Project description
Big boost for bioplastics
Combining excellent functional properties with low cost, plastics are an integral part of our life. While its use has grown steadily in the EU, only a third of plastic waste is recycled. Also, the shift to bio-based and biodegradable plastics has been slow. Bioplastics, mostly made of agro-based and ligno-cellulosic feedstock, represent under 1 % of the 355 million tonnes of plastic produced annually. The EU-funded PlanticsInside project will bring to market a new bio-based, recyclable and biodegradable plastic. It’s based on Plantics-GX – a new cost-competitive thermoset bioplastic that meets both requirements. It can be used as an alternative to toxic and flammable fossil-based thermoset plastics like polyurethane or formaldehyde-based resins.
Objective
Reducing plastic waste and lowering CO2 emissions is the top priority of the EU when it comes to environmental action.
Yearly almost 400 million tons of plastic is produced worldwide. New legislation forces industries to use alternatives to fossilbased
plastics. Therefore, a shift to biobased and biodegradable plastics is needed. Current status? Today bioplastics only
comprise less than 1% of the plastic production. Why? The functionality of bioplastics is not yet as required, and costs are
too high. The University of Amsterdam has invented Plantics-GX, a new cost-competitive thermoset bioplastic that meets
both requirements. It is safe, 100% bio-based, recyclable, and if it enters in the environment it is bio-degradable. Moreover, it
is strong and has very good binding properties. The spin-off company Plantics B.V. (founded in 2014) aims to further
develop the new plastic and its production process and develop applications together with strong (market) partners. Plantics-
GX resin can be used in combination with moulded paper as an alternative to single use plastics for e.g. packaging and
disposables (about 40% of the plastics market). The resulting material is strong, has good barrier characteristics and is
biodegradable. Plantic-GX can also be used as an alternative to the currently used often toxic and flammable fossil based
thermoset plastics (20% of the plastics market) like polyurethane (used in insulation and furniture foams), or formaldehydebased
resins that are used as binders in wood panels. In this project we focus on the replacement of some specific single
use plastic packaging and disposables with products that are made from moulded paper and Plantics-GX. We will design,
build, and demonstrate an optimized product and resin production process to enable the company to quickly bring a first
product to the market, soon followed by other products. We also aim to finalize contracts with customers and suppliers and
update our commercialization plan.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2Coordinator
6827 AV Arnhem
Netherlands
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.