Novomer, Kodak in bioplastics manufacturing JV with grant from State of New York

16-Dec-09

Novomer and Kodak are to partner in bioplastics manufacturing partnership with a grant from the State of New York to commercialize the use of catalysts in the manufacturing of polypropylene carbonate (PPC). PPC is used to make plastic packaging or coatings for applications including bottles and film. Novomer’s PPC offers a significantly improved oxygen barrier and a stiffer barrier compared to traditional PPC, allowing packaged food to remain fresh longer, potentially reducing food waste. It is also lighter than traditional PPC, reducing transportation costs. A grant of US$800,000 has been received by Novomer towards a US$1.6 mln project with Kodak and the Rochester Institute of Technology. The project aims to displace the need for petroleum-based plastics while consuming less energy in production, resulting in a product with higher performance. That the process can leverage existing manufacturing infrastructure will be demonstrated in the first phase of the project. The process uses 50% less energy than traditional plastics manufacturing. Novomer expects the grant to enable it to use the expertise and infrastructure of Kodak Specialty Chemicals and the Rochester Institute of Technology to go into manufacturing. The grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority follows a US$150,000 award that funded a five-month feasibility study completed in May.