Technological watch

AIMPLAS is working on developing bioplastics for active packaging for cosmetics and absorbent litter for the pet industry within the European BeonNAT Project.
Using Shrubs as a Biomass Source
These are just two of the innovative products that will be developed within the framework of the project, which fosters the creation of value chains to make use of trees and shrubs grown on marginal land as a biomass source for bio-industries.
The project scope covers cultivation and harvesting of selected species, extraction and purification of essential oils and plant extracts, and manufacture of paper, biochar, activated carbon, bioplastics packaging for cosmetics, lignocellulosic materials, new absorbents for pets, paper pulp and particle board.
Specifically, as part of the project, AIMPLAS will produce Polylactic Acid from lactic acid, which will be obtained from fermentable sugars in plant biomass waste and used as a bioplastic to make packaging for cosmetics. Essential oils with different active properties, such as antimicrobial power, will be added to this packaging. AIMPLAS is therefore collaborating with Laboratorios Maverick to produce packaging, and with IDOASIS as a supplier of active substances in a value chain that includes CIEMAT, ATB and IPB.
Another project line is being led by Tolsa, in which AIMPLAS is working on the production of silica capsules containing essential oils with different functions, such as providing antimicrobial properties to improve absorbent litter for pets.One of the main goals of this project is to generate innovative products with a suitable chemical composition from this underused biomass in accordance with strict ecological requirements.
Related Read: Innovative Bioplastic Applications Drive Market Development!?

BeonNAT Project Partners
The project consortium is made up of 16 companies and centers from seven countries. The Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT) from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation is coordinating the project.
Besides AIMPLAS, the other project participants are Fundación Centro de Servicios y Promoción Forestal y de su Industria de Castilla y León, Consorzio per la Ricerca e la Dimostrazione sulle Energie Rinnovabili, Leibniz Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie (ATB), Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg, Universitatea ?tefan cel Mare din Suceava, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (IPB), Laboratorios Maverick, Tolsa, Contactica, Idoasis 2002, El Jarpil, Envirohemp, NNFCC Limited and the Asociación para la Certificación Española Forestal.
BeonNAT is funded by the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI-JU) with grant agreement number 887917. BBI-JU is supported by the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program of the European Union and the Bio-Based Industries Consortium.
Source: AIMPLAS