New Polymers for Renewable Thermoplastics
In today's drive towards a sustainable circular economy, the demand for eco-friendly plastics, produced from renewable resources, is on the rise. These plastics should not only be easily recyclable but also, when needed, biodegradable. What's crucial, though, is that they don't compromise on their functional properties like strength, durability, , and thermal stability, all while meeting specific product demands.
At Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, we're at the forefront of innovation, crafting advanced, high-performance circular polymers that seamlessly replace traditional fossil-based plastics across a multitude of applications.
Advanced elastomers and high-performance barrier materials
While an increasing array of biobased and biodegradable plastics (such as PLA, PHA, PBS, PBSA, and soon PEF) is commercially available, and some conventional plastics can now be sourced from renewable materials, there's a pressing demand for innovative biobased plastics tailored to specific functionalities. Imagine the possibilities of biodegradable rubber-like materials or biobased plastics with exceptional water vapor barrier properties. Furthermore, further development of existing biobased plastics is paramount, involving optimization of their characteristics, transitioning to alternative biobased raw materials and byproducts, and developing more efficient production methods.
Pioneering new polymer innovations
At Wageningen Food & Biobased Research we have decades of expertise in creating (new) building blocks and polymers derived from renewable sources. Our approach blends (electro)chemical techniques with biocatalytic syntheses. We have the ability to scale up laboratory-developed methods to pilot-scale production, achieving batches of approximately 3 kilograms each. Our state-of-the-art facilities enable us to comprehensively characterize both monomers and polymers, as well as to adeptly transform them into plastic formulations (compounds), films, and injection-molded products.
Harnessing starch and fermentation for innovative building blocks
Within the HIPPSTAR project, we've successfully engineered top-tier plastics derived from starch. Our focal point lies on the building block isoidide, which significantly enhances the thermal and mechanical properties of polyesters.
In the SPACECRAFT project, we create new building blocks for plastics through anaerobic fermentation. These building blocks are not only synthesized, but also adeptly transformed into cutting-edge plastics. Additionally, we explore the development of novel processes for extracting sugars from locally sourced raw materials like sugar beets, potatoes, corn, and grains.
Get in touch
Are you in search of renewable and biobased thermoplastics tailored for specific applications? Don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're eager to assist you in developing the ideal plastic solution for your specific needs.