Fiber Additives for Biodegradable Packaging Materials
The packaging industry has long relied on petroleum-derived plastics to create inexpensive single-use packaging. In times of zero-waste campaigns and awareness about the enormous damage of microplastics, the market is changing in favour of sustainable alternatives. A key role for the achievement of this goal is the availability of natural packaging material, as well as compostable and/or bio degradable packaging filler solutions.
At BioPowder.com, we facilitate environmental innovation with customized powder and filler additives, whatever the application may be. Our powders can be blended into polymers for any type of packaging, from fine films/foils to bulkier containers. Similar to wood powder, hemp fibres or other commonly used reinforcement additives, they mainly consist of lignin and cellulose. They combine excellent particle stability with a light weight and a bright color spectrum.
As a major portion of plastic waste is caused by packaging, degradable bio packaging materials can make a considerable difference. BioPowder.com supports you in minimizing your environmental footprint with biodegradable packaging solutions.
Solutions for Waste-Free Packaging
BioPowder.com offers natural and sustainable functional fillers and reinforcing fibers to be used in biodegradable packing materials. We proud ourselves in providing innovative micro-powders with versatile uses, for example: as reinforcing fibre material for bio-based composites used for bio degradable packaging solutions, as plant-based fillers for biopolymers and resins to make bio degradable packaging products, and as texturizers to create diverse haptics and surface structures in biodegradable packaging products and materials.
Most packaging for food, personal care items and other products of daily use is made of plastics, i.e. polymers or compounds with a varying degree of recyclability. Although plant-based polymers such as PHA or PLA are popular alternatives, there are often barriers due to cost or mechanical properties. Also, paper has been a highly regarded plastic alternative in the packaging industry and often a number one choice for food packaging. However, paper alone is neither water-repellent nor very resistant. Paper packaging therefore requires additives or barrier coatings/hydrophobic coatings that are polymer based and therefore not compostable.
Our mission is to help manufacturers create innovative biodegradable packaging solutions and bio packaging materials with a reduced environmental impact. Therefore, we offer biodegradable packaging filler solutions for both the primary packaging material and the coating. For paper/cardboard packagings, BioPowder.com provides a biodegradable box filler with hydrophobic properties, which is particularly suitable for barrier coatings.
Unique Benefits of BioPowder.com Packaging Additives
We make sure that the highest standards of human and environmental sustainability are met if you use our powders for biodegradable shipping materials. This means that relying on plant-based raw materials alone is not enough. In contrast to grain flours or starch, our bio degradable packaging filler solutions are made exclusively from side stream materials, not crops.
Ecological advantages in a nutshell:
- Extreme resource efficiency: no plantations are required, processing is purely mechanical and free from chemicals
- Optimized climate footprint: regionally sourced second-generation feedstock only
- Non-competition with the food chain for the use of land and water
- No emissions or waste are generated during production. This translates in a low carbon footprint which has a favorable impact on the life-cycle analysis of biodegradable packaging materials
The use of BioPowder.com sustainable powders in biodegradable plastic packaging facilitates innovation paired with the following functional advantages:
- Proven aptitude for different production processes such as injection molding, extrusion, film blowing and filament creation
- Variable water absorption capabilities: hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic (surface-treated) options are available
- Customized micron ranges and particle stability: reliable texture, dispersion behaviour and rheology
- Low density: ideal for lightweight applications such as biodegradable food packaging materials
We help you bring truly sustainable packaging products to life! Please let us know about your project and we will offer you the right filler or fiber additive. Any volumes can be manufactured and shipped to your destination of choice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about bio degradable packaging
What is biodegradable packaging?
The term is generally used for all packagings that are either compostable or industrially degradable. Besides bio packaging materials made from paper, there is a large variety of packaging options from (bio)polymers, often reinforced with a biodegradable packaging filler. As in any bio-plastics, the degradability varies and often requires industrial conditions. At BioPowder.com, our mission is to facilitate the development of truly compostable packaging materials by providing natural resin filler or reinforcing fibre solutions.
What is the most biodegradable packaging?
Basically materials that are of plant-based origin and contain a minimum of chemicals. Paper products (or other cellulosic packagings) degrade when they are free of plastic coatings. This is not often the case since coatings are necessary to ensure a high effectiveness and stability, especially in food and cosmetic packagings. The good news is that even barrier coatings can be made bio-based by adding natural hydrophobic fillers. Please contact us for detailed information.
What is the use of bio degradable packaging?
Any product can be packaged with bio packaging materials. Depending on the format and shape of a packaging product, there are different material options: anything ranging from (recycled) paper over conventional polymers up to bio-plastics can be considered for different packaging types. In recent times, the industry and consumers have called for bio packaging materials for food and cosmetic items. In other words, for items intended for human consumption. Due to the stipulations of the food contact regulations, only certain chemicals are approved for use in food packaging. Our biodegradable packaging filler powders can facilitate the development of fully compliant bio degradable packaging.
What materials is used for bio degradable packaging?
Mostly biodegradable polymers reinforced with bio-based fibres or fillers. The options are numerous and - depending on the lifespan and packaging type - there are fully plant-based options.
What is the most environmentally friendly packaging?
The environmental impact can be measured best by means of the ecological and/or CO2 footprint of bio packaging materials. A low or negative CO2 footprint is reached with materials from renewable sources as opposed to fossil origins. In addition, plant-based, natural raw materials are more ecological than synthetically produced ones. Apart from the specific material mix used for biodegradable packaging solutions, the end of life of the packaging needs to be considered. Industrial recycling requires more resources than home composting. Last but not least, there is single-use and reusable packagings with the latter generally being more ecological due to their longer lifespan.
