1. 1
JOANNA KUZINCOW,
COBRO – Packaging Research Institute
BY-PRODUCTS
AS A RAW MATERIAL
SOURCE
Polish wheat bran packaging
Biotrem
2. COBRO
– PACKAGING RESEARCH INSTITUTE
State, self-supporting research institution
subordinated to the Ministry of Economy,
founded in 1973.
Member of:
• World Packaging Organisation,
• International Association of Packaging
Research Institutes,
• Polish Chamber of Packaging,
• European Bioplastics.
2
• Packaging R&D Department:
Packaging and Environment
Department
Laboratory for Packaging Materials
and Consumer Packaging Testing
• Laboratory for Transport Packaging
Testing
• Certification Centre
• Standardization Department
• Packaging Spectrum Magazine
3. New, started in 2014 project BIOTREM NOVUM
involves modification of wheat bran packaging
produced currently by Aston Investment Ltd.
and introduction of biodegradable polymers
into their structure or coating its surface with
such polymers.
Its objective is to enhance compostability
with simultaneous improvement of product
properties: processing speed and water resistance.
Project is co-financed by The National Centre
for Research and Development under
the pilot undertaking Support for research
and development on a demonstration scale
Demonstrator+.
3
BIOTREM NOVUM
4. BY-PRODUCTS
AS A RAW MATERIALS SOURCES
Wheat bran – seed husks from the remnants of the
endosperm, is a by-product of the milling industry.
Only 20% of wheat bran can be used for feeding
livestock, but the remaining mass requires disposal
or recovery.
Long-term storage of plant products is expensive
as appropriate conditions and measures are required.
4
5. WHEAT BRAN
AS PACKAGING MATERIAL
Production of BIOTREM biodegradable
and compostable packaging, inter alia plates
or cups (according to Comission Directive
2013/2/EU), from bran can be solution to the
following problems:
• lack of packaging materials raw sources,
• long-term plant storage.
It will allow the organic recycling of thousand tons
of post-consumer waste and reduce the mass
of plastic waste and will also significantly
minimize use of petrochemical raw materials.
Wheat bran packaging is an example of sustainable
packaging improving waste disposal by not causing
further production of waste.
5
6. WHEAT BRAN
AS PACKAGING MATERIAL
Prototype batch of wheat bran packaging
has been positively evaluated in terms
of health quality by the National Institute
of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene.
Research of physical and mechanical properties
and as well as heavy metals content
determination tests (chromium, cadmium,
mercury and lead) were carried out
in COBRO. Total content of those metals
has been assessed as very low.
6
no
TESTED
MATERIAL
Cr Cd Hg Pb
Pb, Cd, Hg,
Cr
1
BIOTREM
Bio-
degradable
tray
made from
wheat bran
- 0.4 - 0.1 0,45 0,01
source:
Żakowska
H.:
Systemy
recyklingu
odpadów
opakowaniowych
w
aspekcie
wymagań
ochrony
środowiska,
Wydawnictwo
Akademii
Ekonomicznej
w
Poznaniu,
Poznań
2008.
7. Determination of biobased content
of BIOTREM was carried out by Polish
Poznan Radiocarbon Laboratory, using
radiocarbon (radioactive isotope 14C)
dating methodology and accelerator
mass spectrometry (AMS) technique.
7
WHEAT BRAN
AS PACKAGING MATERIAL
no. of
sample
SAMPLE DESCRIPTION
CARBON 14C
CONTENT (AMS)
[pMC]*
1.
CELLULOSE FILM
NATUREFLEX
108.33 ± 0.43
2. polyethylene film PE-LD <0.22
3. expanded polystyrene EPS 0.27 ±0.07
4.
polyolefin film with calcium
carbonate
0.82 ±0.08
5. BIOTREM 109.65 ±0.35
6. PLA GRANULES 2002D 105.73 ±0.35
source:
Żakowska
H.:
Badania
zawartości
surowców
odnawialnych
w
polimerowych
materiałach
opakowaniowych,
Polimery,
issue
3/2014,
pp.
227-230.
MODERN CARBON: PMC > 100
Result „PMC > 100” signifies
that contained organic carbon
was assimilated from the
atmosphere in the last decades
of the 20th century or recent years.
*pMC – percent modern carbon
8. Use of by-product as feedstock:
• reduces the need for petrochemical and
pulping industry,
• has very low production impact.
Composting bran-based packaging will reduce
emission of greenhouse gases in contrast
to incinerating and/or landfilling of conventional
packaging.
BIOTREM’s concept of packaging fits well into
the concept of modern and sustainable society.
8
WHEAT BRAN
AS PACKAGING MATERIAL
10. Technology and processing of BIOTREM
is similar to this applied in conventional
products from plastics and paper & board.
The production of bran-based products
comprises of three steps:
1. PRE-TREATMENT OF BRAN,
2. COMPRESSION MOULDING,
3. COATING.
10
BIOTREM NOVUM – production
11. 1. PRE-TREATMENT OF BRAN
The bran is moistened, mixed and
homogenised.
Food grade fats and compostable
polyesters may be added to change
final product properties.
11
BIOTREM NOVUM – production
12. 2. COMPRESSION MOULDING
Forming of wheat bran material.
12
3. COATING
Coating with composition of biodegradable
polymers from renawable resources
enhancing humidity resistance.
BIOTREM NOVUM – production
13. 13
BIOTREM NOVUM – applications
Currently in production: assortment
of disposable plates and bowls.
Planned: injection moulded cutlery (PLA + bran)
as well as coated surface plates, bowls and cups.
14. 14
SUMMARY
BIOTREM technology is in line with current
trends of packaging, due to its bio-based
nature.
On the production stage BIOTREM
means much lower carbon foootprint
than conventional petroleum technologies.
BIOTREM technology corresponds with
present state of environmental protection
knowledge.
15. 15
15
JOANNA KUZINCOW
Head of Packaging Support Systems Department
kuzincow@cobro.org.pl
COBRO – Packaging Research Institute
11 Konstancinska Str., 02-942 Warsaw, Poland
Tel. +48 22 842 20 11
www.cobro.org.pl
THANK YOU
