Biocompatible, non-toxic and non-leaching antimicrobial plastic

15-Sep-14

Mass production of its biocompatible, non-toxic and non-leaching antimicrobial plastics- Sanipolymers™ has been started by Europe-based Parx Plastics. Parx Plastics was recently identified by the European Commission as one of the top tech startups of Europe with its technology derived from biomimetics to create antimicrobial plastics. Consumers are becoming aware that solutions adding an antibacterial property to touch surfaces use hazardous substances. These substances or additives can be toxic for humans or have a disrupting impact on our environment, with the recent ban on Triclosan in hand soaps as an example. But Triclosan is also used in plastics and so are many other pesticides. The majority of these substances are leaching from the product to kill the bacteria, and they might end up on your food or in the air you breathe. The technology developed by Parx Plastics is the world's first antimicrobial solution for plastic without toxins or chemicals. It makes use of an essential trace element that is present in food and necessary in our daily diet for a healthy immune system and for building up hair, nails and skin. Absolute safety is guaranteed not only by the biocompatibility but also because the technology does not leach out. The antibacterial property is the result of an intrinsic change and not of leaching/migrating substances. The surface of a product becomes hostile to bacteria by means of a mere physical and mechanical action and TÜV laboratories prove it kills up to 99% of the bacteria within 24 hours*. Parx Plastics is launching its first ready-to-use Saniconcentrates™ for ABS plastics and for Eastman's Tritan™ copolymers and it allows manufacturers in Europe and the US to safely create self-sanitizing products.