Danimer Scientific and PSI to develop home-compostable films for foodservice

24 Sep 2020 --- Biodegradable materials developer Danimer Scientific and Plastic Suppliers, Inc. (PSI), a global manufacturer of non-barrier sealant films, have partnered to create bio-based, home-compostable films.

PSI will use Danimer Scientific material to produce packaging films that will reliably degrade without leaving behind harmful microplastics. These films will contain Danimer Scientific’s proprietary biopolymer, Nodax polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). 

“PHA has already proven to be a reliable, eco-friendly alternative for consumer packaged goods, and this expansion into flexible packaging will help further reduce the environmental impacts of plastic waste,” says Stephen Croskrey, CEO of Danimer Scientific. 

The new films will be designed for a wide range of applications across food, beverage, grocery retailers, quick service restaurants, stadium foodservice and other consumer packaged goods and industrial segments.

Danimer Scientific’s Nodax PHA has seven TÜV AUSTRIA certifications and statements for industrial and home compostability. It is biodegradable in anaerobic conditions, soil, freshwater and marine environments and is 100 percent bio-based. 

Danimer Scientific’s biopolymers, including its Nodax PHA, are US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for food contact.

George Thomas, CEO of PSI, further sees the evolution of his company’s films’ composability in various natural environments as “underscoring our commitment” to bio-based packaging films.

“We are dedicated to bioplastic film innovation and passionate about advancing sustainability for a healthier planet. We look forward to continuing our work with Danimer Scientific and incorporating PHA into new environmentally responsible films.”

Home compostable film innovation
Biodegradable and compostable film innovation is gaining speed in the packaging industry.

 Last year, Danimer Scientific collaborated with food packaging manufacturer Genpak to develop a new biodegradable food container line, coined GenZero. 

Also in this space is Camvac’s Cambrite Camvert, one of the first home-compostable metalized films on the market. It was designed for use in the board lamination market as an eco-friendly alternative to metalized polyester.

Meanwhile, bioplastics giants BASF and Novamont both launched solutions for fresh-food packaging in two major compostable cling film breakthroughs. Tackling both plastic pollution and food waste simultaneously, BASF’s certified compostable ecovio material and Novamont’s MATER-BI material replace hard-to-recycle conventional plastics like polyethylene (PE) while increasing product shelf life.

Moreover, cellulose film specialist Futamura launched NatureFlex 30NVO, an ovenable grade film made from its compostable NatureFlex material. In October last year, it was marketed as the first certified compostable, heat-sealable film to market, which offers the heat resistance required for conventional and microwave ovens.

Edited by Anni Schleicher

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