{"id":86968,"date":"2023-10-23T14:54:32","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T12:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/?p=86968"},"modified":"2023-11-07T10:00:24","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T09:00:24","slug":"closed-circuits-with-sustainable-materials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/geschlossene-kreislaeufe-mit-nachhaltigen-materialien\/","title":{"rendered":"Closed loops with sustainable materials"},"content":{"rendered":"
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BASF has been active in the field of bioplastics for more than 30 years and this year celebrates the 25th anniversary of ecoflex, the first commercially available biodegradable and certified compostable biopolymer on the market. Since then, the company has developed various certified compostable and biodegradable plastics that are <\/strong>can be used in packaging and agricultural applications<\/strong>, to achieve a complete circular economy for plastics. Mia Pettersson and Afsaneh Nabifar are working on this in Ludwigshafen. We spoke to these two committed women about innovations and the opportunities for bioplastics in these sectors.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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It is already working well in some areas - for example, for some time now Biodegradable polymers for the production of mulch films in agriculture<\/strong> used. The films are completely biodegradable after some time without contaminating the soil with plastic. The compostability of food packaging is another important point, says Afsaneh Nabifar, Head of Global Advocacy and Sustainability for Biopolymers at BASF<\/a>:<\/p>

\u201eIn collaboration with customers and partners, we are constantly developing new compostable food packaging that helps to ensure that food waste and food-contaminated packaging is no longer sent to landfill or incinerated, but rather to organic recycling. In this way, the packaging acts as a carrier for the food waste and its nutrients can remain in the cycle and return to the soil.\u201c<\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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As Group Leader for Global Market Development of Biopolymers at BASF, Afsaneh Nabifar is in charge of sustainability measures for the biopolymer sector and is also active in various associations for plastic and paper packaging. (Picture: BASF)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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No patent remedy for every problem<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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It is important to recognise that not all food packaging can be replaced by compostable alternatives. Rather, it is about the coexistence of different solutions and to make decisions based on scientific life cycle analyses<\/strong>, says Nabifar. \u201eOur team is working on certified compostable alternatives to conventional plastics because we see them as part of the solution. We see bioplastics as a supplement to existing recyclable plastics<\/strong>, to achieve BASF's circular economy goals,\u201c explains Mia Pettersson, Vice President of BASF's Speciality Polymers global business unit.<\/p>

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Overall, bioplastics still have a small share of the total plastics market and make up around 1 per cent of the approximately 390.7 million tonnes produced in 2022<\/strong>. However, the latest market data compiled by European Bioplastics and the Nova Institute indicate growth of 1.5 to 2 per cent by 2027.<\/p>

\u201eEven though the market is growing, bioplastics are still niche products for specific applications where their use offers clear benefits for the environment and human health.\u201c<\/p>

Afsaneh Nabifar<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>

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Unutilised potential<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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With ecovio, BASF has a certified compostable and bio-based bioplastic in its range. (Image: BASF) <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The two experts see great potential for the use of certified compostable polymers not only in the collection of biowaste or fruit and vegetable bags, but also in other areas such as the recycling of waste. Packaging applications, for example for food packaging made of paper<\/strong>. The plans of the European Commission with the latest revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)<\/a> an important role. Basically welcome the Commission's proposals to require some food packaging to be compostable<\/strong>. However, the list of affected products is rather limited:<\/p>

\u201eTea bags, coffee capsules, labels for fruit and vegetables and very lightweight plastic bags should be compostable under the new proposal. We believe that this list can and should be expanded so that more innovative solutions can be brought to market.\u201c<\/p>

Afsaneh Nabifar<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Recycling as a problem?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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One issue that goes hand in hand with the spread of compostable material is organic recycling. Afsaneh Nabifar reminds us that Each country has a different infrastructure for the recovery of resources, resulting in different rules for the disposal of these materials.<\/strong> leads. Other countries in the EU, she says, recognise the benefits these materials bring to the circular economy and are therefore more open and have more experience of processing these materials in organic recycling plants. This shows that there is No inherent problem with the organic recycling of compostable materials<\/strong> are available. Single-use plastic bags have been banned in Austria since 1 January 2020.<\/p>

\u201eOur neighbours in Austria have exempted bio-based and biodegradable, very lightweight carrier bags for fruit and vegetables from this ban. This legislation goes hand in hand with the Bio-Kreislauf-Sackerl initiative of the Austrian Biogas and Compost Association. This has resulted in the collected municipal organic waste being significantly less contaminated with plastic. Other countries such as Italy, Ireland and parts of Spain allow certified compostable materials in organic waste and recycle them organically.\u201c<\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Mia Pettersson has been with BASF since 2003. The Vice President for Speciality Polymers holds a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering & Environmental Pollution Control Management. (Picture: BASF)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\u201eWe know that we need a suitable infrastructure for the systematic collection of organic waste, the willingness of composters to accept the certified compostable products and a supportive EU-wide legal framework.\u201c Afsaneh Nabifar explains that BASF is active in several initiatives to better understand the processes and find common solutions<\/strong>. It is also important to create greater awareness among consumers and encourage them to collect organic waste and put packaging in the right bin. \u201eSeveral studies have been carried out over the years that show that the The quality and quantity of organic waste increases when compostable bags are used<\/strong> and consumer awareness is increased.\u201c<\/p>

\u201eIn my opinion, this requires an appropriate change process in terms of mindset and infrastructure. We are convinced of the environmental benefits of these materials and that a circular economy can be achieved by utilising the benefits of compostable material. Now we need more players to support the transition, invest and work together to bring about change.\u201c<\/p>

Mia Pettersson<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>

http:\/\/www.basf.com<\/a><\/p>

  1. https:\/\/biopolymers.basf.com\/<\/a><\/li>
  2. https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/PE-PLASTICS-THE-FACTS_V7-Tue_19-10-1.pdf<\/a><\/li>
  3. https:\/\/www.european-bioplastics.org\/market\/<\/a><\/li>
  4. Plastic bag ban voted through (bmk.gv.at)<\/a><\/li>
  5. Advantages of the BKS - Biosackerl<\/a><\/li>
  6. A.R.M.E.N. e.V. (2022): Nico Arbeck, Julia Lehmann, Nadine Sporrer, Ursula Peintner Witzenhausen-Institut f\u00fcr Abfall, Umwelt und Energie GmbH: Dr-Ing. Michael Kern, Hans-J\u00f6rg Siepenkothen: Final report on the pilot project, practical test of organic bags - circular economy with compostable fruit and vegetable bags, project duration: 01.12.2020 - 28.02.2022, https:\/\/www.carmen-ev.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abschlussbericht_Praxistest-Bio-Beutel.pdf<\/a><\/li>
  7. Helmut Schmidt, Gerald Stutz, Dr Timon Gruber (2017): Practical trial to increase biowaste collection in Munich, M\u00fcll & Abfall, issue 2-2017, https:\/\/www.muellundabfall.de\/ce\/praxisversuch-zur-steigerung-der-bioabfallerfassung-in-muenchen\/detail.html<\/a><\/li>
  8. Kanthak, Manfred; S\u00f6ling, Frieder: Evaluation of the use of compostable collection bags made from ecovio\u00ae material. M\u00fcll und Abfall 8-2012, p. 402ff, https:\/\/www.muellundabfall.de\/ce\/bewertung-des-einsatzes-von-kompostierbaren-sammelbeuteln-aus-ecovio-material\/detail.html<\/a><\/li>
  9. Kern, Michael; Siepenkothen, J\u00f6rg: Biowaste potential in household waste. M\u00fcll und Abfall 7-2014, p. 356 ff, https:\/\/www.muellundabfall.de\/ce\/bioabfallpotenzial-im-hausmuell\/detail.html<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    More news from the magazine <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \"\"<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIntelligent weighing technology saves resources\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\tGreenyard is equipping its high-speed lines with intelligent weighing technology from Mettler-Toledo, thereby significantly reducing the safety margin during product filling.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFaster to sustainable packaging with AI\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\tThe Hamburg-based start-up One.Five uses artificial intelligence to find the optimum packaging faster from the wide range of paper types and coating options.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPaper packaging for special requirements\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\tThe sister companies Kapag (Switzerland) and Oppboga (Sweden) support customers in switching from plastic to renewable raw materials with the renewable Changemaker paper and cardboard grades.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFibre-based packaging: The path to industrial scaling\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\tFibre-based packaging is at a technological turning point. How is series production possible?\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPackaging users | Irony in the luxury segment\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\tIn his new column, Harald Braun, our packaging user, shows why luxury products sometimes deliberately forgo glamorous packaging. The deliberate break in image - from grey cardboard to sober typography - can even be a sign of strength in the premium segment.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMore than a prompt\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\tThe start-up Pyx is managed by the founding team Stavros Kyriakidis and Otto Hefner.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"BASF has been active in the field of bioplastics for years. We spoke to Mia Pettersson and Afsaneh Nabifar about innovations.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":86974,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"__cvm_playback_settings":[],"__cvm_video_id":"","rank_math_description":"Die BASF ist seit Jahren auf dem Gebiet der Biokunststoffe t\u00e4tig. Wir haben mit Mia Pettersson und Afsaneh Nabifar \u00fcber Innovationen gesprochen.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"material,basf,biopolymere","rank_math_title":"","csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[65,58840,59750,54,60228,31,32],"class_list":{"0":"post-86968","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-aus-dem-magazin","8":"tag-abfalltechnik-und-recycling","9":"tag-basf","10":"tag-biokunststoffe","11":"tag-kunststoff-und-verbunde","12":"tag-magazin-08-2023","13":"tag-nachhaltigkeit-und-green-packaging","14":"tag-packmittel-und-packstoffe","15":"cs-entry","16":"cs-video-wrap"},"acf":[],"vimeo_video":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86968","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86968"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86968\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86974"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86968"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86968"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}