Making Demanding Applications Bio-Based

The founders, a team of three who studied Mechanical Engineering at Technical University Darmstadt, Germany, have a holistic approach: First, the requirements of application and production processes are thoroughly analyzed together with the customer. Then Biovox produces the most ecologically and economically sustainable material system from a wide range of polymers and additives and helps with implementation. Julian Lotz, Carmen Rommel and Vinzenz Nienhaus explain their motivation and growth strategy.

CHEManager: There are various fields where bioplastics can replace fossil-based plastics, why did you pick tough applications like healthcare consumables?

Carmen Rommel: Currently, bioplastics are mostly used for packaging and low-tech consumer goods. In such applications recycling can often have more impact than switching to bio-based materials. However, approximately one quarter of hospital waste is plastics, and the vast majority of it is burned due to possible contaminations. These applications are not addressable for the recycling processes currently used. A huge amount of fossil carbon is emitted subsequently, over 3 million tons per year in Germany alone. Hospital plastic waste exceeds the amount of plastic waste from online retail by about 50%. Using 100% bio-based plastics in these applications reduces carbon emissions drastically.

We also have projects in application areas where huge amounts of microplastics are set free. With a bioplastic formulation that fully and quickly degrades in various ecosystems, we can eliminate permanent microplastic pollution.

What is your approach to developing a bio-based material for an industrial or medical application?

Julian Lotz: First, we are analyzing the requirements together with our customer, and we do it along the complete lifecycle. This is part of our consultation packages customers often book when they just started their journey from fossil-based to bio-based materials. After learning the requirements and the life cycle in detail, we are proposing feasible and sustain­able material systems, including all masterbatches and additives needed. We are creating a roadmap for the transition together with the customer’s operations department. On top, we provide scientifically proven sustainability benefits to the customer’s marketing team. That prevents them from accidentally greenwash the product or handing out false claims. In especially demanding applications we usually start with the simplest product available to quickly create a success story for our customer.

And the challenges you are facing?