Page 46 - Plastics News June 2017

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

EU poultry industry to study feather-based plastics packaging

European project is looking at whether it's possible to starch. Another potential application field for keratin
A use poultry waste products in bio-based packaging for, would be in the production of new biocomposites, since
among other things, poultry products. The European poultry it can be incorporated in the form of fiber and copolymer
industry annually throws away more than 3 million metric in the composite’s matrix. The project has been funded
tons of feathers from poultry slaughterhouses, according by the European Union research and innovation program
to the new Karma 2020 project. Currently, those feathers Horizon 2020.
typically end up in a landfill or are incinerated, according
to the Spanish plastics technology center Aimplas.But ISRI concerned over China’s
those feathers also are an important source of keratin — ban on scrap
a tough, fibrous,
structur al ashington-based Institute of Scrap Recycling
prot e in t h a t WIndustries (ISRI), a U.S. recycling trade association
can be us ed is raising new concerns about rumors that China may
t o p rodu ce put in place either a ban or severe restrictions on
imported recycled materials, with plastics possibly
different high being the first target. The Washington-based Institute
a dde d- va lu e of Scrap Recycling Industries said at a June 13 news
products, such conference that it is taking the rumors "very seriously,"
as fertilizers, and said its information suggested restrictions on
bio plas tics, plastics could start in early 2018. ISRI President Robin
Weiner said repeatedly that talk of a ban was only
biocomposites, additives for biodegradable packages a rumor, but one that was circulating widely at the
and coatings for the fabrics industry. Bureau of International Recycling annual convention
in Hong Kong in late
With 16 participants from 10 countries, the Karma 2020 May. Weiner and
project aims to develop a process to extract keratin from other senior ISRI staff
poultry litter, including feathers. Aimplas, one of the attended that forum.
partners to the project, announced in May that research ISRI said the rumors
work has begun to design the process. The project will stem from an April
develop a waste value technology in the poultry industry 18 announcement
from a high-ranking
to obtain new biodegradable packages, reinforcements for panel headed by
composites, biocomposites, fertilizers and flame-retardant Chinese President
breathable fabrics. The process will involve the thorough Xi Jinping calling for
decontamination of the litter to eliminate any pathogenic more restrictions on imported recyclables, citing
substance that may be a risk for health of people handling health and environmental concerns. Some Chinese
recycling industry officials have also interpreted that
it at the different phases. The feathers will be treated announcement as leading to import bans. After the BIR
at nano and micro scale, to enable the extracted keratin meeting, the ISRI delegation went to Beijing to meet
to be treated using various different processes. Once Chinese government officials to seek more details.
the keratin is obtained from feathers, a plethora of They also briefed U.S. Embassy staff on industry
applications are possible. For instance, these particles can concerns, since China is the largest export market
for U.S. scrap materials, Weiner said. "We're taking
be incorporated into renewably-sourced biopolymers to these rumors very seriously," said Adina Renee Adler,
produce “fully recyclable and biodegradable packages” ISRI's senior director of government relations and
for food packaging that can be used "by the poultry international affairs. "There's been a lot of chatter but
industry itself,” Aimplas said in its statement. Keratin- nothing official." Adler said ISRI's information is that
based bioplastics are tougher and more tear-resistant any ban would be phased in over five years, but that
than many bioplastic materials derived from plants or plastics would be the first targeted, in January 2018.

Plastics News | June 2017 46