Cardia Bioplastics Limited / CARDIA BIOPLASTICS: WORLD FIRST BIODEGRADABLE BAG MADE FROM CO2 EMISSIONS Processed and transmitted by Thomson Reuters. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Company now seeking international commercial partner to advance the technology
Melbourne, November 22, 2010: Melbourne packaging technology company Cardia Bioplastics Limited (ASX: CNN) has developed a world first biodegradable plastic bag created from a blend of CO‚‚ emissions and starch.
Company Chairman, Mr. Pat Volpe, said Cardia had successfully completed a first production run of the revolutionary carrier bags, known as CO2S(TM) - or carbon dioxide plus a starch-based renewable resource.
A small production run of bags was produced at the company's plant in China. These bags will reduce the petroleum content of current biodegradable plastic bags (which already contain up to 50% less petroleum) by a further 50 per cent.
"This is the first time CO‚‚ emissions have been transformed in this way, and the development has the potential to revolutionize the production of bioplastics around the globe," Mr Volpe said.
Pollutant CO‚‚ (carbon dioxide) emissions are captured prior to being released into the atmosphere.
This pollutant, sequestered from natural gas deposits in China, is then transformed into a PPC (polypropylene carbonate) polymer and blended with a renewable resource (starch) using Cardia's proprietary technology, which is known as intensive melt blending.
Cardia technical director, Dr John Scheirs, said it was this starch blending process that was unique.
"Our process ensures the PPC is made fully compatible with starch. The incorporation of PPC in fully biodegradable starch-based blown film materials enhances stiffness, tensile strength and improves the processability of the starch blend," he said.
"Such films are suitable for plastic bag manufacturing and have excellent heat sealing properties."
Cardia says this revolutionary development promises to offer more environmentally friendly packaging alternatives globally, with the Company now in discussion with several parties interested in the technology.
"This new process has the additional benefit of producing plastics with a smaller carbon footprint as the PPC is made using carbon dioxide. Hence in carbon accounting terms, the starch and approximately half of the PPC are carbon neutral," Dr Scheirs said.
Cardia now plans to perfect the new CO2S (TM) technology by increasing the PPC content (made from CO‚‚ emissions) and the renewable resource component so that up to 60% less virgin oil will be used.
Cardia will also aim to achieve international compostability accreditation standards for CO2S(TM).
Chairman, Mr Pat Volpe added: "We are delighted to be at the cutting edge of green technology by developing a new generation of bioplastic films for carrier bags and other products that are able to transform a problematic waste pollutant into a product that is an environmentally friendly alternative."
"Corporations around the world are seeking greener ways of doing business. This is one way they can significantly minimise their carbon footprint."
The Company says manufacturing could easily be scaled up to meet commercial volumes with the aim to provide CO2S(TM) bags at prices below current compostable carrier bags.
Mr. Volpe said: "We are now ready to commercialize this unique and novel technology and are in the process of sourcing a suitable international partner with oil or gas wells or refineries producing CO‚‚ emissions.
"If current discussions materialize into a support agreement to assist to find such a company, the market will be informed - but we are getting close in our negotiations."
About Cardia Bioplastics
Cardia Bioplastics Limited (ASX CODE: CNN) develops, manufactures and markets sustainable resins and finished products derived from renewable resources for the global packaging and plastic products industries. The company holds a strong patent portfolio and its growth is fuelled by the global trend towards sustainable packaging. Established in Australia in 2002 as Biograde, the company Headquarters and Global Applications Development Centre is in Melbourne, Australia. The Product Development Centre and manufacturing plant is in Nanjing, China. There are Cardia Bioplastics offices in the Americas, Europe and China, and a network of leading distributors across Australia, the Americas, Asia and Europe. Visit www.cardiabioplastics.com (http://www.cardiabioplastics.com/)
Further Information:
Pat Volpe
Chairman
Cardia Bioplastics
+61 3 9813 2218
Emma Power
Media Relations
Monsoon Communications
+61 3 9620 3333
+61 419 149 52
HUG#1464439
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Cardia Bioplastics Limited
Im Tanzbühl 15 Ottersweier Germany
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