German chemical giant BASF SE has lifted a force majeure for bioplastics materials ecoflex and ecovio,after removing contamination from a heating oil at the plant first detected in October.
The company announced April 12 that the force majeure was being lifted with immediate effect, but added that the inventory levels were still “very low.”
In October 2017, BASF declared the force majeure after detecting technical defects at its production plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany.
The company shut down the unit, which produces both products, and withdrew 1,500 metric tons of the affected products.
At the time, the company said that the defect was found in the heating circuit of the plant and as a result “a small amount of the thermal oil Marlotherm SH has entered the product loop.”
The thermal oil is biodegradable.
According to the initial calculations, BASF said it did not expect any health risks from intended product applications such as agricultural films, waste or plastic bags and coffee capsules.
However, for food contact applications such as thin plastic bags for transport of fruit and vegetables, the product did not meet the required standards.
Presently, due to low inventory levels, BASF does not expect to fulfill incoming orders at the requested time “in every case.”
