BASF expands biodegradable plastics facility

Tag : Sebacic Acid


SHANGHAI (May 6, 2008) -- Demand for sustainable and environmentalplastics is gaining momentum around the world, and in an effort tostay ahead of the game, BASF AG announced the expansion of itsbiodegradable plastics production plant April 16.
The announcement was made by Jens Hamprecht, head of globalbusiness management for BASF biopolymers, at the BioplasticsMarkets conference held in Shanghai by the Center for ManagementTechnology.
“This is a market that is very fast-growing, and there arevery strong forces influencing it,” Hamprecht said. “Wewant to grow continuously and we want our customers to grow aswell.” According to BASF, the bioplastics industry isexpected to grow at a rate of 20 percent a year.
The plant is in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and the expansion isexpected to increase annual production of the companysEcoflex-brand biodegradable plastic from 14,000 metric tons peryear up to 60,000 metric tons when the expansion is complete in2010.
Ecoflex is used primarily for flexible films, bags used forbiowaste, shopping bags and agricultural film. The company is alsolooking to expand the materials applications into food packaging,Hamprecht said. In each application, the material can be disposedof with biowaste.
“We use agricultural film to protect plants, particularlywhen they are young,” Hamprecht said. “With this, youdont have to take it off the plants -- it degrades on itsown.”
The strongest market for the product is currently in WesternEurope, Hamprecht said. But BASF is seeing strong growth from Asiaas well as North and South America.
Hamprecht said prices for Ecoflex remain higher than the productsnonbiodegradable alternatives. “In this very young stage ofthe market, this is a specialty,” he said.
BASF is augmenting its sustainability profile with a handful ofother products, including Ecovio, a biodegradable plastic that byweight contains 45 percent polylactic acid, and Ultramid Balance, anylon 6.10 made from sebacic acid, which is derived from castoroil.
The company is also marketing a sustainable product specific to theBrazilian market, called Ecobras, which contains 50 percentvegetable polymer, derived from corn flour. Hamprecht said its mainapplication is for flower and plant pots. [ Breaking News ]