Bioplastics on show

The Bioplastics Pavilion at AUSPACK will consist of members of the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA), which is the representative body for the bioplastics industry in Australia and New Zealand.

The bioplastics companies that will be exhibiting in the pavilion include Biograde, BioPak, Innovia Films, NatureWorks, Plantic Technologies and Plastral, bringing together significant expertise and solutions under one roof.

According to Warwick Hall, Business Manager Specialty Plastics & Bioplastics for Plastral, the pavilion at AUSPACK 2009 will provide an opportunity for the bioplastics industry to present its broad range of products, properties and applications, while allowing each individual exhibitor to highlight particular technologies and solutions.

“The packaging industry is increasingly being asked to use products that have a renewable resource component and are biodegradable and compostable. The AUSPACK Bioplastics Pavilion will enable members of the industry to see an extensive range of products and technologies that are available in Australia,” Hall said.

According to Richard Fine, Director of BioPak, the bioplastics industry has developed rapidly in recent years: companies are expanding their production capacities and product offerings.

“We believe that the pavilion will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase our range of bioplastic materials and to educate consumers and business on what progress has been made with biopolymers and the potential applications for bioplastics in packaging,” Fine said.

According to Plantic’s CEO Brendan Morris, Plantic decided to join the pavilion because it will provide a platform in which Plantic and other bioplastic companies can collectively raise the profile of bioplastics and communicate the challenges of the industry to their customers.

Alan Adams, Sales & Marketing Manager, Innovia Films, added that having all of the bioplastics exhibitors in one location will provide a focal point at AUSPACK 2009 for the ‘hot topic’ of the packaging industry.

“AUSPACK 2009 will be the first time that all of the key players in the bioplastics industry will be together in one location. Visitors will be able to get a great appreciation of the capabilities of the relatively new materials and see how far this side of the packaging industry has really come,” Adams said.

According to Peter Clydesdale, Managing Director Asia–Pacific, NatureWorks LLC, the Bioplastics Pavilion at AUSPACK 2009 will demonstrate what type of bio-based materials and products are available today to both improve our carbon footprint and also enable companies to take a small step towards becoming more responsible product suppliers.

“Consumers also expect brands to take a small step on their behalf so that they get offered more choices to shop in a more responsible way,” he said.

AUSPACK will be held at the Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney Olympic Park, from Tuesday 16 through to Friday 19 June 2009.