Recently, Corbion showcased its Luminy® PLA portfolio. Luminy® PLA is made from annually renewable biomass that grows by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As a viable solution for a range of packaging applications, PLA helps reduce greenhouse gases.
Luminy® PLA is a bio-based material with a 75% reduction in carbon footprint compared to traditional plastic materials. In addition, TotalEnergies Corbion offers recyclable Luminy®rPLA, which contains 20% and 30% post-industrial and post-consumer recycled content, in compliance with ISO 22095. rPLA is a blend of pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled materials. Material quantification is based on mass balance distribution, accessed and verified by SCS Global Services, a third party certification body.
"As part of our 'Keep the Cycle' campaign, we have established a number of closed-loop systems where, for example, Luminy PLA cups and bottles are collected, sorted and cleaned, and used again as raw materials to produce high-quality Luminy PLA. " said François de Bie, Senior Global Marketing Director. He added: "Ahead of upcoming packaging and packaging waste regulations, we have offered interested parties 20% and 30% recycled content containing Luminy® PLA." Third-party certified rPLA is commercially available and has the same properties as virgin Luminy® PLA and comes with food contact certification. companies such as Coexpan, Sansu and Esol are already actively offering products made from Luminy PLA that contain up to 30% recycled PLA.
Alternatively, a viable end-of-life option for PLA is composting. "While biodegradable tea bags and coffee pods are already widely used in the Netherlands, we are now seeing rapid progress toward widespread adoption in the EU," said Françoise de Bi. Compostable tea bags and coffee pods reduce plastic contamination from composting and prevent valuable organic biomass from ending up in landfills or being burned. Recently, we have partnered with Danimer Scientific to introduce home compostable compounds for a range of packaging applications that are available in the marketplace.
