Bioplastics make great progress

Following interpack, industry expects imminent breakthrough of bioplastics onto market – Framework conditions must continue to be improved - IBAW Association warning on misleading declaration of plastics packaging The bioplastics branch is very confident following the response of the 10,000 visitors to the special exhibition "Innovationparc Bioplastics in Packaging" at the leading international trade fair, interpack 2005.

Following interpack, industry expects imminent breakthrough of bioplastics onto market – Framework conditions must continue to be improved - IBAW Association warning on misleading declaration of plastics packaging The bioplastics branch is very confident following the response of the 10,000 visitors to the special exhibition "Innovationparc Bioplastics in Packaging" at the leading international trade fair, interpack 2005. "We anticipate that compostable bioplastics packaging will soon reach supermarket shelves throughout Europe“ says Harald Kaeb, Chairman of the IBAW Association. "The interest was overwhelming and for good reason" commented Kaeb, who was delighted by the high level of satisfaction amongst exhibitors following the trade fair. The IBAW regards the causes for the strong increase in interest as being high prices for crude oil and conventional plastics, coupled with the growing awareness that innovations such as bioplastics open up enormous opportunities for business and the environment. Price competitiveness of products has also improved considerably in recent times. The IBAW, an international association of producers, converters and end-users of bioplastics surveyed exhibitors and visitors to find out their opinion. "We need innovations like these", commented State Secretary Adamowitsch from the German Federal Ministry for the Economy and Employment. This opinion was shared by many of the visitors. There were 23 exhibitors, including polymer producers such as NatureWorks, Novamont and Procter & Gamble, flexible film manufacturers such as Cedap, Innovia, Treofan and Wentus, as well as producers of rigid packaging such as Autobar, Huhtamaki, Plantic and Sirap Gema.