Clariant’s (Muttenz / Switzerland; www.clariant.com) Additives business and Floreon Transforming Packaging (Sheffield / UK; www.floreon.com) are teaming up to extend the performance and market potential of biopolymers.

A small UK-based bioplastics producer, Floreon develops and markets proprietary compounds based on PLA and containing between 70% and 90% plant-based feedstocks. They are said to be mechanically tougher than traditional PLA and can deliver significant energy savings in processing. The compounds are also recyclable and can be composted via industrial composting. These attributes, said Clariant, make Floreon’s materials viable for applications where contamination with food waste and organic matter currently make mechanical recycling unfeasible.

Markets that could benefit from the enhanced grades include rigid and flexible packaging, E&E equipment, hygiene products, consumer goods and automotive. “Floreon has the potential to transform not just packaging but many industries, and we expect to launch our first product from this collaboration into market during the first half of 2020,” said Floreon’s CEO Shaun Chatterton.

At the “K 2019” (www.k-online.com) plastics trade fair, Clariant introduced several bio-based additives. These included “Exolit” OP Terra, “Licocene” Terra and “Licocare” RBW Vita – see Plasteurope.com of 22.10.2019.