Nexam Produces PLA Foam Using Unique Additives
On October 30th, Swedish chemical company Nexam Chemical, in collaboration with its Dutch partner Verdofoam, developed a process for producing bioplastic foam suitable for common packaging and insulation materials.
The core of this technology lies in Nexam's additive technology-capable of expanding bio-based plastics such as polylactic acid (PLA).
Previously, scaling up PLA production was considered a significant technological challenge. This new method produces a lightweight foam material with excellent shock absorption properties, comparable to traditional fossil-based packaging foams.
This material can be used in various applications currently reliant on expanded polystyrene (EPS), including loose granules used to fill voids in e-commerce parcels.
It is estimated that approximately 5.8 million tons of EPS material are used globally annually in the packaging sector.
Based on commonly used emission factors-3 to 5 tons of CO2 equivalent per ton of material-the annual CO2 equivalent generated is estimated to be between 18 million and 30 million tons. Considering the global demand for e-commerce and food packaging, this equates to billions of packaging products. Replacing some of these with bio-based materials presents a significant opportunity to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate climate impact.
Nexam and Verdofoam point out that replacing some components of this EPS material with bio-based materials can reduce dependence on fossil fuels and decrease environmental impact.
Nexam Chemical, headquartered in Sweden, is a global player in polymer modification and additives. Its core business revolves around the research, development, production, and technology licensing of high-performance chemical additives, with a differentiated competitive advantage, particularly in the functional optimization of bio-based plastics.
Verdofoam® is an emerging biotechnology company headquartered in the Netherlands, dedicated to providing innovative, sustainable foam products based on biomaterials for a wide range of applications in insulation, packaging, and industrial sectors.
