What is biodegradability?
Although the interest in renewable biomaterials has
increased significantly, obscurities arise by the fact how biodegradation and
composting, both natural processes in which organic material is converted into
environmentally accepted molecules (H2O, CO2, minerals and biomass), should be
defined.
Recently, a norm for compostability has been launched
(EN 13432). Several companies and institutes worked for over ten years to create
an European standard, which can be tested by certified institutes. It is not
easy to determine a process as complex as biodegradation in such a way that
conclusions can be drawn which are applicable in different situations. Until
now, there still is a lack of standards accounting for the influence of soil.
Rodenburg Biopolymers' Solanyl is a fully organic
material which provides excellent properties for a rapid degradation in the
soil or when composted. We can adjust the degradation rate, taking into account
the environmental conditions and the desired period of usage of the application.
A commonly used Solanyl grade will disintegrate under industrial composting
conditions within less than 12 weeks (following the European Norm 13432).
More about Biodegradability and biodegradability of Solanyl®
DIN
certifications Rodenburg Biopolymers
What kind of bioplastics does Rodenburg Biopolymers produce?
There are different types of bioplastics on the market.
The following types can be distinguished:
- Polyesters
- Starch polymers
- Polyhydroxyalkanoates
- Polyactic acids
- Cellulose (acetates)
- Starch blends
Rodenburg Biopolymers produces starch polymers
and starch polymer blends.
How does Solanyl relate to commonly used synthetic plastics in terms of properties
and processing capabilities?
Solanyl grades can be used for a wide variety
of applications. In order to achieve the desired properties, we will work closely
with our clients to determine the best Solanyl grade suitable for the client's
application. All requirements and constraints attached will be taken into account
and if necessary a testing phase will be part of this process.
Solanyl has already successfully been used for
applications where PE, PP or PS could have been chosen if compostability would
not have been an issue. Besides biodegradability and compostability Solanyl
offers you more possibilities than regular bulk plastics do, e.g. encapsulation
of active ingredients and controlled release.
Solanyl has been engineered for injection moulding
purposes. Other processing techniques, like thermoforming and extrusion, are
under investigation.
Are bioplastics not too expensive?
The production of bioplastics is relatively expensive
and most bioplastics available on the market are far from competitive in relation
to commodity plastics.
However, due to our inventively developed patented
technology and smartly designed production process, Rodenburg Biopolymers succeeded
in bringing a biopolymer to the market, which can compete with commodity plastics
like PE and PP. As a company we are well aware of the fact that the environmental
friendliness of our product is a selling point, while being able to offer our
customers a competitive product is a necessity for their as well as our business.
Besides added functionalities, like controlled release, we are able to offer
our customers an attractive price level, enabling them to produce a biodegradable
product that is competitive to synthetic alternatives.
What is the cost price of Solanyl granulate?
As each customer has different requirements and constraints
with regard to the desired biodegradable material, we engineer custom-made grades
that meet the given standards for an application. Depending on the type of application
and requirements of the customer, the composition of our material will vary. As
such, the cost base of the material varies as well. Given the dependency of the
price on the required composition for a specific application, we prefer not to
give averaged price indications in general
We would like to invite you to contact us to discuss
the possibilities of using Solanyl for your application, so we can determine
which competitive pricing we can achieve for your business.
What are the main advantages of Solanyl as opposed to synthetic plastics?
- Environmental friendly
In many ways Solanyl offers you the possibility to enable a
real sustainable solution. First of all by a huge reduction of waste. Secondly
by the fact that renewable resources, together with an extreme saving of energy
used in the production process are being applied.
- Renewable resources
Scientists have stated that fossil fuel resources decline.
New sources (even the ones yet to be discovered) will not supply enough not
to replenish the sources we use with our current day-to-day life. We need
to find other options to keep our economy going. Solanyl uses an abundantly
available and renewable resource enabling you to stay one step ahead.
- Sustainable business conduct
Environmental friendliness of the product creates a positive
image of your business towards customers, authorities and the market in general
- Waste reduction
The biodegradability and the possibility to compost used products
with organic waste without costly alterations or cleaning processes, will
prevent the accumulation of waste to companies and end-users.
- Efficiency effects
Rapid degradability enables the users of Solanyl-based products
to plant the product in the ground (e.g. cultivators) or when accidentally
left in the environment (e.g. golf tees) the environment will not encounter
any harmful consequences
- Controlled Release
Using Controlled Release technology, we can enhance our material
by adding functionalities to the grades, like fertilizers, organic pesticides
and fragrances.
What are the main advantages of Solanyl as opposed to other biodegradable plastics?
- Solanyl is produced in an efficient way, using
state-of the art and cost-effective technologies; as a result we are able
to offer our material to the market at a cost price, which no other commercially
operating bioplastic producer has yet achieved.
- Rodenburg Biopolymers has invested in production
facilities providing a large capacity to produce bioplastics. Currently, we
are the second largest producer in the world in terms of capacity. As a result
we can supply your business with sufficient material on a short notice.
- Solanyl has been especially designed for injection
molding purposes. Little to no modifications are needed to process Solanyl
on existing injection molding equipment.
For which types of processing can Solanyl be used?
Solanyl has been especially engineered for injection
molding techniques and can be processed on all injection molding equipment with
little or even no modifications to the equipment. The processing parameters for
Solanyl will differ from synthetic and other biodegradable plastics. Therefore,
technical assistance will be provided by Rodenburg Biopolymers to help your company
work with Solanyl grades. For more information please contact us.
Other processing techniques like thermoforming
and extrusion are under investigation.
What is the duration of degradation of Solanyl?
All commercially available grades of Solanyl produced
by Rodenburg Biopolymers are without exception fully biodegradable and compostable.
The rate of biodegradation depends on several important factors, like:
- environment
- product design
- compound of the material.
In general, degradation periods between 3 months
and 2 years are established.
For
more information on how environment, product design and compound of the material
influence the duration of degradation please have a look at Solanyl
& Biodegradability.
Do I need to work with special equipment
to process Solanyl?
No. Solanyl grades can be processed on conventional
injection molding equipment.
Solanyl does have its own processing conditions. Please contact us for more
information on this topic.
What are the colour possibilities with Solanyl?
Like other thermoplastic polymers Solanyl can be
coloured using a masterbatch. Several companies have developed a variety of colours
with a biodegradable carrier. Please contact your local supplier for more information.
Due to its origin Solanyl normally presents a
beige colour thus resulting in the fact that bright colours take slightly more
effort to achieve.
What are typical applications for which Solanyl grades are being used?
In general, biodegradable plastics are suitable for
products with a short economical life-time (<2 years). Major applications are
in cultivation products (forestry, horticulture, agriculture) and packaging and
handling products (logistics, construction, retail), but also for toys, sport
& leisure attributes and pet care applications, biodegradable plastics are
gaining growing interest from manufactures.
Via the list below, we would like to give you
an idea of why to choose Solanyl grades for your business:
- Pressure from market/customers/public authorities
to sustainable business conduct
- Waste problem
- Disposable products
- Reduction of handling; no recollection of products
- Added functionalities, like incorporation of
organic pesticides, fertilizers or fragrances into the material
- Stay one step ahead