Unitika Limited, a major Japanese manufacturer of polymers and advanced fiber materials, has successfully developed a highly heat-resistant biodegradable container and is now focusing on its commercialization. Polylactic acid (PLA) itself, a basic material for biodegradable plastics, is not suitable to make products that are used, stored, or shipped at temperatures exceeding 60 degrees Celsius, because it starts to deform at 57 degrees.

But based on years of research into polymer modification technology, combined with its fabrication technology, Unitika has succeeded in developing the world's first biodegradable sheet molded container that is heat resistant up to 130 degrees Celsius, the temperature specified for heat-resistant materials under the Household Goods Quality Labeling Law. At this temperature the containers are microwavable, enabling applications as meal boxes and hot drink cups, etc.

Terramac, the trade name for this biodegradable plastic, is made mainly from PLA. To date, the company has been expanding its application in uses such as packaging for Sony minidisks, plastic-windowed phone bill envelopes of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. (a major cell phone company), tea bags, and food waste bags.

With the newly developed highly heat-resistant containers, the company is making an effort to seek new applications, such as convenience store meal boxes that can be composted together with food leftovers, as referred to in Japan's Food Recycling Law that went into effect in April 2001.





Posted: 2003/11/22 03:38:24 PM
Japanese version

TAG Food/Water , Manufacturing industry , Material reduction , Non-manufacturing industry , System/Law , Technology