Bio-Based kunststoffen

Polymeren op biologische basis worden gemaakt van hernieuwbare grondstoffen. Deze grondstoffen zijn grondstoffen die afkomstig zijn van duurzame en hernieuwbare bronnen, in plaats van traditioneel gebruikte fossiele brandstoffen. Bijvoorbeeld tallolie en bak- en braadolie die bijproducten zijn van de landbouw en de horeca.

De vervanging van bronnen op basis van fossiele brandstoffen door hernieuwbare grondstoffen ondersteunt de circulaire economie en resulteert in polymeren met een aanzienlijke vermindering van de koolstofvoetafdruk, terwijl de kwaliteit van hoogwaardig of nieuw polymeer behouden blijft.

Sustainable Solutions from Nature

Renewable feedstocks are sent to a chemical plant where they are converted to molecular building blocks for polymers e.g. bio-naptha.

Renewable feedstocks are those derived from renewable biological resources, rather than traditional materials derived from fossil fuels such as natural gas or crude oil. Example sources include:

Starch from corn, sugarcane or maize
Tall oil, a by-product of manufacturing paper from pine trees
Organic waste from the food and catering industry
Methane gas captured from compost manufacturing facilities

Renewable and traditional raw ingredients are combined, such as bio-naphtha from renewable sources with traditional naphtha, then repolymerised to make new material. This specific manufacturing process is known as bio-attribution, however, there are many other varieties of bio-based polymer.

The proportion of renewable material in the process is carefully tracked and documented throughout the supply chain (using an independent accreditation such as ISCC).

Why choose a bio-based polymer?

Biopolymers - Carbon Footprint Advantage

Het gebruik van hernieuwbare grondstoffen bij de productie van polymeren kan helpen om de koolstofvoetafdruk van een eindproduct te verminderen ten opzichte van die van een product dat gemaakt is van nieuw plastic.

With the mass balance approach, bio-based feedstocks can be used in existing polymer manufacturing processes and provides prime level of quality for use in high-end, demanding applications.

Some biopolymers have the advantage of being biodegradable or compostable. This ability to break down in the natural environment can help to deliver nutrients to soil whilst supporting waste management and responsible disposal.

Varianten van bio-kunststoffen

There are several varieties of bio-based polymer, each offering different sustainable benefits:

Bio-Based Plastic - A bio-based plastic is made from renewable biomass sources such as starch from corn/rice/potatoes or sugar from sugar cane/sugar beets. Cellulose from trees/cotton can also be used as well as vegetable oils from seeds and much more.
Bio-Attributed Plastic - This is a plastic made from a combination of bio- and traditional feedstocks. Typically using the mass-balance method to track and certify the level of renewable feedstock that has gone into making the polymer.
Biodegradable & Compostable Plastics - If decomposition occurs through biological activity, a material can be called biodegradable. A special variant of this is compostable plastic. If there is enough oxygen available for the microbes, fully biodegradable materials leave nothing behind except CO₂, water, minerals and possibly more slowly degrading biomass.