On December 18, it was reported that Steffen Hebestreit, a spokesman for the German government, confirmed that the federal government aims to impose a fee on companies responsible for introducing plastics into the market. The expected consequence is that these companies may pass on the costs incurred to consumers. The move mirrors the EU's plastic tax to be implemented in 2021, which charges 80 euro cents per kilogram of non-recyclable packaging waste. Currently, the German government, along with several other EU governments, pays €1.4 billion in taxes from the treasury. 

Since the beginning of 2023, plastic manufacturers and importers in Spain have been charged 45 euro cents per kilogram of plastic. Meanwhile, Italy will tax disposable packaging from 2024. According to the German report, the impact on the average consumer is expected to be the equivalent of paying a plastic tax of 30 euros per year. This initiative is in line with broader European efforts to address environmental issues and promote sustainable practices in packaging and waste management.

In 2011, Germany imposed a Green Dot tax on conventional plastic bags at 1.27 euros/kg, and exempted biodegradable plastic bags from the tax.

December 14, 2012 - U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) have introduced legislation that seeks to ban the use of expanded polystyrene (EPS) in food service products, coolers, loose fill, and other purposes. Known as the "Farewell to Foam Act," the legislation would prohibit the sale or distribution of EPS foam in certain products on January 1, 2026, nationwide.

Advocates of banning single-use EPS point out that plastic foam is a source of microplastics in the environment because it doesn't break down completely. While EPS is recyclable, it is often not accepted by curbside programs because they don't have the ability to recycle them.

In terms of enforcement, the first violation will result in a written notice. Subsequent violations will incur a fine of $250 for the second, $500 for the third, and $1,000 for the fourth and each subsequent violation. 

Beginning with Maryland in 2019, states and municipalities have enacted EPS bans on food and other packaging. Maine, Vermont, New York, Colorado, Oregon, and California, among other states, have EPS bans in effect in one form or another.

Despite these bans, demand for foamed polystyrene is projected to grow 3.3 percent annually through 2026, according to a report by the Freedonia Group. One of the main applications driving the growth is home insulation - a material that now accounts for almost half of all insulation projects. 

Senators Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Angus King of Maine, Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch of Vermont have signed on as co-s

According to the North Carolina State University website on December 11, the United States North Carolina State University (North Carolina State University, NCSU) researchers from the crustaceans and seaweeds with reinforced structure of the material synthesized biobased polymer composite film, which can be used as an alternative to petroleum-based plastic film. 

The researchers used soft dendritic colloids (fibrous colloidal scale materials) made from fibrous chitosan (a bio-based polymer that hardens crab shells) reinforced with agarose membranes (bio-based polymers extracted from seaweed) to prepare high-strength bio-based polymer composite membranes.

The film is approximately four times stronger than ordinary agarose film and also has biodegradable, waterproof, transparent, and antimicrobial properties, allowing it to be used as a sustainable packaging film for food and consumer products.

The researchers said they will further improve the structure of the bio-based polymer composite film as an alternative to chemically synthesized polymer films and achieve large-scale mass production. The findings were published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science. 

This composite film is an alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastic films and is made from bio-based materials that are environmentally friendly. It is characterized by high strength, waterproof, transparency and antimicrobial properties, and is suitable for packaging of food and consumer products. 

The development of this composite film is also of great significance in reducing the generation of plastic waste, protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development. If large-scale mass production can be realized, it is expected to be widely used in packaging, medical and other fields, further promoting the process of sustainable development.

Polylactic acid (PLA), also known as polypropylene glycol ester, is a polyester polymer obtained by polymerizing lactic acid as the main raw material, which is a new type of biodegradable material. 

Publicly available information shows that PLA is mainly made from starch raw materials proposed using renewable plant resources such as corn. The starch raw material is saccharified to obtain glucose, which is then fermented with certain strains of bacteria to make high-purity lactic acid, and then synthesized into PLA of a certain molecular weight by chemical synthesis. It has good biodegradability and can be completely degraded by microorganisms in nature after use, eventually generating carbon dioxide and water without polluting the environment, which is very beneficial to the protection of the environment and is recognized as an environmentally friendly material.

PLA is used in a wide range of applications: from daily necessities to biomedical fields 

PLA has good thermal stability, processing temperature 170～230℃, good solvent resistance, and can be processed in various ways, such as extrusion, spinning, biaxial stretching, injection blow molding. In addition to biodegradability, products made from PLA have good biocompatibility, gloss, transparency, handfeel and heat resistance, as well as a certain degree of bacterial resistance, flame retardancy and UV resistance, so they are very versatile, and can be used as packaging materials, fibers and nonwovens, etc. They are now mainly used in the fields of daily necessities (packaging, apparel), industry (construction, agriculture, forestry, paper) and biomedicine.

Food Packaging

PLA materials have good transparency, heat resistance and oxygen barrier properties, making them suitable for food packaging. For example, transparent boxes made of PLA can be used to package fruits, vegetables and other foods, and can effectively protect the freshness and quality of food. In addition, PLA materials can also be made into disposable tableware, such as lunch boxes, cutlery, straws, etc., which can replace the traditional plastic tableware and reduce the pollution of the environment.

Fabrics

PLA materials can be blended with other fiber materials to make biodegradable textiles. These textiles can be used to make clothing, bags, home furnishings and more. Compared to traditional synthetic fibers, PLA textiles are less irritating to the skin and less polluting to the environment.

Agricultural sector

PLA materials are also widely used in the agricultural field. For example, PLA materials can be made into agricultural film, which is used to cover farmland and play the role of heat preservation, moisture preservation and grass suppression. Compared with the traditional plastic agricultural film, PLA material agricultural film can be naturally degraded after use, and will not cause pollution to the soil. 

3D printing

PLA material is one of the commonly used 3D printing materials, which has good plasticity and molding properties, and can be used to create a variety of complex structures through 3D printing technology.The PLA material used in 3D printing can be pure PLA or a mixture of PLA and other materials, which can be used to make only models, parts, crafts and so on. 

medical equipment

PLA materials are widely used in medical devices due to their good biocompatibility and degradability. For example, PLA materials can be made into sutures, bone nails and screws for use in orthopedic surgery. During surgery, the PLA material will gradually degrade, eliminating the need for a second surgery to remove it, reducing patient pain and recovery time.

biomedical engineering

PLA materials have a wide range of application prospects in the field of biomedical engineering. PLA materials can be made into artificial bones, artificial joints, artificial blood vessels, etc., which are used to replace damaged tissues or organs. Due to the degradability of PLA materials, these artificial organs can be gradually absorbed by the body, reducing the risk of secondary surgery. 

PLA production status and market in different industries

Frist，PLA in the field of regenerative medical aesthetics

Since lactic acid has a spin nature, there are three types of PLA corresponding to it: levulinic poly(lactic acid) L-PLA (PLLA), dextro-poly(lactic acid) D-PLA (PDLA), and racemic poly(lactic acid) DL-PLA (PDLLA). Of these, PLLA has been used in medical aesthetics since 1997.

Second, PLA in the field of orthopedic implantable medical devices

Orthopaedic implantable medical devices are devices implanted into the human body to replace, repair, supplement, fill or assist in the treatment of damaged bones, to maintain, support and repair the human skeleton. For orthopedic implants, the most researched materials are PLA and PGA and PGA/PLLA self-reinforced biodegradable composites, and some biodegradable PLA orthopedic materials have already been applied in the clinic.

Third, PLA in drug release control system 

PLA also plays an important role in drug release control system. With PLA as the drug release control carrier, the drug can be released gradually with the degradation of the carrier in the human body to minimize the harm of the drug to the body. According to the processability of PLA, researchers can also choose to combine the drug with PLA to produce a more stable drug release control carrier. As the population ages, the incidence of chronic diseases continues to rise. Extended-release controlled-release formulations can help patients better manage chronic diseases and reduce exacerbations and complications. It can also improve drug efficacy and utilization, and reduce drug waste and side effects. For example, for diabetic patients, extended-release controlled-release formulations can slowly release medications to keep blood glucose levels stable, thereby reducing diabetic complications.

In the future, with the increasing demand for medical technology, the market share of extended release controlled release formulations is expected to increase, thereby driving the PLA related market.

In summary, PLA, as a biodegradable raw material, has broad business opportunities and market prospects in the context of sustainable development. The growth in demand, the expansion of profit margins and the promotion of technological innovation all bring more development opportunities for enterprises.

As the world's largest consumer of sugar, on December 7, India's official Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs in charge of the sugar industry, a government document officially announced: 

The government document, which essentially means that in order to ensure adequate supply of sugar in India's domestic market and to stabilize its domestic sugar prices, directs sugar mills to ban the production of ethanol from cane juice or molasses in the 2023/24 season year with immediate effect. 

Indian Sugar Manufacturers Association (Indian Sugar Mills Association) in November estimates, 2023/24 season year India's sugar production will fall 8%, only 33.7 million tons, India's sugar production is expected to decline has pushed Indian sugar prices to nearly 14 years to the highest level. 

Indian authorities are working on a proposal to restrict the use of sugarcane juice for ethanol production during the current season, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to the media. A final decision has yet to be made and plans are still subject to change.

Sugar cane can be used to produce both ethanol and sugar, and restricting the use of sugar cane for ethanol production would mean that more sugar cane would be put into sugar production. 

The above proposal, if approved, will help ease the sugar shortage in India. Affected by the news, the New York futures market sugar prices plunged 7.9% on Wednesday, the biggest drop in 10 months. 

Michael McDougall, managing director of commodities trader Paragon Global Markets, said restricting ethanol production would prevent Indian sugar stocks from falling further. 

People familiar with the matter also said that while restricting ethanol production may help India curb food inflation, the impact may be limited. This is because some ethanol has already been sold in tenders earlier this year and therefore needs to be produced. 

India is the world's largest consumer of sugar and also the world's second largest producer of sugar. 

Insufficient rainfall this year has restricted the growth of India's sugarcane crop, further affecting the country's sugar production. In October this year, the Indian authorities issued an announcement that the export restriction on sugar will be extended beyond October 31 this year until further notice. 

Due to the surge in commodity prices after the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India began to impose total sugar export restrictions in June last year, and then in October last year, the export restrictions were extended for one year, until October 31 this year. 

The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) has previously said that India's sugar production is expected to fall by 8% in the 2023-2024 season, which began on October 1, due to lower rainfall in the main cane-producing regions. 

Following the ban, an official said that an additional 1.04 million tons of grade B molasses would be allowed for ethanol production under existing contracts, in addition to ethanol production that would continue to be allowed for grade C molasses, a sugarcane byproduct that contains little to no sugar.

South Korea's CJ Daiichi Sugar Company recently announced that they have successfully developed a new technology called "Compostable Laminating Paper Technology". This technology enables, for the first time, a compostable coating for cooking in microwave ovens using a biodegradable, bio-based material called PHA. This technology improves durability and heat resistance compared to existing compostable laminates and achieves marketability similar to petroleum-based laminates.

To create this compostable coating, CJ First Sugar blends PHA, a flexible bio-based material, with highly heat-resistant PLA. This coating rivals petrochemical coatings such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), is resistant to cracking and can withstand cooking heat. The coating is expected to have high utility not only for paper cups, but also for various paper food packages such as cup tops that are poured with hot water and laminated rice containers that require microwave heating.

In addition, while PLA needs to be broken down in an industrial composting facility, the blend of PHA improves the biodegradability of the material and can even be broken down in a home composting environment. As a result, the sustainability of the packaging is expected to improve. 

This new technology also overcomes the productivity limitations of bio-based materials. Compared to petroleum-based materials, biobased materials are susceptible to high temperatures and therefore are not suitable for large-scale packaging material manufacturing methods for high-speed production by heat treatment. However, CJ Daiichi Sugar has succeeded in developing an optimal process for the mass production of packaging materials using bio-based materials at relatively low temperatures.

CJ Daiichi Sugar plans to apply this technology to paper containers for Hetban Cupban, an instant rice product designed for microwave cooking, in the first half of next year, and gradually expand its application to various other paper-based food packaging materials. This innovation is expected to promote the sustainable development of paper-based food packaging and reduce its environmental impact.

Recently, Avantium entered into a strategic partnership with Albert Heijn, a leading Dutch supermarket chain, with the aim of facilitating the transition of Heijn's proprietary products to more sustainable packaging solutions. Avantium, known for its expertise in sustainable chemistry, is now offering its innovative polyethylene furanoate (PEF) solutions as a key element in creating diverse packaging options for retailers.

Albert Heijn is one of the largest supermarket chains in the Netherlands and one of the oldest retailers in the country. The company was founded in 1887 and has become a household name in the Netherlands after nearly a century of development. 

Characterized by its 100% vegetable content and cyclic polymer structure, PEF is a fully recyclable material. Its excellent barrier properties enable brands and businesses to extend the shelf life of beverages and food products.PEF's versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, including the manufacture of bottles and a variety of packaging.

Avantium's commercial plant at PEF is currently in the final stages of launching operations. The commissioning of the plant will mark the start of the production of new juice bottles for Heijn utilizing PEF solutions. The manufacturing of such PEF-made bottles will be executed by Refresco, a global provider of beverage solutions for different brands and retailers. 

Avantium is proud to claim that this initiative will see the launch of the first PEF-manufactured product in the supermarket chain's private label product range. Tom van Aken, CEO of Avantium, emphasized the importance of this partnership, saying, "Working with Albert Heijn, Avantium can further expand and extend the PEF value chain to meet the growing global demand for recycled and renewable material solutions. "

Avantium's PEF plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands, has a design capacity of 5,000 tons of furandicarboxylic acid. This acid is an essential component of chemicals and plastics, including PEF. The expected date for the start of commercial production at the Delfzijl plant is the second half of 2024.

Heijn's CEO, Marit van Egmond, expressed the company's commitment to sustainability, saying, "By using PEF, we achieve our goal of making packaging more sustainable, and in addition to reducing, recycling and reusing, fossil-free materials are also part of our aspirations." The partnership follows a high-profile offtake agreement signed in August 2022, in which Ambev Brazil committed to purchase Avantium's recyclable PEF material for the production of soft drink bottles.

Avantium N.V., a leading technology company in the field of renewable chemistry, announced that the European PET (polyethylene terephthalate) Bottle Platform (EPBP) has granted Avantium provisional approval to recycle multilayer PET/PEF (polyethylene glycol 2,5-furandicarboxylate) packaging on the European bottle recycling market for a period of three years. 

PEF has good performance|Avantium

PEF is a 100% bio-based, recyclable polymer with a wide range of applications in single-layer bottles, multi-layer bottles, food and beverage packaging, and textiles, etc. PEF has excellent barrier properties to oxygen and carbon dioxide, and therefore can be used as a barrier material for multi-layer PET bottles, and its recyclability can be further improved.

PEF Packaging Products|Avantium

A third-party evaluation showed that PET/PEF multilayer bottles containing 10% PEF at 5% market penetration had no negative impact on the haze and other properties of the rPET products produced. Accordingly, EPBP granted Avantium provisional approval for PEF resin under the following conditions. 

Maximum permitted market penetration is 5%; and No more than 10% PEF in a single bottle.

Dirk De Cuyper, CEO of international rigid plastic packaging supplier Resilux, which signed a conditional offtake agreement for PEF with Avantium in 2021, said, "EPBP's endorsement is an important milestone for PEF's market entry and demonstrates the potential to incorporate PEF performance in PET product design. "

Waste Plastic Bottles|EPBP

Avantium expects to complete construction of the world's first commercial FDCA (2,5-furandicarboxylic acid) plant by the end of 2023 and commercial launch of PEF in 2024.EPBP's provisional approval lasts until June 30, 2025, and Avantium has access to large-scale data from the recycling market in the interim, based on which EPBP will determine EPBP will determine whether the provisional approval can be converted to full approval based on the data.

Dutch company Human Material Loop is using an unusual source of waste to create a zero-carbon wool alternative that doesn't require land or water: human hair. Human Material Loop works with participating barbers to collect hair clippings and process them into yarns and textiles, and sometimes into clothing.

Founder and CEO Zsofia Kollar was initially interested in human hair from what she calls a "cultural and sociological" point of view, before she began to explore its material properties. 

Elsewhere, human hair pads are used to wipe up oil spills and to to create biodegradable stools but Kollar has made the textile industry the best goal of her quest. "The textile industry is not only one of the largest markets in our economy, it's also one of the most environmentally taxing." Kollar said.

"Throughout history, we've used a variety of animal fibers in textiles, but our own hair, which consists of the same keratin as wool, is often overlooked," she continues." Why not treat human hair like any other valuable textile fiber?" 

According to Kollar, the use of human hair eliminates one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions from the textile industry: growing cotton or raising sheep for raw materials like wool. She points out that waste hair does not degrade any soil, does not require any pesticides, does not pollute any water sources, and does not produce any greenhouse gas emissions.

At the same time, the properties of hair make it very popular. It is very flexible, has a high tensile strength, acts as a heat insulator and does not irritate the skin.

Human Material Loop specializes in the development of technologies to process hair for integration into standard machines for yarn and textile production. The company has made staple fiber yarn - a type of yarn made by twisting staple fibers together - from waste hair and is developing several textiles. It has also made several complete costumes, most recently a red sweater-like garment made in collaboration with Henkel, the owner of the Schwartzkopf hair care brand.

The dress was designed to be displayed at hairdressing events as part of an initiative to promote discussion on alternative salon waste management ideas. 

Kollar said seeing such a finished product helps alleviate the discomfort or aversion many people feel when using human products. "It's amazing how ordinary the material looks, similar to any other textile," she said. "When people touch and feel the fabric, a marvelous transformation occurs. Their initial skepticism disappears, giving way to a subconscious acceptance of the material." 

"Rejection usually comes from people who have only heard about it and never seen the dress itself," she continues. "It's a testament to the power of first-hand experience in reshaping perceptions." 

Human Material Loop will also target the architectural and interior products market, Kollar said, adding that she believes hair's moisture resistance, antimicrobial properties, and acoustic and thermal attributes will make it an attractive proposition. The company plans a commercial pilot in 2024 and aims to create a comprehensive fabric library for brands and designers.

November 29, 2023 - Avantium N.V., a leading technology provider in the field of renewable chemistry, announced that it will be partnering with PANGAIA, a company specializing in materials science and apparel manufacturing. Under this partnership, PANGAIA will purchase Avantium's plant-based and recyclable material, PEF (polyethylene furanate ethyl ester), for use in their apparel line, with the goal of creating fossil-fuel free, recyclable materials and products. PEF is made from FDCA (furanodicarboxylic acid) and will be produced at Avantium's flagship FDCA facility. This world's first commercial FDCA facility, currently under construction in Delfzijl, the Netherlands, will see large-scale production begin in the second half of 2024.

Avantium's PEF is a 100% plant-based polymer with a wide range of applications such as bottles and packaging, films and textiles. Over the past year, Avantium has increased its focus on the development of PEF for fibers and yarns that can be used in a variety of applications, including fashion. 

PEF fibers could replace PET fibers, which account for approximately 54% (60.5 million tons) of global fiber production in 2021.PEF fits into the current infrastructure for polyester production and recycling; demonstrating a scalable future for renewable alternatives to fossil fuel-derived PET. PEF-based fibers have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to fossil fuel-based synthetic fibers and can also be recycled in existing assets.

Consumers are making increasingly conscious choices when purchasing apparel, providing a promising market opportunity for plant-based alternatives, including PEF.

As part of its Positive Earth philosophy, PANGAIA is committed to embracing a future that prioritizes renewable energy output and minimizes dependence on fossil fuels.