Study confirms lifecycle advantages of Ingeo clamshells over rPET

A first-of-its-kind lifecycle analysis finds that clamshell packaging made from Ingeo, a plastic derived from plants rather than oil, emits fewer greenhouse gases and uses less energy when compared to clamshells manufactured with petroleum-based rPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate).

The Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IFEU), Heidelberg, Germany, www.ifeu.de, conducted the head-to-head lifecycle comparison on more than 40 different combinations of clamshell packaging made from Ingeo natural plastic, PET, and rPET. Both Ingeo and rPET clamshells outperformed PET packaging in terms of lower overall greenhouse gas emissions and lower overall energy consumed. Ingeo clamshells clearly offered further advantages over the petroleum-based rPET in numerous comparisons. Read more.

Foodservice industry continues its green initiatives

The foodservice industry has a natural affinity with green initiatives, especially with consumers paying greater attention to the wholesomeness and safety of food. In cafeterias, food courts, and restaurants across the nation, food service managers search for ways of diverting organic material, utensils, and to-go packaging from the waste stream. A number of organizations make items such as hot and cold cups, utensils, to-go clamshells, and more from Ingeo plant-based plastic resin. In the process, these companies help the food service industry move toward greater sustainability. Food service suppliers and organizations offering Ingeo-based products include:

• Gordon Foodservice
• US Foodservice
• Stalkmarket
• KLM Royal Dutch airlines and its new hot cups lined with Ingeo film
• Compass Group
• Ecozema - an Italian company that manufactures a complete range of disposable items

Shows and Conferences

NatureWorks believes that involvement in conferences and shows is vital for telling our story and also for learning from others. Please make it a point to look us up at these events. Here is a recap of events just past and coming up:

Clean-Tech Investor Summit, January 21-22, 2009, Palm Springs, Calif. Marc Verbruggen, NatureWorks president and CEO, gave one of the two corporate keynote presentations at the 5th annual event, which is geared toward investments in sustainable industries and businesses. Event organizers say that many clean technologies are experiencing double-digit annual growth rates. Read more about the event.

US Composting Council Annual Conference and Exhibition, January 26-29, Houston, Texas. NatureWorks exhibited at the 17th annual conference, which organizers say is the only conference and exhibition run by and for composting and organics recycling professionals. The conference featured more than 100 educational and technical presentations and workshops on every aspect of composting. More than 100 companies exhibited. Read more.

The 2009 Plastics Recycling Conference, February 24-25, Orlando, Florida. NatureWorks will be among 50 exhibitors at this event which the organizer, Resource Recycling, Inc. describes as being the premier annual technical conference and trade show on plastics recycling in North America. Read more.

Global Plastics Environmental Conference 2009, February 26-27, Orlando, Florida, is being held back-to-back with the Plastics Recycling Conference. Plastics Environmental, a division of the Society of Plastics Engineers, is organizing the event. This conference focuses on the various aspects of recycling and sustainability of biodegradable, non-petroleum based polymers. The mission of Plastics Environmental is to foster the advancement of polymers derived from renewable resources. NatureWorks will be an exhibitor. Read more.

Eco-Products 2008, Japan, Dec. 9. Products from a wide range of partners were showcased within the creative gallery of the NatureWorks booth. Ingeo products were also included in the Carbon Offset Booth, an exhibit supported with the collaboration of the Japanese environmental magazine Sotokoto. Co-exhibiting partners included Risupack and BP Consulting of Japan; Winfra Packaging, Hong Kong; Chien Fa, Taiwan; and Stream Source, China. Read more.

Ingeo and Earth Pledge - In early 2008, Earth Pledge kicked off New York Fashion Week with a runway show of 28 designs by such notables as Versace, Givenchy, Maison Martin Margiela, Donna Karan and Jil Sander.

The designs featuring earth friendly materials were then displayed by Barneys New York in the windows of its Madison Avenue store. Because of the success of the first edition, Earth Pledge repeated the project November 16 through January 1. Ingeo was one of the sponsored fabrics. Designer brands taking part in Earth Pledge and featuring Ingeo fabric from Italian weft knitter Calamai were Zero Maria Cornejo and Rodarte. View Barneys window.

Worldwide developments in more sustainable materials

Many companies use Ingeo to create their own unique biopolymer. For example, BASF offers Ecoflex® - a biodegradable aliphatic-aromatic co-polyester. This material can be used in formulations combining thermoplastic starch with biodegradable synthetic polymers - known as starch blends. Ecovio® is made of Ecofle® plus renewable raw materials, including 45 percent by weight Ingeo™ bioresin. The first application will be for flexible films that can be used to produce plastic shopping bags. Advantages of Ecoflex and Ecovio:

• Flexible film applications with excellent properties
• Completely biodegradable plastics
• Biodegradable plastics with high functionality
• Easy film production
• Ecologically tested and globally certified

Read more.

Ingeo resin optimized for injection molded electronics, housewares, toys, and more

Ingeo 3251D, a new grade of natural plastic resin, is designed for use in a range of consumer products such as notebook computers and mobile phones that are manufactured using the injection mold process. This resin provides consumer goods manufacturers with the opportunity of marketing environmentally friendly products made from renewable resources. The performance characteristics of the new grade of Ingeo is similar to the oil-based plastics it can replace - PET, GPPS, HIPS, SAN, or ABS. Manufacturers will find that Ingeo 3251D offers a host of productivity enhancing benefits, including less material and energy use. Read more.

Large scale composting at Ohio University

Last fall, Ohio University installed the largest in-vessel composter on a U.S. campus. The composter converts 28 tons of organic waste to nutrient rich soil in about 14 days. The University grounds department will operate the system, which will provide compost for campus landscaping projects. The unit has a solar array that provides half of its energy requirement. The system is designed to process food waste, biodegradable packaging, landscaping waste, and other organic materials. The Ohio University composting project was launched in January 2007 in conjunction with the opening of the new Baker University Center. The center's West 82 food court features biodegradable service ware that includes Ingeo clamshell containers. Read more about the composter and green purchasing at Ohio University.

USDA cafeteria features Green Bottle spring water from Naturally Iowa

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) headquarters cafeteria in Washington DC is now selling Naturally Iowa spring water in the company's distinctive green bottles that are made from plants, not oil. The Ingeo-based bottles are collected in special bins at the back of the cafeteria and then composted. Naturally Iowa will only sell Green Bottle spring water to organizations that offer collection and composting programs. USDA assistant secretary Boyd Rutherford said that bringing these sustainable bottles to the department was in keeping with the USDA's BioPreferred Program and its Sustainable Operations Council. The BioPreferred Program aims to increase the purchase and use of bio-based products, while the Sustainable Operations Council is charged with strengthening the department's management of environmental, energy, and transportation matters. Read more about the USDA and Naturally Iowa Green Bottle spring water.

Kik&Boo (peek-a-boo) is a French company making toys, clothing, and accessories, such as blankets, for children. Kik&Boo designs products that both respect the planet and children. The company will be filling their soft toys with Ingeo fiber.

WTG is a company dedicated to creating the highest quality sun protection fabrics that match contemporary lifestyle demands including a new generation of more environmentally responsible sun protection fabrics that use Ingeo fabric.

Sleever International developed a biodegradable, compostable shrink sleeve label made from Ingeo film. Shrink sleeve labels feature vibrant graphics that distinguish products on crowded store shelves. The company markets its new label material under the Biosleeve® trademark. Read more.

Stilolinea, the Italian writing pen manufacturer, launched the Ingeo Pen at PSI 2009 in Düsseldorf on January 7th. Recognizing the importance of good design in product development, Stilolinea has created a line that embodies the spirit of creativity and economic significance that comes out of pure Italian innovation.

Sant'Anna, the Italian bottled water company, introduced its new Biobottle. In terms of the number of Ingeo bottles on the market in Europe, Sant'Anna will be the European leader. The company says that Ingeo bottles require 67 percent less fossil fuels to produce than equivalent PET bottles.

Trendy European fashion retailer DDCLab opened its New York City boutique with an interactive exhibit showing the latest innovations in fabrics. The process for creating Ingeo fabrics along with a display of the company's new line of Ingeo T-shirts and pants were featured.

The name Gattinoni has been synonymous with stylish and elegant Italian design for a half century. Artistic director Guillermo Mariotto recently designed a wedding dress for his 43 dress "bio-collection." The wedding dress was made from Lodetex fabric, which is 100 percent Ingeo fiber.

The students at a school in Mestre, Italy, created a small business through the Junior Achievement Italia program. Their first products were backpacks, umbrellas, and ponchos made from Ingeo fabric supplied by Toray and Frizza.

A limited edition line of T-shirts from top fashion designer Alviero Martini will celebrate Earth Month in Italy this April. "I am a firm believer in this project," said Martini. "I think it is important to make a contribution to saving the environment in which we live by also using environmentally friendly fabrics. I have endorsed 365 T-shirts because we must learn to remember our commitment every single day of the year." The limited edition shirts will be sold on the Codiceasbarre website. Codiceasbarre is an association that helps to establish marketable work skills for those serving prison terms.

Italian company Picci carries a full line of baby bedding, from comforters to embroidered blankets. Picci uses Ingeo fiber for filling bedding products such as mattresses and cradle protection. Read more at www.picci.it.  

Awards

2008 Bioplastics Awards

Best Innovation in Bioplastics: Biopolymer Network, New Zealand - Expanded PLA Foaming Process. The New Zealand-based research partnership Biopolymer Network has developed a simple and cost effective process for producing low density expanded PLA (polylactic acid polymer) foams suitable for many applications currently served using expanded polystyrene.

Finalists included:

Best Bioplastics Application - Packaging: Coopbox - PLA cheese pack for Mauri

Best Bioplastics Application - Non-Packaging: Pace Industries - Biograph cards for Apple iTunes

www.bioplasticsawards.com

Best beverage in New Zealand - in a bottle made from plants

The nonprofit organization Good Water was judged as offering the Best Beverage at the Auckland nite:life awards last year. Good Water strives to make every aspect of its packaging beneficial for the environment. The bottle is made from Ingeo bioresin, the label is made from biaxially oriented Ingeo film and the adhesive is water based. Good Water also contributed to the establishment of Greenplastics Inc., a stewardship organization dedicated to developing, promoting, and securing options for post-consumer uses of bioresins. Best of all, Good Water is a hit in New Zealand. Read more about the nite:life award.