Bioplastics

Mater-Bi™ bioplastic, made using natural starch and biodegradable polyesters is suitable for injection moulding, sheet and film applications. Mater-Bi™ conforms to the Australian AS4736-2006 and European EN 13432-2000 requirement for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation.

Typical applications:

• Film for agricultural mulching
• Carrier bags
• Liners for separate organic waste collection
• Personal care products
• Catering products (cutlery, plates and cups)
• Food packaging
• Pet products
• Expanded packaging products

Mater-Bi™ is a bioplastic material with similar properties to conventional plastics. Based on natural renewable resources, products made from Mater-Bi™ retain their properties while in use, then when disposed of into an environment containing bacteria, biodegrade to carbon dioxide, water and organic humus with no polymeric or toxic residue.

The key raw materials are natural starch and biodegradable polyesters. As Mater-Bi™ biodegrades, carbon dioxide and water evolved are absorbed in growing more corn and other natural ingredients.

A range of Mater-Bi™ grades is available, suitable for the manufacture of many consumable items.

A Mater-Bi™ bag breathes, helping to reduce the weight of the organic waste during storage and transport by up to 50%? Smaller or less trucks are required to transport the waste, less fuel is used and less waste is ultimately to be composted.

It is biodegradable, recyclable and compostable

It can be used like conventional plastic materials

It can be coloured with biodegradable masterbatches and with natural pigments

It can be heat laminated to paper, cardboard, cotton and other natural fibers

It is intrinsically antistatic

It can be sterilized by gamma rays

It can be glued with solvents and water-based adhesives

Film made from Mater-Bi™ biodegrades rapidly in both commercial and home composting systems. Contact us and we will provide a sample so you can test it yourself.

• Organic carbon of biological origin: 50% (corresponds to 56kg of natural ingredients per 100kg). 
• Recyclable by organic recovery due to biodegradability and compostability.

• Identification of the most suitable Mater-Bi™ grade.
• Design of the application. 
• Advice on processing conditions

Possibly the most important use is for the collection and disposal of organic waste to composting using biodegradable bags made from Mater-Bi™. Currently in Europe, approximately 5000 municipalities use Mater-Bi™ bags for the collection and disposal of organic waste. Mater-Bi™ has been tested and certified to the most demanding Australian and  European standards for biodegradable and compostable plastics including AS4736 and  EN13432.

Planet Ark estimates that Australians are throwing away 3.3 million tonnes of food each year-enough to fill Sydney Harbour three times. Most is disposed of to landfill, a complete waste of a very valuable resource. 

• The bag is biodegradable to the same extent and at the same rate as the food scraps
• A Mater-Bi™ bag breathes, helping to reduce the weight of the organic waste during storage and transport by up to 50%. Smaller or less trucks are required to transport the waste, less fuel is used and less waste is ultimately to be composted.
• Because it breathes, the putrescible waste in a Mater-Bi™ bag does not develop strong odours as it does in the plastic bag.
• As the bag biodegrades in composting, breaking down to CO2, water and carbon biomass just the same as the food scraps, there is no contamination with plastic particles so the compost is of high quality. 

Biodegradable and compostable according to:  

• AS4736-2006 
• EN13432 
• ASTM D6400 

Compatible with any type of composting plant (from home composting to rotary fermenting reactor).

Down load more information on Bioplastics

Clean Up Australia estimates that 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles are killed by plastic debris. The UK-based Marine Conservation Society further estimates that up to one million seabirds are killed or injured each year by plastic debris.

A Mater-Bi™ bag will biodegrade in any environment which contains bacteria, whether a compost heap, the soil or the sea. Because it is heavier than water, a Mater-Bi™ bag will sink from the surface and biodegrade at the bottom of the sea, river or lake. It does not eliminate the hazard for marine wildlife, but significantly reduces it.

Mater-Bi™ biodegradable bags are made in Australia in all sizes from small bags suitable for packing frozen fishing bait right through to large industrial bin liners. They can be made to virtually any size and thickness.

The Mater-Bi™ technology was and is continually being developed by Novamont in Italy. Dr. Catia Bastioli, CEO of Novamont, was awarded the prestigious international prize of "European Inventor of the Year 2007".

The "European Inventor of the Year" award is a joint initiative by the EU Commission and the European Patent Office