MÖNCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY (Oct. 11, 1 p.m. ET) — Finalists in the 7th Bioplastics Award, which will be announced in early November, include applications in two contrasting markets: children’s toys and automotive.
Green Dot Holdings LLC of Cottonwood Falls, Kan., has developed a thermoplastic elastomer GDH-B1, which contains more than 50 percent renewable material from plant starch. The material is compostable and is said to be “strong and pliable with an exquisite soft touch”.
U.S. toymaker BeginAgain Toys is introducing the Green Dot elastomer in two products: Scented Scoops, an ice cream play set, and the Green Ring teether.
A German toymaker, Martin Fuchs, has launched its Bioline range of sandbox toys, made from PLA and other materials supplied by Linotech GmbH & Co. KG of Waldenburg, Germany, and Livemold Trading GmbH of Breitungen, Germany. Consumers can return end-of-life products which are recycled and used in the core of new toys using a two-component sandwich structure.
The Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites (IfBB) is a finalist with its racing car tailgate made with an epoxy resin reinforced with flax fibers. This is the first step in the Bioconcept project to convert as many parts of the car into biobased plastic parts as possible.
Tokyo-based Takata Corp. is on the award shortlist for its continuing showcase project to present the possibilities and limits of using biobased plastics in sensitive automotive applications such as airbags and steering wheels. The company has tested components according to automotive industry specifications.
The fifth finalist is Full Circle Design and its Clps presentation and promotion system. This has extruded profiles made of grass fiber reinforced PP with a content of natural fibers of about 70 percent.
The winner of the award, organized by M"nchengladbach-based Bioplastics Magazine, will be announced on Nov. 6.
