GC organized online seminar "Bioplastics: From Global to Local - Legislation and Market"

Feb Thu 2023

February 23, 2023, PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC) held an online seminar titled "Bioplastics: From Global to Local - Legislation and Market" for its clients and partners. The seminar featured expert speakers in the field of bioplastics, including:

  1. Mr. Wiboon Phungsreth: President of the Thai Bioplastics Industry Association (TBIA)
  2. Mr. Wathit Watanyupaisan: Business Development Manager and Technical Engineer at NatureWorks LLC
  3. Mr. Anuwat Pratumyot: Senior Application Engineer at PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited

During the seminar, the speakers discussed the legislation from various regions related to bioplastics, particularly in the EU, which serves as a model for countries worldwide. Examples of legislation mentioned included the Single Use Plastic Directive (SUPD), Policy Framework for bio-based/biodegradable and compostable plastics, Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, and the EU Climate Agenda - Fit for 55. Additionally, the seminar covered Thailand's plastic waste management action plan and introduced bioplastics products from GC, NatureWorks, and PTTMCC BIOCHEM.

 

The bioplastics products introduced and marketed by GC at this seminar included:

  • PLA: Marketed under the Ingeo brand of NatureWorks, with a production capacity of 150,000 tons/year. In 2024, the second Polylactic Acid (PLA) bioplastics plant will open in the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex project in Thailand, using sugar from sugarcane as the main raw material to produce Lactic Acid, which will be used as a raw material to produce 75,000 tons of PLA annually. The highlight of PLA is that it is made from 100% renewable sources, is transparent, strong, and stable, primarily used in rigid packaging. Recommended PLA products for various applications include Ingeo 2003D for extrusion and thermoforming, and Ingeo 6202D for non-woven products.
  • PBS: Marketed under the BioPBS brand of PTTMCC BIOCHEM, with a production capacity of 20,000 tons/year. The product is known for its heat resistance and flexibility, commonly used in flexible packaging. Recommended BioPBS products for various applications include BioPBS FZ79AC for paper coating and BioPBS FZ78TM for non-woven applications.
  • Bioplastics Compound: Marketed under the PlastMate brand of GC, featuring products that meet the demands of various industries, including packaging used in coffee shops, dining utensils, and films designed for various packaging bags. The standout feature of this product is that it is a bioplastic compound designed to have properties tailored to specific applications, such as products with increased rigidity and heat resistance, or products with longer shelf lives compared to standard bioplastics. Recommended products in the Bioplastic compound category for various applications include Plastmate PL04006E, suitable for extrusion with an extended shelf life, such as in the straw industry, and Plastmate PB05001F for film-related applications.

The benefits of using bioplastic or bio-compound products include lower carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional plastic products (according to research published in the journal Industrial Biotechnology) and the use of raw materials sourced from nature, such as corn starch, cassava starch, or sugarcane, resulting in biodegradable products that are environmentally friendly.

For more information, please contact csc@pttgcgroup.com.