BIORESIN

Karen Laird says the plastics industry is facing a “paradigm shift” to change from conventional fossil fuel feedstocks to bio-based alternatives.

Industry analysts and bioplastic executives had a lot to say about the Biden administration's "bold goal" for the U.S. to replace 90 percent of fossil-based plastics with biopolymers in 20 years.

Bioplastics can help the plastics supply chain reduce its carbon footprint. But did you know that not all bioplastics are biodegradable? Karen Laird explains how plastics and sustainability are not a contradiction in terms, describes the many different types of bioplastics, and explains how they fit into a more circular economy for plastics.

HONG KONG — For Taiwanese cosmetics executive Steven Ko, the decision to make the world's first shampoo bottle from plant-based polylactic acid plastic was a natural one.

PAINESVILLE, OHIO — Saying the science is on his side and the Federal Trade Commission is “out of the loop,” the CEO of ECM BioFilms Inc. pushed back against allegations the company misrepresented the biodegradability of its products.

DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY — RheTech Inc., a maker of biofiber compounds in Whitmore Lake, Mich., has purchased a TriVolution reciprocating kneader from B&&P Process Equipment and Systems LLC (Hall 13/B 91-34) to make its new RheVision reinforced polypropylene material.

DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY — A new material debut from Dow Chemical Co. is featured in this week's Material Insights video from K 2013 in Düsseldorf, Germany. Also this week, we report on a new plant opening and new sustainability goals, as well as news of a new range of bio-based polymeric modifiers for PVC compounds from Metabolix Inc.