DuPont and Plantic Announce Starch-Based Biomaterials Alliance
Sep 28, 2007
GENEVA -- DuPont Packaging and Industrial Polymers and Plantic Technologies Limited, an Australian company specializing in starch-based biopolymers, announced plans to collaborate in the development and sale of renewably sourced polymers made from Plantic® technology.
Plans include the collaborative development of new, renewably sourced resins and sheet materials based on high-amylose corn starch, an annually renewable feedstock, for applications including cosmetics, personal care and food packaging trays, caps and containers. In addition to co-developing these new materials, DuPont will market and distribute Plantic's starch-based resins and sheet products under the DuPont™ Biomax® family of products. By joining the strengths of the two companies, the use of renewably sourced materials will be broadened and accelerated.
"Putting DuPont's polymer science and biotechnology together with Plantic's leading-edge starch-based technology helps both companies broaden the performance of this class of polymers, giving the market more options to replace the use of non-renewable feedstocks," Shanna Moore, DuPont global business director for sustainable packaging materials, said. "This is part of the company's overall strategy to double revenues from non-depletable resources to $8 billion by 2015 through a combination of DuPont R&D and targeted strategic partnerships."
Under the agreement, DuPont will market Plantic's starch-based sheet materials for trays and rigid packaging applications in North America, extending Plantic's existing market for these materials, which previously had been Europe and Australia. DuPont will also brand and sell starch-based injection moulding resins made with Plantic technology in all markets except Australia and New Zealand, using the DuPont™ Biomax® brand. The current plans encompass sheet and injection moulding resins with the expectation that more lines will be added to the portfolio as they are co-developed.
"This agreement with DuPont helps Plantic expand the reach of its renewably sourced polymer technology around the world, and significantly enhances the opportunities for product development for this technology by tapping into one of the world's leading science companies," Plantic CEO Grant Dow said.
Plantic-based products will be part of a growing suite of products being marketed under the DuPont Renewably Sourced™ Materials initiative.
Plantic's novel polymer manufacturing technology is based on the use of high-amylose corn starch, a material derived from annual harvesting of specialized (hybrid) corn. The unique chemical and film-forming properties of this type of corn starch allow for development of a range of applications across conventional plastics markets. In addition to being renewably sourced, users can take advantage of excellent end-of-life properties such as biodegradability and compostability.
Plantic Technologies Limited has emerged as a world leading bioplastics innovator. The Australian-based company has won numerous international awards of for achievement in science and has built an international network of major corporate customers, distributors and research and development partners.
DuPont - one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals 17 years ago - has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products such as sustainable packaging materials for key global markets.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.
