Featured Stories
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Flexible Packaging Assn. presents highest achievement honors for sterile bags and vacuum skin packaging.
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News | New Products
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Drytac Overlaminate Has Improved Finish
Interlam Pro Emerytex clear overlaminate now offers a durable, sand-textured finish for greater uniformity and appearance
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AccuWeb Web Guide Controller Has Lighted Screen
The EVO 150 web guide controller features a lighted touch screen operator panel with icons for basic functions
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ICE USA Reports Attendance for 2015; Sets Date for 2017 Show
More than 2,300 visitors is 12% increase over 2013 event
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Catbridge to Supply Slitters for Bemis
The slitter/rewinders, intended for Bemis’s recapitalization program, are expected to bring added productivity and ergonomics
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Maxson Retrofits Older Sheeters
Dual motor drive retrofit reportedly allows older sheeters to remain competitive
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NPE2015 Shaping Up as Record-Setter
The event is expected to draw record numbers of exhibitors in a record amount of space, and to be the most NPE in history
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Pantec System Applies Holograms in Volume
The SWIFT system is said to allow brand protection and security at high volumes for an affordable cost
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Visit Kelly on Static from Static control expert Dr. Kelly Robinson, president of Electrostatic Answers; Kelly has 27+ years of experience in problem-solving and consulting.
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Visit Tom's Poly Ploys, where Tom will be writing on various topics that the typical polymer processor would encounter on the job.
Degradable Plastics Trending Positive
- December 01, 2010
CLEVELAND, OH | The degradable plastic industry is showing positive trends driven by continuing interest in environmental issues as well as the increasing availability of biodegradable plastics. These conclusions are from a new report by The Freedonia Group.
US demand for degradable plastics is forecast to rise 16.6%/yr to 325 million lb in 2014, valued at $380 million. Opportunities will reflect continued capacity growth, efforts to reduce pollution and US reliance on petroleum products, and consumer demand for sustainable, environmentally friendly packaging and manufactured goods.
Polylactic acid (PLA) and starch-based plastics dominate the market, and both are expected to see strong growth. PLA will register the faster gains due to increased availability, greater processor familiarity, and performance enhancements that will expand potential applications. Starch-based resins will benefit from the introduction of improved resin grades, blending with other biopolymers and an increasing number of suppliers.
Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a new product, had negligible sales in 2009, but the report predicts rapid growth over the next ten years.
For more information on Degradable Plastics, visit www.freedoniagroup.com.
| US Degradable Plastic Demand (million pounds) | % Annual Growth | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Item | 2004 | 2009 | 2014 | 04-09 | 09-14 |
| Polylactic Acid | 20 | 55 | 140 | 22.4 | 20.5 |
| Starch-Based | 25 | 50 | 85 | 14.9 | 11.2 |
| Cellulose | 16 | 20 | 25 | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Petroleum-Based | 12 | 19 | 30 | 9.6 | 9.6 |
| Polyhydroxyalkanoates | — | 1 | 35 | — | 103.6 |
| Other | 4 | 6 | 10 | 8.4 | 10.8 |
| Total | 77 | 151 | 325 | 14.4 | 16.6 |
©2010 by The Freedonia Group
What's happening at your company? Send your news to yolanda.simonsis@penton.com.