Aiming to extend the use of biodegradable plastic, Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), an institute affiliated with the national government of Japan, developed a coloring technology with lower environmental impact and no health side effects, it was announced on March 1, 2007.
AIST confirmed that curcumin, a plant-based yellow colorant, is highly compatible with biodegradable plastic and has appropriate colorfastness and mechanical strength properties. It has also been proved that curcumin does not harm human health even when it comes in contact with the mouth, making it applicable to food packages, processing equipment and toys. Curcumin can color biodegradable plastics not only yellow, but also bright red, blue, etc.
Beautifully colored plastics are generally regarded as attractive and are therefore preferred. At the same time, the colorants used in manufacturing biodegradable plastic products need to be safe and harmless to the environment and the human body, particularly products that come in contact with food or the mouth, such as food wrapping films, containers and toys.
Using a rolling method, biodegradable plastic dyed with natural or synthetic food colorants can be manufactured into fabric, film, and sheets as well as into molded items. Hopes are high that biodegradable plastics can be used in various fields and that more environmentally- and human-friendly plastic products will be produced.
* Information on this Web site has been screened from a vast pool of articles in the Japanese-language media, then edited and translated into English. In selecting and writing articles, JFS makes an effort to provide information that will convey the key trends and breakthroughs in a variety of fields.
* For readers who want more details, we have provided links to related JFS articles. If you find any failed links or have suggestions on other links to make, please let us know.
