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Packaging Industry News

LANDAU, Germany, 16 February 2018 (Press Release) - Progroup is on course for continued growth and can reflect on a successful anniversary year. Sales increased in 2017 by 9.69% to around 804 million euros. This success is based on the consistent implementation of its Two Twentyfive strategy. With Europe’s fastest organically growing corrugated board manufacturer having started the construction of a new mega-corrugated sheetboard plant in Ellesmere Port (United Kingdom) back in October of last year and this month having started production in its latest corrugated sheetboard plant in Drizzona (Italy), Progroup is now announcing further expansion plans. With the construction of up to four more corrugated sheetboard plants between 2019 and 2021 in Central Europe and the start of the active phase of preparation for the construction of another paper factory for containerboard in Germany, which is scheduled to start production in 2021, Progroup is embarking on the intensive phase of its Two Twentyfive expansion strategy.

Progroup on course for continued growth

In the anniversary year in which “25 years of Progroup” were celebrated, Progroup was again able to record a successful year, as is demonstrated by excellent figures: Sales increased in 2017 by 9.69% to around 804 million euros following sales of 733 million euros in 2016. For the first time, the company managed to exceed the production capacity of one million tonnes of corrugated sheetboard within one financial year. The drivers of this consistently positive trend were a good economic environment, the new corrugated sheetboard plants in Plößberg and Trzcinica, but also the performance of all plants, the good sales performance, and not least the excellent cooperation of all employees.

Four more corrugated sheetboard plants between 2019 and 2021

Progroup is consistently pursuing its Two Twentyfive strategy. After the company announced the construction of two corrugated sheetboard plants in Italy and the United Kingdom at the beginning of 2017, the new corrugated sheetboard plant in Drizzona (Italy) will start production this month and the most productive mega-corrugated sheetboard plant in Ellesmere Port (United Kingdom) will start operating as scheduled at the end of the third quarter of 2018. This means that by the end of 2018 the production capacity for corrugated sheetboard will be approx. 3,000 million m²/year. In order on the one hand to retain and consolidate its cost leadership and position as one of the leading manufacturers of corrugated board in Europe and on the other to ensure that the company continues to be able to maintain the expected level of market growth and meet its customers’ requirements in respect of reliability of supply and the quality of products, between 2019 and 2021 Progroup is planning to open up to four more corrugated sheetboard plants in Central Europe. This increases the total production capacity to approx. 4,200 million m²/year.

State-of-the-art paper machine for containerboard

The increasing demand for consistently high-quality containerboard, owing to the growing production capacity for corrugated sheetboard at Prowell, is to be covered predominantly by cost-efficient and highly flexible production in-house. Progroup has therefore actively begun to make preparations for the construction of another paper factory located in Germany. The current thinking is that the start of production for the new, state-of-the-art paper machine is set for 2021 and, following a start-up phase, it will provide a further production capacity of around 750,000 tonnes of containerboard. Together with the two paper factories PM1 in Burg and PM2 in Eisenhüttenstadt, which are already manufacturing products in Germany, the total annual production capacity of containerboard will then increase from 1,100,000 tonnes to around 1,850,000 tonnes.

[For the full report and financial tables, click here.]

Progroup to set up new containerboard mill in Germany, plus four new corrugated sheetboard plants in Europe by 2021

02/19/2018 - 05:13

LANDAU, Germany, 16 February 2018 (Press Release) - Progroup is on course for continued growth and can reflect on a successful anniversary year. Sales increased in 2017 by 9.69% to around 804 million euros. This success is based on the consistent implementation of its Two Twentyfive strategy. With Europe’s fastest organically growing corrugated board manufacturer having started the construction of a new mega-corrugated sheetboard plant in Ellesmere Port (United Kingdom) back in October of last year and this month having started production in its latest corrugated sheetboard plant in Drizzona (Italy), Progroup is now announcing further expansion plans. With the construction of up to four more corrugated sheetboard plants between 2019 and 2021 in Central Europe and the start of the active phase of preparation for the construction of another paper factory for containerboard in Germany, which is scheduled to start production in 2021, Progroup is embarking on the intensive phase of its Two Twentyfive expansion strategy.

Progroup on course for continued growth

In the anniversary year in which “25 years of Progroup” were celebrated, Progroup was again able to record a successful year, as is demonstrated by excellent figures: Sales increased in 2017 by 9.69% to around 804 million euros following sales of 733 million euros in 2016. For the first time, the company managed to exceed the production capacity of one million tonnes of corrugated sheetboard within one financial year. The drivers of this consistently positive trend were a good economic environment, the new corrugated sheetboard plants in Plößberg and Trzcinica, but also the performance of all plants, the good sales performance, and not least the excellent cooperation of all employees.

Four more corrugated sheetboard plants between 2019 and 2021

Progroup is consistently pursuing its Two Twentyfive strategy. After the company announced the construction of two corrugated sheetboard plants in Italy and the United Kingdom at the beginning of 2017, the new corrugated sheetboard plant in Drizzona (Italy) will start production this month and the most productive mega-corrugated sheetboard plant in Ellesmere Port (United Kingdom) will start operating as scheduled at the end of the third quarter of 2018. This means that by the end of 2018 the production capacity for corrugated sheetboard will be approx. 3,000 million m²/year. In order on the one hand to retain and consolidate its cost leadership and position as one of the leading manufacturers of corrugated board in Europe and on the other to ensure that the company continues to be able to maintain the expected level of market growth and meet its customers’ requirements in respect of reliability of supply and the quality of products, between 2019 and 2021 Progroup is planning to open up to four more corrugated sheetboard plants in Central Europe. This increases the total production capacity to approx. 4,200 million m²/year.

State-of-the-art paper machine for containerboard

The increasing demand for consistently high-quality containerboard, owing to the growing production capacity for corrugated sheetboard at Prowell, is to be covered predominantly by cost-efficient and highly flexible production in-house. Progroup has therefore actively begun to make preparations for the construction of another paper factory located in Germany. The current thinking is that the start of production for the new, state-of-the-art paper machine is set for 2021 and, following a start-up phase, it will provide a further production capacity of around 750,000 tonnes of containerboard. Together with the two paper factories PM1 in Burg and PM2 in Eisenhüttenstadt, which are already manufacturing products in Germany, the total annual production capacity of containerboard will then increase from 1,100,000 tonnes to around 1,850,000 tonnes.

[For the full report and financial tables, click here.]

LONDON,(Press Release) - McDonald's has achieved a key milestone in its journey to source 100% sustainable packaging in Europe

McDonald's has announced that as of October 2015, all centrally-sourced packaging* that is distributed across its 38 European markets** is chain-of-custody certified, with wood fibre coming from recycled sources or forests certified to one of two globally recognized standards for responsible forest management: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard or a Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) national standard.

The term "wood fibre" refers to the material derived from wood to produce paper and board products. McDonald's uses this fibre in "front of counter" sales packaging such as cartons, cups, cup holders, bags, wraps, napkins, tray liners and paper straw wrappers.

Commenting on the news, Keith Kenny, Vice President Sustainability - Worldwide Supply Chain, McDonald's, said:

"This step represents a key milestone in McDonald's European sustainable packaging strategy to source 100% wood fibre from recycled or certified virgin sources by 2016, as well as providing credible evidence to our customers that the packaging products we use come from well-managed forests. The achievement has involved collaboration across the length and breadth of our supply chain in all 38 European markets, from those that supply our restaurants right back to the family-run businesses that own the forests."

McDonald's has a global vision to source all its food and packaging sustainably and wood fibre has been identified as a priority raw material by WWF alongside beef, coffee, fish and palm oil. In over 7,900 restaurants across its 38 European markets, McDonald's currently uses around 170,000 tonnes of wood fibre in its packaging annually.

McDonald's has already achieved significant sourcing milestones globally and in Europe. Since 2008, McDonald's European markets have sourced 100% of their coffee (excluding decaf) from farms certified by Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade for their sustainable practices. In addition to this, all of the fish used in McDonald's Filet-o-Fish sandwiches in Europe is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, with the MSC logo displayed on packaging.

Notes to Editors

*"Centrally sourced packaging" refers to packaging sourced at a European level, rather than by local markets. Some locally sourced items, such as sugar sticks, salt and pepper sachets, ice cream cone wraps and donut cases, are therefore not included in this milestone.

**Markets included are: Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and Ukraine.

About McDonald's in Europe

McDonald's is Europe's leading foodservice retailer with more than 7,900 restaurants in 38 markets serving over 15 million customers a day. 73% of McDonald's restaurants in Europe are owned and operated by independent local business men and women. Together with our franchisees, we employ more than 425,000 people in Europe.

McDonald’s achieves certified fiber milestone for packaging in Europe

Posted in: Packaging Technology 11/10/2015 - 13:46

LONDON,(Press Release) - McDonald's has achieved a key milestone in its journey to source 100% sustainable packaging in Europe

McDonald's has announced that as of October 2015, all centrally-sourced packaging* that is distributed across its 38 European markets** is chain-of-custody certified, with wood fibre coming from recycled sources or forests certified to one of two globally recognized standards for responsible forest management: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard or a Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) national standard.

The term "wood fibre" refers to the material derived from wood to produce paper and board products. McDonald's uses this fibre in "front of counter" sales packaging such as cartons, cups, cup holders, bags, wraps, napkins, tray liners and paper straw wrappers.

Commenting on the news, Keith Kenny, Vice President Sustainability - Worldwide Supply Chain, McDonald's, said:

"This step represents a key milestone in McDonald's European sustainable packaging strategy to source 100% wood fibre from recycled or certified virgin sources by 2016, as well as providing credible evidence to our customers that the packaging products we use come from well-managed forests. The achievement has involved collaboration across the length and breadth of our supply chain in all 38 European markets, from those that supply our restaurants right back to the family-run businesses that own the forests."

McDonald's has a global vision to source all its food and packaging sustainably and wood fibre has been identified as a priority raw material by WWF alongside beef, coffee, fish and palm oil. In over 7,900 restaurants across its 38 European markets, McDonald's currently uses around 170,000 tonnes of wood fibre in its packaging annually.

McDonald's has already achieved significant sourcing milestones globally and in Europe. Since 2008, McDonald's European markets have sourced 100% of their coffee (excluding decaf) from farms certified by Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade for their sustainable practices. In addition to this, all of the fish used in McDonald's Filet-o-Fish sandwiches in Europe is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, with the MSC logo displayed on packaging.

Notes to Editors

*"Centrally sourced packaging" refers to packaging sourced at a European level, rather than by local markets. Some locally sourced items, such as sugar sticks, salt and pepper sachets, ice cream cone wraps and donut cases, are therefore not included in this milestone.

**Markets included are: Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and Ukraine.

About McDonald's in Europe

McDonald's is Europe's leading foodservice retailer with more than 7,900 restaurants in 38 markets serving over 15 million customers a day. 73% of McDonald's restaurants in Europe are owned and operated by independent local business men and women. Together with our franchisees, we employ more than 425,000 people in Europe.

EVANSVILLE, IN, Jan. 30, 2015 (Business Wire) -Berry Plastics Group, Inc. today reported results for its first fiscal 2015 quarter, referred to in the following as the December 2014 quarter:

Increased net sales by 7 percent to $1,220 million for the December 2014 quarter compared to $1,140 million in the December 2013 quarter
Recorded net income per diluted share of $0.11 and adjusted net income per diluted share of $0.27 for the December 2014 quarter
Increased Operating EBITDA by 6 percent to $182 million for the December 2014 quarter compared to $172 million in the December 2013 quarter
Generated $100 million of cash flow from operations and adjusted free cash flow of $36 million for the December 2014 quarter
Made a voluntary $100 million principal payment on our term loan in November 2014

"In the December 2014 quarter we reported both record sales and Operating EBITDA for any December ending quarter in the Company’s history. Operating EBITDA improved by $10 million or 6 percent over the same prior year quarter, primarily as a result of improved operational productivity and cost savings from our previously announced restructuring activities, along with contributions and synergies from our recent acquisitions," said Jon Rich, Chairman and CEO of Berry Plastics.

December 2014 Quarter Results
For the December 2014 quarter, the Company’s net sales increased by 7 percent to $1,220 million from $1,140 million in the December 2013 quarter. The year-over-year increase was primarily attributed to net sales from businesses we acquired in the last twelve months and increased selling prices due to higher material costs and non-resin related cost inflation partially offset by soft customer demand.

Capital Structure and Adjusted Free Cash Flow
The ratio of net debt of $3,759 million at the end of the December 2014 quarter to adjusted EBITDA of $828 million for the four quarters ended December 27, 2014, was 4.5x, representing a 0.1x improvement (reduction) in the quarter. The Company’s adjusted free cash flow for the December 2014 quarter was $36 million and $244 million for the four quarters ended December 27, 2014. Reflecting the Company’s commitment to reduce debt and our strong free cash flow in fiscal 2014 we made a voluntary $100 million principal payment on our term loan in November 2014.

Outlook
Regarding the Company’s outlook, Rich stated, “We will continue to focus on our four key strategic initiatives including our primary goal of reducing our overall debt leverage by 0.5x per year. We are reaffirming our fiscal 2015 adjusted free cash flow guidance of $320 million assuming no impact from resin cost changes. This estimate includes $589 million of cash from operating activities and $230 million of additions to property, plant, and equipment. Although not factored into our guidance, just as raw material price increases have negatively impacted our cash flow from operating activities over the past two years, we expect that the trend of decreasing resin prices, to the extent it continues, should have a favorable impact on cash from operating activities beginning in the March 2015 quarter.”

[For the full report and financial tables, click here.]

Berry Plastics Group 1Q 2015 results: Net sales increased by 7% to $1.22 billion

Posted in: Packaging Technology 01/30/2015 - 00:14

EVANSVILLE, IN, Jan. 30, 2015 (Business Wire) -Berry Plastics Group, Inc. today reported results for its first fiscal 2015 quarter, referred to in the following as the December 2014 quarter:

Increased net sales by 7 percent to $1,220 million for the December 2014 quarter compared to $1,140 million in the December 2013 quarter
Recorded net income per diluted share of $0.11 and adjusted net income per diluted share of $0.27 for the December 2014 quarter
Increased Operating EBITDA by 6 percent to $182 million for the December 2014 quarter compared to $172 million in the December 2013 quarter
Generated $100 million of cash flow from operations and adjusted free cash flow of $36 million for the December 2014 quarter
Made a voluntary $100 million principal payment on our term loan in November 2014

"In the December 2014 quarter we reported both record sales and Operating EBITDA for any December ending quarter in the Company’s history. Operating EBITDA improved by $10 million or 6 percent over the same prior year quarter, primarily as a result of improved operational productivity and cost savings from our previously announced restructuring activities, along with contributions and synergies from our recent acquisitions," said Jon Rich, Chairman and CEO of Berry Plastics.

December 2014 Quarter Results
For the December 2014 quarter, the Company’s net sales increased by 7 percent to $1,220 million from $1,140 million in the December 2013 quarter. The year-over-year increase was primarily attributed to net sales from businesses we acquired in the last twelve months and increased selling prices due to higher material costs and non-resin related cost inflation partially offset by soft customer demand.

Capital Structure and Adjusted Free Cash Flow
The ratio of net debt of $3,759 million at the end of the December 2014 quarter to adjusted EBITDA of $828 million for the four quarters ended December 27, 2014, was 4.5x, representing a 0.1x improvement (reduction) in the quarter. The Company’s adjusted free cash flow for the December 2014 quarter was $36 million and $244 million for the four quarters ended December 27, 2014. Reflecting the Company’s commitment to reduce debt and our strong free cash flow in fiscal 2014 we made a voluntary $100 million principal payment on our term loan in November 2014.

Outlook
Regarding the Company’s outlook, Rich stated, “We will continue to focus on our four key strategic initiatives including our primary goal of reducing our overall debt leverage by 0.5x per year. We are reaffirming our fiscal 2015 adjusted free cash flow guidance of $320 million assuming no impact from resin cost changes. This estimate includes $589 million of cash from operating activities and $230 million of additions to property, plant, and equipment. Although not factored into our guidance, just as raw material price increases have negatively impacted our cash flow from operating activities over the past two years, we expect that the trend of decreasing resin prices, to the extent it continues, should have a favorable impact on cash from operating activities beginning in the March 2015 quarter.”

[For the full report and financial tables, click here.]

WILMINGTON, DE, Jan. 7, 2015 (Press Release) -DuPont sets the foundation for the 2015 DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation with the selection of judges who choose which packaging solutions demonstrate excellence in technological advancement, responsible packaging and enhanced user experience from the pool of global nominations.

“This panel is instrumental in keeping the industry’s longest running, independently judged awards program competitive and relevant,” said Yasmin Siddiqi, global packaging relationship manager, DuPont. “The judges represent different parts of the value chain and different geographies so they can bring a broad and diverse perspective that enables them to thoroughly assess which ones are game-changing packaging innovations.”

For innovators looking to nominate their packaging solutions, the competition remains open until Feb. 2. Entry forms and guidelines are available at packagingawards.dupont.com.

Members of the 2015 judging panel include:

Roza Altin - packaging development director, Yildiz Holding, Turkey
Hung Le - vice president, global innovation engagement, MeadWestvaco (MWV), USA
David Luttenberger, CPP, global packaging director, Mintel Group, Ltd., USA and lead judge
Paul Pezzoli, vice president, global packaging innovation & technology, Kellogg Company, USA
Pat Reynolds, vice president and editor, Packaging World, USA
Jane Skelton, head of print and packaging, Sainsbury, UK
Nandlal Tiwari, head of packaging development, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Singapore
George Wofford, vice president, core R&D, Sealed Air, USA
Romulo Zamberlan, head of packaging development, Natura, Brazil

“One of the unique things about the DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation is that judges represent such a variety of industry knowledge and expertise and perspective,” said David Luttenberger, this year’s lead judge. “A great judging panel helps build credibility for the award, and year over year, DuPont manages to build a fresh panel who deliberate on what is truly innovative. As a result, you earn a DuPont Award, you don’t just win it.”

Judges will spend three days together in March reviewing and debating entries from around the world. In advance of this session, each judge prepares and presents an in-depth review of a group of entries based on excellence in one or all of these areas: technological advancement, responsible packaging and enhanced user experience.

“The judging process is robust and the face-to-face opportunity gives us a chance to not only interact, but to touch, feel and experience the packaging as the consumer would,” Luttenberger said. “That’s imperative to the process.”
DuPont will videotape portions of the proceedings and capture juror’s insights on industry trends and post on packagingawards.dupont.com.

Brand owners, retailers, packaging designers, converters and technology providers from around the world are encouraged to enter new packaging that has been commercialized since Jan. 1, 2013. There is no fee for entry and DuPont materials do not need to be in the packaging structure. Winners will be honored at a ceremony on May 14, 2015. Information on the program and past winners is posted on packagingawards.dupont.com.

DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers manufactures an extensive portfolio of adhesive, peelable lidding and sealant resins. DuPont provides a globally networked development team to work with customers on packaging programs that improve performance, shelf appeal and convenience, while optimizing costs for the food, cosmetics, industrial and health and personal care industries.

DuPont Packaging announces 2015 judges for DuPont awards for packaging innovation

Posted in: Packaging Technology 01/07/2015 - 00:59

WILMINGTON, DE, Jan. 7, 2015 (Press Release) -DuPont sets the foundation for the 2015 DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation with the selection of judges who choose which packaging solutions demonstrate excellence in technological advancement, responsible packaging and enhanced user experience from the pool of global nominations.

“This panel is instrumental in keeping the industry’s longest running, independently judged awards program competitive and relevant,” said Yasmin Siddiqi, global packaging relationship manager, DuPont. “The judges represent different parts of the value chain and different geographies so they can bring a broad and diverse perspective that enables them to thoroughly assess which ones are game-changing packaging innovations.”

For innovators looking to nominate their packaging solutions, the competition remains open until Feb. 2. Entry forms and guidelines are available at packagingawards.dupont.com.

Members of the 2015 judging panel include:

Roza Altin - packaging development director, Yildiz Holding, Turkey
Hung Le - vice president, global innovation engagement, MeadWestvaco (MWV), USA
David Luttenberger, CPP, global packaging director, Mintel Group, Ltd., USA and lead judge
Paul Pezzoli, vice president, global packaging innovation & technology, Kellogg Company, USA
Pat Reynolds, vice president and editor, Packaging World, USA
Jane Skelton, head of print and packaging, Sainsbury, UK
Nandlal Tiwari, head of packaging development, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Singapore
George Wofford, vice president, core R&D, Sealed Air, USA
Romulo Zamberlan, head of packaging development, Natura, Brazil

“One of the unique things about the DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation is that judges represent such a variety of industry knowledge and expertise and perspective,” said David Luttenberger, this year’s lead judge. “A great judging panel helps build credibility for the award, and year over year, DuPont manages to build a fresh panel who deliberate on what is truly innovative. As a result, you earn a DuPont Award, you don’t just win it.”

Judges will spend three days together in March reviewing and debating entries from around the world. In advance of this session, each judge prepares and presents an in-depth review of a group of entries based on excellence in one or all of these areas: technological advancement, responsible packaging and enhanced user experience.

“The judging process is robust and the face-to-face opportunity gives us a chance to not only interact, but to touch, feel and experience the packaging as the consumer would,” Luttenberger said. “That’s imperative to the process.”
DuPont will videotape portions of the proceedings and capture juror’s insights on industry trends and post on packagingawards.dupont.com.

Brand owners, retailers, packaging designers, converters and technology providers from around the world are encouraged to enter new packaging that has been commercialized since Jan. 1, 2013. There is no fee for entry and DuPont materials do not need to be in the packaging structure. Winners will be honored at a ceremony on May 14, 2015. Information on the program and past winners is posted on packagingawards.dupont.com.

DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers manufactures an extensive portfolio of adhesive, peelable lidding and sealant resins. DuPont provides a globally networked development team to work with customers on packaging programs that improve performance, shelf appeal and convenience, while optimizing costs for the food, cosmetics, industrial and health and personal care industries.

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 28, 2014 (Star Tribune) -In Coon Rapids, the plastic foam woes are over.

While cities like Washington, New York, San Francisco and even Minneapolis are pushing to ban plastic foam products, Coon Rapids is embracing these hard-to-recycle items and giving them a new life.

With financial help from Anoka County, the city's recycling center will soon be the proud owner of a $45,000 machine that will take plastic foam pieces, and process them so they can be resold and reused. (The material is commonly called Styrofoam, although not all plastic foam is that Dow Chemical product.)

Minneapolis Star Tribune - Coon Rapids buying $45,000 machine to repurpose recycled plastic foam

RISI is not responsible for the reliability or availability of content on external websites.

Minnesota town adds styrofoam recycling equipment

Posted in: Packaging Technology 11/28/2014 - 05:03

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 28, 2014 (Star Tribune) -In Coon Rapids, the plastic foam woes are over.

While cities like Washington, New York, San Francisco and even Minneapolis are pushing to ban plastic foam products, Coon Rapids is embracing these hard-to-recycle items and giving them a new life.

With financial help from Anoka County, the city's recycling center will soon be the proud owner of a $45,000 machine that will take plastic foam pieces, and process them so they can be resold and reused. (The material is commonly called Styrofoam, although not all plastic foam is that Dow Chemical product.)

Minneapolis Star Tribune - Coon Rapids buying $45,000 machine to repurpose recycled plastic foam

RISI is not responsible for the reliability or availability of content on external websites.

FARGO, ND, Nov. 24, 2014 (Press Release) -Plastic populates our world through everything from electronics to packaging and vehicles. Once discarded, it resides almost permanently in landfills and oceans. A discovery by researchers at North Dakota State University, Fargo, holds scientific promise that could lead to a new type of plastic that can be broken down when exposed to a specific type of light and is reduced back to molecules, which could then be used to create new plastic.

Published in Angewandte Chemie, a leading international journal, the proof of concept experiment outlines the work of researchers in the Center for Sustainable Materials Science at NDSU. The multidisciplinary team includes researchers from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry: Mukund Sibi, university distinguished professor; Sivaguru Jayaraman, James A. Meier professor; postdoctoral fellow Saravana Rajendran; graduate student Ramya Raghunathan; postdoctoral fellow Retheesh Krishnan; and staff scientist Angel Ugrinov; as well as Dean Webster, professor and chair of the Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials and postdoctoral fellow Ivan Hevus.

The research team focuses on biomass, using oilseed from agricultural crops, cellulose, lignin and sucrose to generate building blocks of molecules that are made into polymers to create plastics. One of the grand challenges for the 21st century is sustainability that lessens dependency on fossil fuels. NDSU, in association with the North Dakota Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (ND EPSCoR), established the Center for Sustainable Materials Science to develop a program for the preparation of polymers and composites using biomass, a renewable resource.

"Real sustainability involves breaking it back into the building blocks. We have shown that we can break it down into the building blocks and re-make the polymer," said Dr. Sibi.

In their proof of concept experiment, the group used fructose, found commonly in fruit, to create a solution of molecules, which was then converted to a plastic (polymer). By exposing the plastic to ultraviolet light at 350 nanometers for three hours, researchers degraded the plastic, reducing it back to the soluble building block molecules from which it began.

Plastics usually don't decay for hundreds of years, creating solid waste issues. They generally degrade slowly, potentially leaching chemicals into the environment or creating toxins in the air when burned.

"This cradle-to-cradle approach to create a plastic which can be degraded easily offers scientific potential for eventual products that could lessen dependence on fossil fuels and decrease the amount of raw materials needed," said Dr. Webster.

"Our strategy has the potential to build novel materials from biomass that are degradable with light after usage, mitigating the stress of unwanted chemicals in our environment. Studies to address these aspects are currently underway in our laboratories," said Dr. Sivaguru Jayaraman.

Dr. Sibi's lab makes monomers and biobased triggers; Dr. Siva's group specializes in photochemical sciences and photo degradation; and Dr. Webster's team works in polymer chemistry.

"It is the teamwork which allows us to do this kind of work. We need everyone's expertise to solve this issue," said Sibi.

The researchers say further study is needed to evaluate the durability and strength of potential plastics derived from biomass before potential product commercialization could occur. "What is the best trigger to use to break them down? What is the best monomer to use? What is the best polymer we can make?" said Sibi.

In the next two years, the group will examine how their process might work with plastics used in cars and electronics, as well as in other items.

This research is based on the support from the National Science Foundation (grant numbers EPS-0814442 and IIA-1355466) for the Center for Sustainable Materials Science (CSMS) at NDSU, a research center in association with the North Dakota Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.

About NDSU

NDSU, Fargo, North Dakota, USA, is notably listed among the top 108 U.S. public and private universities in the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education's category of "Research Universities/Very High Research Activity." As a student-focused, land grant, research institution, NDSU is listed in the top 100 research universities in the U.S. for R&D in agricultural sciences, chemistry, physical sciences, psychology, and social sciences, based on research expenditures reported to the National Science Foundation. www.ndsu.edu/research

New plastic that breaks down when exposed to light researched by North Dakota State University

Posted in: Packaging Technology 11/28/2014 - 04:56