| Anelch hopes to reduce the carbon footprint of polyethylene factories to fight global warming.
In an interview, David sudolsky, CEO of anellotech, pointed out that Mars did not achieve the goal of sustainable development of packaging in 2015.
Sudolsky pointed out that he and Professor George Huber, an expert in catalysis and bioenergy conversion at the University of Wisconsin, established anellotech in late 2008 to mainly develop the commercial conversion of non edible biomass, such as the conversion of wood or agricultural residues into petrochemical products by chemical processes.
"This conversion technology called bio TCAT is a huge cost competitiveness." He added.
What is sustainable packaging?
Sudolsky points out that sustainable packaging made of renewable biological materials can continuously reduce the carbon footprint compared with packaging materials from fossil sources.
He said that the current packaging products mainly use low-cost, efficient and safe materials, such as polystyrene (PS), polyester ethylene terephthalate (PET) and other polymers.
"The biggest difference is the carbon footprint. Packaging with renewable biological materials can significantly reduce carbon emissions."
However, many packaging materials are made of fossil components.
"Biomaterials come from non fossil and renewable materials, including edible and non edible materials," he said. "This material can be exactly the same as fossil materials, and can also make commercial and low-cost new packaging materials."
Why use non edible biological materials instead of edible materials?
If anellotech's only goal is to produce biological packaging, why focus on non edible materials rather than sugar materials?
"The biggest driving force is the economic factor. Non edible biological materials are much cheaper to make biological packaging than sugar." Sudolsky explained.
He added that pet was synthesized from ethylene glycol (30%) and para xylene (70%). Ethylene glycol from biological sources has been widely used in the market and is often used to manufacture 30% biological pet.
Sudolsky pointed out that Coca Cola's products in the United States currently use this 30% biological PET bottle, also known as "plant bottle", because its main source is plants.
He also believes that the long-term strategy of most retail packaging products companies is to replace sugar sources with non edible ethylene glycol.
"Therefore, to increase the proportion of biomaterials from the current 30% to 100%, it needs competitive biological aromatic compounds (p-xylene is required for PET production). Bio TCAT process can use non edible biomaterials, such as wood, to make biological pet." Sudolsky said.
However, according to Bloomberg's report, the price of sugar in the U.S. Department of energy is only about $400 per ton.
"Sugars are too expensive to make aromatic compounds, such as p-xylene." Sudolsky said.
Promotion of bio TCAT Technology
"Anellotech didn't build its own factory, but worked with Axens to promote bio TCAT technology around the world." Sudolsky said.
"Anellotech licensors will establish large factories to produce p-xylene from the same biological source and other biological materials required for biological pet, biological polystyrene and other candy packaging. These factories will use the same brand of polymers and produce the same equipment."
From drinks to candy
Sudolsky pointed out that anellotech had cooperated with Japanese Suntory beverage company, and one of its main investors was Toyota Tsusho.
Both partners are very interested in anellotech's first commercial production. The factory is expected to start production by the end of this decade.
The extension of anellotech's business from beverages to candy is "very logical", sudolsky said. "Candy companies use PET film and beverage companies use PET bottles. Candy manufacturers can also use polystyrene. Bio TCAT process can produce both p-xylene (for PET) and benzene (for polystyrene). Therefore, there is a certain synergy between the needs of the two markets."
In addition, sudolsky pointed out that a recent study showed that American consumers were willing to pay 11% more for second-generation biofuels.
"Consumers may prefer candy brands that make more contributions to environmental protection." He said.
But sudolsky said that it is often those large companies that should take more responsibility for environmental protection because they need to maintain a large market share.
"Candy manufacturers today are using highly automated packaging lines. Using new polymers can achieve a lot of automation needs, such as remodeling, etc. so biological materials such as pet and polystyrene can bring them a lot of benefits," he added |
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