industry
NEWS Europeans are expecting a period of sustained growth in the bioplastics industry with worldwide capacity growing from 150,000 tons in 2006 to 2 million tons by 2011. Approximately 300 delegates from 26 countries heard speakers addressing different facets of bioplastic development at the third annual European Bioplastics Conference in Berlin on Nov. 5-6, sponsored by industry association European Bioplastics. Two keynote speakers highlighted the industry’s growth and potential. “The bioplastics market has already become a considerable market, both on a retail and resin level,” said Michael Stumpp, group vice president for BASF Corp. “I am convinced that the market will grow quickly and sustainably within the next few years.” Armand Klein, Europe business director of applied biosciences at DuPont, added, “We have to reduce our environmental footprint drastically. Renewably sourced materials, which are already available today, can provide a step in the right direction.” How that direction may affect land use and whether there is enough land for bioplastics production was addressed in a panel discussion. “Already in 2006, the European Com-
PHOTO: EUROPEAN BIOPLASTICS
European Bioplastics conference details market
Udo Hemmerling of the German Farmers’ Association, far left, told attendees of the European Bioplastics Conference that farmers can meet demand for both food and biobased products.
mission assessed the anticipated impact of a 10 percent biofuel target on needed land and grain prices, and ascertained that the production of biofuels would only have a moderate impact,” said Andreas Pilzecker, the European Commission’s directorate-general for agriculture. “Bioplastics require a significantly smaller share of agricultural production and are therefore even less responsible for a price increase.” Michael Carus, director of the Nova
Institute, underscored that statement by telling conference attendees that only 0.05 percent of European agricultural land is used to produce bioplastics. The panel also called for the European Common Agricultural Policy to be more aligned with the industrial utilization of renewable raw materials. “It is high time that the industrial and energy utilization of biomass is equated in Brussels,” Carus said. Udo Hemmerling of the German Farmers’ Association added, “We don’t have to distinguish between the use of crops for food or industrial raw materials. The farmers are flexible and can respond to every demand for more food or more biobased products.” Other speakers addressed the themes of certification and labeling. In additon, more than 25 companies presented their latest products and services in the bioplastics sector, including new packaging solutions featuring plastic film combinations for improved barrier properties and a longer shelf life, improvements in compounds and additives, and developments in technical products. -Susanne Retka Schill
Saskatchewan funds biomass briquette project Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Environment has awarded Titan Clean Energy Projects Corp. in Saskatoon with a $160,250 Green Technology Commercialization Grant to help bring its biomass briquetting technology to market. “We are a technology-neutral company that brings different technologies together in order to produce value-added products from biomass,” said Jamie Bakos, chief executive officer of Titan Clean Energy Projects. Titan Clean Energy’s process will turn agricultural and forestry waste, including bark, sawdust and oat hulls, into a dense briquette using an extrusion process. The company is having a turnkey briquetting facility manufactured in Europe that will be moved to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and producing in early 2009. “We will be at the border between forestry and agricultural production 20 BIOMASS MAGAZINE 1|2009
in the province,” Bakos said. “There are excellent opportunities for feedstocks in Canada for this technology.” Titan calls its briquettes Maratherm to acknowledge their long-burning capacity. The company is marketing these briquettes manufactured in Europe prior to the commissioning of the Canadian facility. It sells two products, a log-shaped fuel for residential heating and briquettes to replace coal in industrial boilers. “The log is a premium product for heating stoves,” Bakos said. “It is very long-burning because of its low moisture and density. There are no waxes or paraffins that would make the log burn quickly. The bulk of our material will be used for industrial heating fuel to replace coal.” According to the company, the process has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 35,000 metric tons an-
nually, the equivalent of taking more than 8,000 cars off the road each year. Bakos said the company believes its customers will be eligible for carbon credits, but at this time, the law in Saskatchewan isn’t clear on that point. “Other provinces are making stronger moves toward greenhouse gas trading and valuation,” he said. “We are in wait-and-see [mode] toward greenhouse gas credits, but we see that coming in the future.” Titan will use its grant for specific budget items, including capital, equipment and operating expenses for the project. “This is a very specialized process,” Bakos said. “This technology is not operating in this country. We are bringing a new technology to the country to produce solid biomass fuel in a very innovative way.” -Jerry W. Kram