5100
Fax: 604-876-5107

Biobased carbon content range: 25-55%

Product: Bags and films, including kitchen bags, lawn and leaf bags, pet products, toilet system bags, shopping bags and several kinds of film.

Material: BioBags are made from Mater-Bi, a material derived from renewable raw materials of agricultural origin including non-genetically modified maize starch, vegetable oils and oils from flowers. The corn used is sourced from countries that do not allow GMO testing. BioBag reports that no polyethylene or decomposition enhancing chemical additives are used. According to BioBag, Mater-Bi is completely biodegradable in municipal or commercial composting facilities, soil, fresh and salt water and will biodegrade in 10-45 days depending on the composting method. Mater-Bi is certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute to meet ASTM 6400 specification.

Biobased material source location: Primarily France and Italy.

Product manufacturing facility location: The raw materials are made in Terni, Italy, and the finished products are made in Norway and Belgium. BioBag will have a US production plant this year.


Biosphere Industries (USA)

Contact: Elie Helou, Jr.
elieh@biosphereindustries.com
Phone: 805-566-6563 x101
Fax: 805-566-6583
1025 Cindy Lane
Carpinteria, CA 93013

Biobased carbon content: 100%

Product: Large commercial volumes of broad-spectrum rigid primary packaging materials (PPM100) including food packaging such as Bakeware and pizza trays and non-food packaging such as cell phone packaging and battery packs as well as custom made products.

Material: PPM100 is made out of common, inexpensive renewable resources, such as starches, primarily tapioca starch, and grass fibers. The company informs that no tree products, wax coatings, harsh chemicals or plastic products are used. PPM100 reportedly biodegrades 100% in less than 10 days in a commercial compost, can be home composted, is garbage disposal safe and can be diverted to the paper recycling stream if a particular location does not have composting. PPM100 has been certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute as well as DIN CERTCO (certifies accreditation according to the European Standard DIN EN13432).

Biobased material source location: Several foreign and domestic suppliers. Biosphere Industries is working towards establishing the production of their primary raw material close to the final factory location.

Product manufacturing facility location: Biosphere Industries is working on establishing their first US production line in Carpinteria, CA, with expansion into a full production facility somewhere in the mid-west when demand requires it.


BioTuf (USA)

Contact: Randy Holmes
Director of Product & Market Development
randy.holmes@heritage-bag.com
Phone: 214-432-3644
Toll Free: 800-527-2247
Carrollton, TX 75006

Biobased carbon content: N/A

Product: Trash bags.

Material: BioTuf bags are made of Ecoflex. The bags meet ASTM D6400-99 for biodegradability and compostability and are certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute. According to BioTuf, the trash bags will photodegrade if left by roadside.

Biobased material source location: US.

Product manufacturing facility location: Carollton, Texas.


Cereplast (USA)

Contact: Michael Muchin
mmuchin@cereplast.com
Phone: 310-676-5000
Fax: 310-676-5003
3421-3433 West El Segundo Boulevard
Hawthorne, CA 90250

Biobased carbon content: 70-100%

Product: Biodegradable and compostable resins that can be used in all major converting processes such as injection molding, thermoforming, blow molding and extrusions.

Material: Cereplast proprietary biobased resin is produced from renewable resources such as polylactic acid (PLA), soy proteins, PHA, PHBs, and starch from corn, wheat or potatoes. Cereplast states that the resin contains other biodegradable components to reinforce the molecular structure of the resin. Some resins are compounded with nano-materials. According to Cereplast, the resin will fully biodegrade in commercial facilities within 60-180 days. Cereplast resins are certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute as well as DIN CERTCO (certifies accreditation according to the European Standard DIN EN13432).

Biobased material source location: US. Cereplast anticipates receiving additional raw material from abroad in the 3rd quarter of 2007.

Product manufacturing facility location: Hawthorne, CA.


Earthcycle Packaging (Canada)

Contact: Shannon Boase
sboase@earthcycle.com
Phone: 604-899-0928
Fax: 604-682-4133
Suite 1100 - 1166 Alberni Street
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6E 3Z3

Biobased carbon content: 98-99%

Product: Packaging, including fresh produce packs; food service packs; fresh meat, poultry and seafood trays; garden pots; lids as well as custom packaging.

Material: Earthcycle packaging products are made from palm fiber, a waste product of palm fruit oil production and a renewable resource. According to Earthcycle, the fiber is mixed with food-grade additives that increase its water and oil repellency. Earthcycle states that the packaging is made from a renewable resource, non-genetically modified and biodegradable in a backyard, community, or industrial compost and takes 90 days to be decomposed into humus. Earthcycle packaging is certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute.

Biobased material source location: Malaysia.

Product manufacturing facility location: Malaysia.


EarthShell (USA)

Phone: 1-866-387-3233
ReNewable Products, Inc.
10451 Mill Run Circle
Owings Mills, MD 21117

Product: Food service packaging and dinnerware including cups, plates, bowls, hinged-lid containers and sandwich wraps.

Material: EarthShell's packaging products are made out of common biodegradable natural resources such as limestone, starch (potato, corn, wheat, rice and tapioca), recycled fiber, "processing agents," air, water and protective coatings (paraffin wax and select polymers). EarthShell packaging is, according to EarthShell, biodegradable and recyclable through composting in a commercial facility or home composting. EarthShell packaging reportedly poses no significant environmental impact in an aquatic environment and completely biodegrades within 60 to 90 days in a roadside environment, given "normal" rainfall. EarthShell is not certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute.


Econeer (Korea)

Contact: Eugene Lee
ideamax@sbcglobal.net
Phone: 714-556-5242
Fax: 714-556-5344
3176 Pullman Street # 109
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Product: Products include disposable food trays, plates, and medical trays; high strength cores and tubes; agricultural transplant pots; agricultural ground cover film; disposable table cloths; trash bags; hot-melt adhesive; coating; drink straws and ink.

Material: Econeer products are made out of Kondorax sheets and ECOPOL resin. Kondorax sheets are derived from natural and renewable resources such as natural textiles or textiles among the byproducts produced by industrial processes, for example paper mill sludge. As stated by Econeer, Kondorax is 100% biodegradable and contains no heavy metals. After 45 days 91.8% of the material will reportedly biodegrade. ECOPOL is a kind of aliphatic and aromatic copolyester. ECOPOL is described by Econeer as being a biodegradable polymer resin made from natural and renewable raw materials. Econeer is not certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute.


Innovia Films (International)

Contact: Malcolm Cohn
Market Manager - Americas
Malcolm.Cohn@innoviafilms.com
Phone: 770-818-3008
Fax: 770-818-3002
290 Interstate North Cir SE, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30339-2401

Biobased carbon content: >90%

Product: Films including films used for confectionery, feminine hygiene, organic bakery goods, fresh produce, dried foods, cheese, bag-making, adhesive tapes, magnetic and optical media, home and personal care and beverages.

Material: Innovia Films' biodegradable films are called NatureFlex™ films. They are cellulose-based, made from wood-pulp. The films are reportedly biodegradable, also in aqueous environments, and compostable in industrial and home composting. The films are described as biodegrading in less than six weeks and to be disposable of by landfill or composting. Innovia Films have been certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute.

Biobased material source location: Managed plantations from referenced suppliers operating, or working towards, Good Forestry principles (FSC or equivalent). The plantations are located mostly in South Africa, Brazil and Canada.

Product manufacturing facility location: Innovia Films has four manufacturing sites globally. England, Belgium, Australia and the United States. Coated grades of NatureFlex are currently made only in England. The plant in England has had a Climate Change Agreement since 2000 committing it to energy efficiency targets and continual improvements. The plant is equipped with a combined heat and power plant to maximize fuel efficiency and has a closed-loop gas recovery system. Solvents used in the coating process are recovered.


Metabolix (USA)

Contact: Dan Gilliland
gilliland@metabolix.com
Phone: 617-492-0505
Fax: 617-492-1796
21 Erie Street
Cambridge, MA 02139

Product: Natural Plastic compositions suitable for fiber, film, molding compounds, adhesives and coatings. Metabolix is not commercially operating yet and therefore no products are currently available.

Material: Metabolix' biodegradable plastics are called Mirel natural plastics and are made from biologically derived polyesters called polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). PHA materials reportedly biodegrade in fresh water, marine, soil and composting environments. Metabolix is exploring manufacturing PHAs directly in crop plants in the field.

Product manufacturing facility location: A 50,000 ton/year manufacturing facility is being built in Clinton, Iowa, due to open late 2008. This facility will purportedly only use petroleum for fertilizing; corn stalks supplemented with wind power will be used to produce energy for the plant.


NatureWorks LLC (USA)

Contact: Rebecca Brooks
Phone: 952-742-0581
Fax: 952-742-0477
15305 Minnetonka Boulevard
Minnetonka, MN 55345

Product: Food packaging resin and fiber. Sample applications of the resin include fruit and vegetable packaging, bottles, deli and bakery containers, egg trays, and film wraps for confectionery and floral items. Sample applications of the fiber include apparel, bedding, furnishings and personal care.

Material: NatureWorks uses 100 percent annually renewable field maize to create a proprietary polylactide polymer, marketed as NatureWorks polylactide (PLA) and Ingeo fibers. NatureWorks offers customers interested in GMO-free feedstocks several options. They can purchase resin that is certified as having no "genetic content," participate in a source off-set program for non-genetically modified maize purchases, or purchase identity-preserved GMO-free NatureWorks PLA with specified seed-to-finished-product traceability. NatureWorks PLA is BPI certified.


Novamont, Mater-Bi™ (Italy)

Contact: Tony Gioffre
gioffre@materbi.com
Phone: 203-438-5904
Fax: 203-431-0451
51 Bennetts Farm Rd
P.O. Box 1039
Ridgefield, CT 06877

Biobased carbon content: 40-100%. The goal of the company is to increase the renewable content as the technology to do this is developed.

Product: A bioplastic in granular form called Mater-Bi. The pellets can be obtained with different formulations and/or grades, which can be transformed to make bioplastic products including packaging, disposable articles, toys, accessories and biofillers.

Material: Mater-Bi is derived from renewable raw materials of agricultural origin and non-genetically modified starch. Mater-Bi is reportedly completely biodegradable and compostable. Mater-Bi can biodegrade in composting, soil, fresh and salt water. Mater-Bi has the OK soil bio-degradable certification. Mater-Bi for films can be used in home compost bins and has the OK home compost certification. Mater-Bi is certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute.

Biobased material source location: Europe.

Product manufacturing facility location: Terni, Italy.


Plantic (Australia)

Contact: Kishan Khemani
Chief Technical Officer
kishank@plantic.com.au
Phone: +61 3 9353 7933
Fax: +61 3 9353 7901
51 Burns Road
Altona Victoria
3018 Australia

Biobased carbon content: as high as 90%; varies with type of product.

Product: A bioplastic resin, Plantic resin, which is suited for plastic conversion processes including thermoforming, injection molding, film extrusion and blow molding. Applications can include rigid and flexible packaging. Uses include confectionery and baked food trays and secondary products and packaging including for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Material: Plantic plastics are made from renewable non-genetically modified corn. The plastics, according to Plantic, will biodegrade without harmful residues in household waste and is flushable/disposable in wastewater. Plantic has the OK compost certification, OK home compost certification, OK water bio-degradable certification and the DIN CERTCO 'compostable' logo (certifies accreditation according to the European Standard DIN EN13432).

Biobased material source location: Australia.

Product manufacturing facility location: Melbourne, Australia.


Tianan Biologic Material Co. (China)

Contact: Liu Hui
Manager
nbtabm@mail.nbptt.zj.cn
Phone: 0574-86895240
Fax: 0574-86877980
NO. 68, Dagang Liulu, Beilun Qu, Ningbo, Zhejiang
China

Product: PHBV (poly--hydroxy butyrate-co-valerate), a polymer that can be used for medical materials (suture, bone-nail), films products (mulch films, shopping bags, compost bags), disposable items (pens, tableware) and packaging materials (food packaging).

Material: BHBV is a natural-based polymer derived from corn. According to Tianan, BHBV is made by bacteria and can be digested by bacteria to completely decompose into carbon dioxide, water and biomass in soil or under composting conditions.


Biodegradable Product Associations

European Bioplastics

info@european-bioplastics.org Phone: +49 (0) 30 28482 350 Fax: +49 (0) 30 28482 359 European Bioplastics e.V. Marienstr. 19-20 D- 10117 Berlin (Mitte) Germany

Who: "The European branch association representing industrial manufacturers, processors and users of bioplastics and biodegradable polymers (BDP) and their derivative products."

What: "The Association supports and promotes the market introduction of the bioplastics innovation. It seeks dialogue with all interest groups and government bodies involved. It provides expert advice and assistance to its members."

Activities: Provides all relevant sectors of the economy with expert information regarding bioplastic applications, undertakes press and public relations activities, organizes events, represents bioplastics during the drafting of legislative measures and technical regulations, initiates promotional measures and establishes quality assurance and product labeling certification infrastructure. The European compostability mark "seedling" is based on EN 13432, a harmonized European standard (see http://www.european-bioplastics.org/index.php?id=158). DIN CERTCO and AIB Vincotte are two of the accredited institutes providing such certification.


The Biodegradable Products Institute
BPI (North America)

info@bpiworld.org
Phone: 1-888-BPI-LOGO (274-5646)
331 West 57th Street
Suite 415
New York, NY 10019

Who: "A multi-stakeholder association of key individuals and groups from government, industry and academia."

What: "Promotes the use, and recovery of biodegradable polymeric materials [...] through education, adoption of scientifically based standards and cooperative activities with other organizations in the US, Canada, Europe and Japan."

Activities: The BPI works with the US Composting Council on the "Compostable Logo" program, a program that identifies, tests and certifies plastic products that biodegrade and compost in accordance with the ASTM D6400 and D6868. To qualify, the products "must biodegrade at a rate comparable to yard trimmings, food scraps and other compostable materials, such as kraft paper bags" The products are not required to be home compostable.


The BioEnvironmental Polymer Society, BEPS (USA)

President, Richard D Ashby (Rick)
Rick.Ashby@ars.usda.gov
Fats, Oils and Animal Coproducts Research
Research Microbiologist
USDA-ARS-ERRC
Eastern Regional Research Center
Phone: 215-233-6483
Fax: 215-233-6795
600 E. Mermaid Lane
Wyndmoor, PA 19038

Who: A non-profit scientific society.

What: "Promote research, education, and training in the design, synthesis, characterization, testing, and processing of biodegradable and other environmentally degradable polymers as well as [...] facilitate information exchange among researchers in the areas of agriculture, biomedical applications, environmental and wildlife protection, forestry, and waste management."

Activities: Holds an annual meeting, offers Student Travel Awards and publishes a newsletter, the BEPS News, and a journal, the Journal of Polymers and the Environment.