Airplus Bio Film - Air-cushioning made of bio-film

Metzingen. The air-cushioning system Airplus from Storopack is being extended to include a bio-plastic material quality. The compostable film is designed to run on all the machines in the series, giving great variation on the types of applications it is suitable for. The filling and padding material can be used throughout all service departments, from small dispatch rooms to the automated distribution centre. The composting ability of Airplus Bio Film is certified according to the European standard EN 13432. For this reason, the air cushions are marked with the seedling logo ensuring the recipient is aware of the shipping company’s ethos of sustainability.

At present, this air-cushioning is available in the following sizes, 200 x 200 mm and 200 x 100 mm. It is planned to include further variants from the portfolio of PE films. The raw material is a biologically degradable plastic compound based on polylactic acid (PLA) with co-polyester. It was developed by FKuR Kunststoff GmbH, Willich, in co-operation with the Fraunhofer Institute (Oberhausen, Germany).

As with polyethylene based films, Storopack co-extrudes the polymer during processing to produce a three-layered structure. Compared with mono-extruded films, this reduces material consumption, the elasticity is increased and the low permeability ensures that the air fill does not shrink. Introduction to the market will take place in Europe and North America. Airplus Bio Film is to be manufactured at the production sites in Wildau (Germany) and Cincinnati (USA).

Storopack is following a fundamental approach designed to associate the term bio-plastic with two characteristics. First of all, the functionality - the plastic product is compostable. And secondly, the basic raw material - the product is made of a renewable raw material. Both conditions are met with Airplus Bio Film. For the site in North America, Storopack received the certification ASTM D6400.

In particular, Storopack wishes to distinguish itself from suppliers marketing so-called “oxo-degradable” films but then label them as “bio”-products. As a rule, these are usually plastic products made of 100% standard polyethylene (PE), making the raw material base oil. PE is mixed with additives which accelerate its degradation. These additives are based on metal compounds. According

to European Bio-plastics data, some of these additives are to be classified as hazardous materials according to EU law. For example, the presence of cobalt has been detected.

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Contact media/ press:
Schott Relations / Markenwerke AG
Lindenspürstraße 22, 70176 Stuttgart, Germany
Tel. + 49 711 / 16446-16, Fax: + 49 711 / 16446-11
redaktion@schott-relations.com

Storopack is a leading manufacturer and service provider in the fields of protective and transport packaging as well as molded parts made of expanded foams. The sales of the worldwide operating group of companies with headquarters in Metzingen (Germany) are generated by the three divisions Molding, Packaging and Logistics. The Packaging Division specialises in the “interior cushioning” market and covers the customised integration of complete packing lines for flowable cushioning materials (loose fill), air cushions, paper padding, and foam packaging systems. To supplement these interior and protective packaging, Storopack also provides service and technical advice on all packaging questions to manufacturing and trading companies in Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland and supplies a wide range of products in the field of transport packaging.

Storopack
Hans Reichenecker GmbH
Untere Rietstrasse 30
72555 Metzingen
Germany
Telephone +49 (0)7123 164 227
Fax +49 (0)7123 164 49 227
press@storopack.com
www.storopack.com

Storopack UK
Richard Pulfrey
8 Julian Road
Roman Ridge Industrial Estate
GB – Sheffield S9 1FZ
Great Britain
Telephone +44 114 249 2004
Fax +44 114 249 2006
packaging.uk@storopack.com
www.storopack.co.uk

Commissioned with Public Relations Work:
Schott Relations GmbH
P.O. Box 104663
70041 Stuttgart
Germany
Telephone +49 (0)711 164 46 16
Fax +49 (0)711 164 46 11
info@schott-relations.com

This release was published on openPR.