Page 57 - Plastics News September 2016
P. 57
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
France bans plastic plates, cups Cycling legend Greg LeMond
and cutlery to develop new carbon ?ber
materials.
Traditional picnic hampers may be about to undergo a
boom in France after the government banned plastic After pedaling his way to three Tour de France
plates, goblets and cutlery. In an attempt to reduce titles, cycling legend Greg LeMond is now peddling
pollution, ministers decreed that 50 per cent of the carbon ?ber. A company founded by LeMond is working
material going with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop new
into all such carbon fiber materials. LeMond Composites was
items will have formed to create new solutions for high-volume, low-
to be organic cost carbon ?ber.
by 2020. The The agreement will make his ?rm the ?rst company to
proportion will offer new types of carbon ?ber to the transportation,
rise to 60 per renewable energy and infrastructure markets. Both
cent by 2025. LeMond Composites and ORNL are based in Oak Ridge,
The move Tenn. ORNL is part of the U.S. Department of Energy.
comes after “We can provide the advantages of our carbon ?ber to
the Socialist-led government introduced similar bans on many industries by improving strength, stiffness, and
plastic bags and cotton buds. The move signals sweeping weight reduction,” LeMond Composites CEO Connie
change for a picnic-loving country that has become Jackson said in the release. “Our process will have
accustomed to consuming wine in plastic cups whilst global applications and we are ready to move forward
eating a salade nicoise off a plastic plate during the with scaling the technology.”The new carbon ?ber
summer months. Bakers and fast-food outlets distributing materials can be blended with plastics in a variety
plastic knives and forks with take-away meals will also of products, including auto parts and turbine blades.
be affected. France discarded 4.73 billion plastic goblets Company of?cials said the new materials can reduce
last year. The ban is part of President Francois Hollande’s production costs by 50 percent and reduce energy
attempt to boost his green credentials despite falling out consumed during production by as much as 60 percent.
with the Ecology Party and infuriating organisations such “We have assembled the only team in the world that
as Greenpeace with his commitment to nuclear power. has executed this proven technology which uniquely
In July, for instance, shops were banned from handing positions us to deliver a successful outcome for our
out thin plastic bags. customers and stakeholders,” said LeMond, who won
the Tour de France race in 1986, 1989 and 1990. “From
The bags to be distribute must now be at least 50 microns experience, I know that having the right team is a
in thickness, which means, in theory, that they can be distinct business advantage.”
re-used. Next year the ban will be extended to the plastic
bags into which customers place fruit and vegetables in
supermarkets. Plastic cotton buds will be phased out
by 2020. Manufacturers say it is dif?cult to produce
biodegradable cups and plates capable of containing
hot food and drink. Some of the attempts have ended
with plates that disintegrate and cups that leak. One
technique involves using starch, vegetable ?bres and
proteins. Another company is exploring the use of ?our.
Makers say the new products will be more expensive than
existing ranges, prompting analysts to bet on a return of
the traditional hamper with reusable crockery.
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