The final days are dawning at Swiss film manufacturer Arbo Plastic (Burg; www.arboplastic.ch). The company underwent reorientation just last year, switching from the production of polyacrylonitrile to PLA film, but it has been so badly hit by “the difficult market situation and drastic changes brought about by the coronavirus pandemic” that managing director Ursula Friederich has decided to cease production in November 2020. The six remaining employees will lose their jobs.

A great deal of time, work and money had been invested in the development of environmentally-friendly packaging, the company said. Although tests produced “high-grade results in quality terms,” many potential partners for bio-based film projects no longer regarded the environment as a priority issue in the current situation.

When contacted by Plasteurope.com, head of marketing Ursula Limanets said the company has come up with “certain ideas” for new business, but these no longer had anything to do with packaging and plastics.