A biodegradable film for the replacement of single use plastic was recently released during the 256th meeting of the governing body of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) at the National Agricultural Science Centre Complex, New Delhi. These PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) and Corn Starch based biodegradable films were developed using the commercial extrusion blown molding method.
The thickness, transparency of this film and carrying capacity are comparable with the presently used conventional plastic for different uses including single use plastic. Carry bags of the different sizes – 350×300 MM; 400×300 MM; 450×450 MM- were developed for handling of 1 to 2 kilograms of fruits and vegetables; pairs of clothes/ food-grains and clothes.
Mass scale production cost of this biodegradable film is expected to be the same as that of commercial plastic film. This film can be considered as a true replacement of presently used single use plastic, ICAR sources said.
Bio-polymers driven research would contribute to a sustainable environment, generation of high value from agriculture feed stocks) and environment-friendly raw materials for healthy life, an ICAR press statement said.
To An Phat Holdings, 2022 marks an essential milestone in the development journey. This year, An Phat Holdings celebrates 20 years of establishment – 20 years of “aspirational footsteps” together towards glory, 20 years of building a solid foundation for realizing dreams of a green future.
Two decades and one journey to build a green future
From steady business growth
Founded in 2002, having spent two decades of building and developing with relentless efforts, An Phat Holdings has successfully grown from a small factory named Anh Hai Duy to a leading corporation in Southeast Asia in high-tech and environmentally-friendly plastic. We have gradually affirmed its position in the market and achieved outstanding business achievements.
Up to now, An Phat Holdings has become a multi-sector business with 17 subsidiaries operating in the various fields: compostable materials and finished products, packaging, engineering plastics and building materials plastics, precision engineering and molding, raw materials and chemicals for plastic industry, industrial real estate, trade and logistics.
Start from a small factory, An Phat Holdings has become a leading multi-sector group in Southeast Asia.
An Phat Holdings’ products have been present in 70 countries and territories such as the United States, Japan, Europe, Korea, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Philippines, etc.
Accompanying with domestic industry development and production in supporting industries, An Phat Holdings is one of the few Vietnamese enterprises that seriously invest in this field with more than 50 years of experience. Currently, our group is developing an extensive network of customers with large partners such as Honda, Toyota, Samsung, Piaggio, Brother, LG, Panasonic, etc. Our strategy is to develop high technology to be directly involved in the global supply chain.
As proof of the rapid innovation and creativity, An Phat Holdings and its subsidiaries have continuously recorded positive results such as Vietnam Gold Star Award 2021, Vietnam’s Top 100 typical brands in 2021, Top 500 largest enterprises in Vietnam in 2021, the Top 100 largest private companies in Vietnam in 2021, Top 10 mid-cap listed companies having the most outstanding annual report in 2021, Reliable Exporter, and Corporate Excellence Award 2020 (APEA 2020), etc.
To development of high-quality human resources
“People are an organization’s most valuable asset and the key to it’s success.” Caring for people is always the top priority of An Phat Holdings to build a robust and sustainable business. After 20 years, An Phat Holdings has risen to become a leading enterprise in Southeast Asia with more than 5,000 talents worldwide. It is also 5,000 pieces with their own colours standing next to each other to create a unified, united, solid, and brilliant collective.
An Phat people share the same beliefs and ambitions to create a strong team.
Under An Phat Holdings’ roof, the company culture is derived from the word “Human,” always taking human development as the core factor.
Employees here are allowed to work in an environment that helps them maximize their ability through diverse work experiences, challenges, and opportunities to learn from the company’s excellent leaders, forming a comprehensive “ecosystem” full of excitement.
Ready for a prosperous sustainable future
Doing business towards sustainable values and protecting the benefit of human welfare, nature, and society not only in Vietnam but also for the world is the strategic direction of An Phat Holdings.
One small act has the power to make a big change. A compostable bag or wood sawdust straw produced today will also improve the ecosystem in the next 1,000 years. Keeping that belief, the PBAT compostable resins plant project and AnEco compostable product line were invested in research and development to create a superior solution to replace disposable plastic products.
AnEco – the green solution to the problem of “white pollution.”
An Phat Holdings is proud to be one of the few enterprises in the world and the first in Vietnam to pioneer in successfully researching, manufacturing and developing compostable materials and finished products that meet the most stringent global standards.
Another outstanding mark of An Phat Holdings is the field of industrial real estate with two projects, An Phat Complex and An Phat 1, both built in the direction of a green ecosystem complex, becoming eco-friendly industrial parks and belonging to the critical economic triangle in the North of Vietnam.
In the journey of growth over the past 20 years, An Phat Holdings has constantly been striving to create a green future to catch up with the world trend in building a sustainable business model according to ESG criteria and contributing to realizing Vietnam’s commitment to the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26 towards bringing net emissions to zero.
The past two decades will be a springboard for An Phat Holdings, with its steadfast will and right goals, to continue to thrive with the community and society.
From September 14-15, An Phat Holdings attended the 2022 International Bioplastics Conference in Incheon, Korea. The event is organized by The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), Korea Institute of Advancement of Technology (KIAT), and Incheon Metropolitan City, with the participation of more than 500 experts from the leading countries for biodegradable plastics including the United States, the European Union, Japan, and China; with Korean and international enterprises.
With the theme “Plastics, Circle Back to Nature”, the 2022 International Bioplastics Conference aims to develop and commercialize sustainable and biodegradable plastic alternative to achieve a plastic-free and circular economy.
Within the framework of the event, a session led by experts took place with the topic “UN Environment Assembly, EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, International Biodegradable plastic trends and government regulations, Bioplastic Assessment and Certification trends, bioplastic raw materials and product research and development, and commercialization cases”. Korean and international experts will together share about the industry trends and technological level of biodegradable plastics, and look for future industry development directions.
From the perspective of one of the leading corporations in Southeast Asia in the field of high-tech and environmentally-friendly plastic, Mr. Nguyen Le Thang Long, Deputy CEO of An Phat Holdings, presented a presentation on current trends and regulations on biodegradable plastics in Vietnam.
“Along with the development trend of the world plastic industry, the research on the use of biodegradable plastic is currently the concern of plastic enterprises in Vietnam. It is expected that by 2025, Vietnam’s total demand for biodegradable plastics will be about 80,000 tons. Thus, the potential for development for biodegradable plastic is significant.” Mr. Nguyen Le Thang Long shared.
Proud to be a pioneer in successfully manufacturing compostable materials and products, An Phat Holdings will accompany the Government of Vietnam in the journey to realize the UN’s commitment to climate change at COP 26, which aims to bring net-zero emissions, while taking advantage of 20 years of exporters, An Phat Holdings will bring made-in-Vietnam green products to the world.
On the sideline of the conference, an exhibition of technology and bioplastic products also took place on the same day. Representative of An Phat Holdings, AnKor Bioplastics company introduced to visitors new technologies and AnEco compostable products.
As a subsidiary of An Phat Holdings, AnKor Bioplastics is responsible for manufacturing and developing 100% compostable products. It’s also An Phat Holdings Research and Development center in the field of environmentally friendly materials and products.
Angel Yeast (Yichang, Hubei, China), a globally listed yeast and yeast extract manufacturer, has inked an agreement with Bejing based PhaBuilder Biotechnology (China) to build a large manufacturing base for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in Yichang. The pair will set up a joint venture company to drive the application of synthetic biology in the biotechnology industry.
PHA is a polyester produced naturally by microorganisms. The biodegradable and biocompatible properties of PHA make it highly sought-after in fields such as biomedical material and biodegradable packaging material.
“This collaboration with PhaBuilder marks a milestone and a significant step forward for Angel Yeast in synthetic biology. At Angel Yeast, we are very keen on innovation and exploration of new landscapes in the industry. This project is also part of our efforts to be an international and professional biotechnology company”, said Tao Xiong, chairman of Angel Yeast.
He added that the partnership is expected to forge a new venture in bioeconomy, fuel innovation in synthetic biology, and drive the expansion of the global market.
Guoqiang Chen, the founder of PhaBuilder, added that by working with Angel Yeast on the initiative, major inroads have been made in converting technology breakthroughs into industrial programs for synthetic biology.
“The new production line of PHA with the capacity of 30,000 tonnes will certainly bring more advanced technologies, new services and products for the industry and consumers. It will also create a ‘greener’ lifestyle. We are thrilled to see it happen”, said Chen.
PhaBuilder invested about EUR 150 million in the new NGIB (Next Generation Industrial Biotechnology) based PHA plant, which is planned to go operational in the last quarter of 2023.
Food packages fulfil their most important tasks when they protect food and minimise waste. Thin plastic films are nevertheless difficult to recycle, and they often end up in the wrong places after use.
VTT has developed a solution to the problem of plastic packaging. Regenerated or recrystallised cellulose can replace plastic film.
“We can produce transparent and flexible cellulose film. The consumer cannot distinguish between the crystal-clear material and traditional oil-based plastic. Cellulose film can resist dampness, but in nature, it disappears as completely as a sheet of paper does. The product is biobased and biodegradable”, says VTT Research Professor Ali Harlin.
In addition to their protective properties, plastics are important because consumers want packages that allow them to see the product itself. However, once they have been used, many packages are sources of problems.
If a package has both paper and plastic, the consumer may wonder if it can be recycled with cardboard, or if the plastic needs to be torn off first. Some of the materials have alternating layers of fibre and plastic. Many packages are placed among mixed waste by people who cannot think of a better way of disposing of it. Plastic that ends up in a cardboard recycling bin can be removed, but the plastic usually ends up incinerated.
“The cellulose film developed by VTT can replace plastic as a more climate-friendly solution. It also makes recycling easy, as it can be placed in cardboard recycling along with other packages”, says Atte Virtanen, Vice President, for Biomaterial processing and products at VTT.
Finland remains far from the goals set by the EU for reducing the environmental harm caused by plastics. At present about 20 % of plastics are collected, and even less ends up recycled. Under the EU target, 55 % of plastics should be recycled by 2025.
Finland is currently more of a packaging material country than a printing paper country. Last year the value of sales of cardboard exceeded that of paper for the first time. The forest industry is looking for new products with a big market, which bring value-added. Flexible, transparent cellulose film is one such product. The world market for plastic films was about USD 110 billion last year.
“VTT has researched cellulose films for more than ten years, and for more than six years on regenerated cellulose in transparent films”, Virtanen says.
The production of packaging material is in the pilot phase, and it could be in extensive industrial use in 5–7 years.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) published a report assessing the sustainability of agricultural plastic products[1] recommending the replacement of non-biodegradable, conventional polymers with biodegradable, bio-based polymers.
“We welcome this recognition of the environmental benefits of these bioplastic products”, commented François de Bie, Chairman of European Bioplastics (EUBP). “Bio-based and soil-biodegradable mulch films help both in reducing dependence on fossil carbon sources, by using renewable carbon instead, and by playing a valuable role in reducing residual plastic pollution in soil, which can significantly impact agricultural productivity”.
The FAO study focuses on agricultural plastic products used in a range of different value chains. A qualitative risk assessment, which accompanies the study, analyses 13 specific agricultural products. “Significantly, for six out of 13 assessed products, biodegradable, bio-based plastics are recommended as preferable substitutes for conventional plastic material”, said de Bie. The list of recommended products included mulch films, fishing gear, polymer coated fertilizers, tree guards and shelters, plant support twines, and pesticide impregnated fruit protection bags.
Mulch films represent the second largest share of plastic films used in agriculture. “These films, made from soil-biodegradable plastics, provide significant benefits where retrieval, recycling, and reuse of conventional plastics pose significant problems. They are specifically designed to biodegrade effectively in situ and can therefore be incorporated into the soil post-harvest”, explained François de Bie. In contrast, especially thin, non-biodegradable mulching films display an insufficient collection, management, and retrieval, which can lead to a significant level of plastic pollution in the fields in which they are used. Even where conventional mulch films are removed from the field, they are often heavily contaminated with soils and plant residues, which inhibits the recycling process.
The FAO report also emphasises the need to develop polymers that are biodegradable in the marine environment. “Although any kind of littering, should be avoided, a certain level of unavoidable loss of fishing gear will always take place. Therefore, it is important to foster the adoption of marine-biodegradable solutions”, stated the Chairman of EUBP. In the case of used products contaminated with fish residues, such as fish collection boxes, biopolymers, according to FAO, may ease the organic recycling process.
Commenting on the study, Hasso von Pogrell, Managing Director of EUBP said “EUBP welcomes all studies, such as this one, that contribute towards improving knowledge of the current data situation. This can’t be done by the bioplastics industry alone, and in order to establish a proper data pool, we also need stronger political support. For the European market, the European Commission should lead efforts to facilitate and coordinate data pooling in order to develop a more accurate picture of where the use of bioplastics brings real benefits in reducing conventional plastic pollution”. The report also highlights the role of research and innovation grants as means of pump-priming new ideas which lead to the development of new products. “However, the funding of research alone is not enough. An appropriate policy framework for bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics is also needed, to capture potential for innovation and the economic, environmental and societal sustainable benefits of these products for the European Union”, concluded von Pogrell.
In a bid to reduce plastic waste, France is banning plastic packaging for nearly all fruit and vegetables from January 2022, the environment ministry announced this week.
Implementing a February 2020 law, the government published a list of about 30 fruits and vegetables that will have to be sold without plastic packaging from 1 January.
The list of vegetables includes; leeks, courgettes, aubergines, peppers, cucumbers, potatoes and carrots, round tomatoes, onions and turnips, cabbages, cauliflowers, squashes, parsnips, radishes, Jerusalem artichokes, and root vegetables.
Fruits such as apples, pears, oranges, kiwis, lemon, citrus, prunes, melon, pineapples, mango are also included.
“We use an outrageous amount of single-use plastic in our daily lives. The circular economy law aims at cutting back the use of throwaway plastic and boost its substitution by other materials or reusable and recyclable packaging,” the ministry said in a statement.
It estimated that 37% of fruit and vegetables are sold with packaging and expects that the measure will prevent more than one billion useless plastic packaging items per year.
French fruit sellers federation president Francois Roch said switching to cardboard will be difficult in such a short time.
The packaging ban is part of a multi-year government program to phase out plastic. The ban will be extended to all fruit and vegetables no later than June 2026, the environment ministry said, in order to find “alternative solutions” to plastic packaging. This would be for ripe fruits and berries that could deteriorate if sold in bulk.
The leaders of two of the world’s largest plastic makers today called for a global agreement among nations to eliminate plastic waste in the environment, urging governments and stakeholders worldwide to press for a treaty resolution at upcoming United Nations meetings.
Dow Chairman and CEO Jim Fitterling and LyondellBasell CEO Bob Patel participated in today’s Wall Street Journal special event “Getting There: A Global Agreement to End Plastic Waste.” They spoke on behalf of the American Chemistry Council and the International Council of Chemical Associations, which represent leading chemical and plastic makers globally.
The two told the Journal’s Phillipa Leighton-Jones that plastic makers are committed and eager to increase constructive engagement with governments and other stakeholders to advance a circular economy, in which plastics are reused instead of discarded. “Simply put,” said Fitterling, “Our vision is to prevent plastics from entering our environment by achieving universal access to waste collection and reusing instead of discarding plastics.”
They urged support for a resolution at the UN Environment Assembly in February 2022 that would begin negotiations on a global agreement to end plastic waste in the environment. “We should not confuse the value of plastics with the issue of plastic waste,” said Patel. “This is a global challenge requiring a global solution. With support from the UN, we can develop a global framework to help us solve this critical issue.”
To enable their vision, plastic makers have proposed a set of five principles to eliminate plastic waste, accelerate a circular economy for plastics, and serve as the basis for a global agreement.
All governments agree to eliminate plastic waste leakage into the environment by a specific date and develop regionally appropriate national action plans and policies that allow flexibility based on local circumstances.
Achieve widespread access to waste collection and support deployment of technologies (including advanced recycling) to increase the circularity of plastics.
Recognize the role plastics play in a lower carbon future by supporting life cycle analysis as a means to evaluate impacts of plastics and alternatives.
Support innovation in product and packaging design by developing, with industry input, global guidance on design, recycled content, and resource optimization.
Measure progress on plastic waste through globally accepted definitions and reporting metrics, using validated and harmonized methodologies.
“Jim and Bob have taken a leadership role in developing solutions to eliminate plastic waste in our environment, both at their companies and for the industry,” said Joshua Baca, vice president of plastics at the American Chemistry Council. “Plastic makers look forward to participating in discussions on a new agreement that will help bring scalable solutions to ending plastic waste around the world.”
Mura Technology, the UK-based pioneer of an advanced process capable of recycling mixed plastic waste and its global exclusive licensing partner, KBR, have today announced that Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, a core company of the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings (MCHC) Group, has decided to develop its first Hydro-PRT (Hydrothermal Plastic Recycling Technology) project in Japan.
“This the latest in a series of agreements that Mura and KBR have signed,” said Dr. Steve Mahon, CEO of Mura Technology. Doug Kelly, KBR President, Technology, added: “Alongside Mura Technology, we are excited to work with MCC on this Hydro-PRT project in Japan and make strides towards a plastics circular economy. This brings us closer to achieving our common goal of a clean and green future.”
Hydro-PRT, the technology which is licensed by Mura and KBR, is capable of recycling end-of-life plastic that would otherwise be incinerated, sent to landfill, or leak into the environment as plastic pollution. By converting mixed plastics back into fossil-replacement oils and chemicals, Hydro-PRT enables plastic waste to be upgraded into new plastics and other products, including road materials. Unlike many other recycling processes, there is no anticipated limit to the number of times the same material can be recycled with Hydro-PRT and the technology is able to process many types of plastic which currently cannot be recycled via traditional mechanical recycling processes. The use of supercritical water in the Hydro-PRT℠ technology makes the process inherently scalable, allowing for efficient scale-up at point of need.
This latest project, which will be based at MCC’s Ibaraki Plant in Japan, is expected to complete construction in 2023. It will have the capacity to handle 20,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year – with MCC studying the possibility of increasing capacity in the future. Initially, the project will aim to use post-industrial plastics. With 9 million tonnes of plastic waste arising annually in Japan , MCC will seek to extend the scope of the project and target these plastics as raw materials.
MCC sees this as an extremely important step forward and ‘will continue to study and implement solutions towards a circular economy’, said Shigeru Handa, Chief Operating Officer, Basic Materials Domain, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation.
In addition to this collaboration with MCC, Mura and KBR are currently exploring additional projects in Asia, the USA and Europe to supplement the global roll-out of Hydro-PRT and meet Mura’s goal of developing one million tonnes of recycling capacity by 2025.
“Plastic waste is polluting our environment at an alarming rate, not to mention the carbon emissions caused by utilising the fossil fuels needed to make virgin plastics. We need global, sustainable, and scalable solutions today. That is why we are taking an international approach – to scale fast and meet the challenge head on – and we are proud of the work that will be completed at the Ibaraki plant. Our collaboration with KBR makes this kind of global expansion possible, and we look forward to exploring new future projects with them in Europe and Asia in the coming months,” said Mahon.
Plastics producers have called for the creation of a framework to set a mandatory recycled content target within the European Union by 2030.
PlasticsEurope, which represents around 100 companies producing more than 90% of all polymers in Europe, has called for a 30% target to be set by the start of the next decade, following the European Commission’s proposal for such a target for plastics packaging.
“The call for a regulated recycled content target for plastics packaging in the EU demonstrates our commitment to accelerate the transformation to a circular economy, helping implement the EU Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan,” said Dr Markus Steilemann, President of PlasticsEurope.
On 11 June 2020, the Commission announced it would start an open public consultation on the review of requirements for packaging to ensure packaging waste can be reduced, and to make it easier to recycle, as part of the 1994 Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD).
According to PlasticsEurope, its members are already working towards this target by investing in cutting-edge technological solutions, including chemical recycling, which it states is “essential to achieve such a mandatory target.”
“Our members’ planned investments in this vital technology and infrastructure range from €2.6 billion by 2025 to €7.2 billion by 2030 in Europe,” a press release read.
The association stressed that a “concerted effort must be made”, and that support from European institutions and the whole value chain will be needed.
“We need a harmonised EU policy framework that provides certainty and incentivises further investment in collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure and technologies, including chemical recycling,” said Virginia Janssens, Managing Director of PlasticsEurope.
Chemical recycling is a process by which a polymer is chemically reduced to its original form, to later be remade into new plastic materials that go on to become new plastic products.
