BASF and Red Avenue New Materials collaborate on compostable co-polyester (PBAT) in China

In Germany, BASF and Red Avenue New Materials Group signed a joint agreement that grants Red Avenue New Materials Group the license to produce and sell certified compostable aliphatic-aromatic co-polyester (PBAT). Red Avenue New Materials Group will build a 60,000 metric tons PBAT plant in Shanghai, using BASF`s process technology in exchange for the access to raw material from this plant which BASF will sell as ecoflex.

Production at the new plant will start in 2022 and supply the market of biopolymers.

The global market for certified compostable and bio-based plastics is expected to grow by around 15 percent per year. With upcoming new laws and regulations in a lot of countries enforcing the use of compostable materials in packaging, agricultural mulch films and bag applications, the positive market development is expected to continue.

The BASF biopolymer ecoflex was introduced into the market in 1998 and is certified compostable in accordance with DIN EN 13432 and ASTM D6400. It is used as a blend with other renewable raw materials to compound ecovio, BASF’s certified compostable biopolymer. The renewable raw material content means that ecovio is also partly bio-based. Typical applications for ecovio are organic waste bags, cling film, fruit and vegetable bags, as well as agricultural mulch films and food packaging applications. Studies show the advantages of ecovio for production, packaging and shelf life as well as for the waste collection of food. These advantages are based on the material’s certified biodegradability in industrial and home composting as well as in soil: Food waste is reduced, nutrients are returned to the soil by means of greater volumes of compost and the accumulation of plastic in soil is avoided, thus closing the nutrient cycle to a Circular Economy.