Solvay attended the K show with its five plastics business units consisting of Specialty Polymers, Engineering Plastics, SolVin, Benvic and Acetow. The latter announced the introduction of Ocalio cellulose acetate bioplastic manufactured using wood pulp, an entirely renewable resource obtained from Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified forests. We talked to Marc Michels, Strategic Marketing Director, and Louis Cozzari, Business Development Manager, both Solvay Acetow, about the features of their first bioplastic developed for packaging applications. We went on to discuss trends in material developments at this year’s K.
Marc Michels, Strategic Marketing Director (left), and Louis Cozzari, Business Development Manager (right), both Solvay Acetow, showing colourful samples of the cellulose acetate bioplastic at the Solvay booth
Plastics: Can you tell us about your first bioplastic developed for packaging applications. How was the idea born?
Cozzari: Solvay Acetow is a cellulose acetate tow leader in filtration applications for consumer goods as well as in plastic and textiles. Acetow is a worldwide producer with five production sites and has almost a century of experience in their core competence acetylation. Its innovation strategy is based on two pillars: improving core business and diversification.
Solvay Acetow is committed in developing sustainable innovations and Ocalio is one of the solutions for sustainability. We position our new material on markets such as packaging of cosmetics, for instance, lipsticks, blushers, packaging for food, toys, computer devices and cell phones.
Colourful samples of the cellulose acetate bioplastic
Michels: Solvay has over a century of experience developing and manufacturing commodity and high performance speciality plastics and polymers and the addition of bioplastics is a natural progression.
Plastics: What are the material’s characteristics? How does the material compare to other petroleum-based plastics and bioplastics?
Cozzari: The material is an amorphous engineering bioplastic consisting of 50% biobased with mechanical characteristics comparable to styrenics. It can replace applications made with engineering plastics such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and even polycarbonates (PC). It has good thermal properties with a TG of 80 to 90°C and shows good surface aesthetics such as a high gloss and an exceptional depth of colour, for both opaque and coloured transparent grades. It offers a touch and feel effect.
Compared to petroleum-based products, it also has a much lower CO2 manufacturing footprint, and unlike other bioplastics, it does not compete with any food resources, as it is manufactured using wood pulp. It can be easily moulded and can be used for a wide range of end-user consumer goods such as containers for cosmetics and personal care, for instance, lipstick, blusher and perfume containers. Other applications include food packaging, such as containers and cutlery. In the consumer electronics sector, it is used in devices like mobile phones, or PCs. Markets within Europe are the initial focus, due to the location of the plant, with the company highlighting the lower carbon dioxide manufacturing footprint as a benefit over petroleum-based products.
Plastics: When will the product be commissioned and is there already interest from industry?
Michels: We are nearing the end of the development phase, but we are already in discussion with customers. The product will be commissioned in the first quarter of 2014.
Plastics: In your opinion, besides the surface aesthetics mentioned earlier, what are the trends in material development at this year’s K?
Cozzari: Personally, I believe that one of the main trends is biobased products for durable applications. Brand owners are more and more seeking bioplastic alternatives for durable applications. Cellulose Acetate is the perfect solution to match these expectations.
Plastics: What are your future plans?
Cozzari: We are seeking further applications and our aim is also to develop the share of bio used in the bioplastic. We are currently at 50%, and, of course, we have the ambition to increase the bio share, without the mechanical properties being lost in the process.
Plastics: Thanks a lot.
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