Biowert sees green shoots for grass-based bio-plastic

Germany-based Biowert is using grass from local farmers to make a new range of zero environmental impact products, including a bio-plastic.

The company has created AgriPlastic, a bio-plastic which the company claims is 25% lighter than competing materials.

Biowert is now working with JSP, another manufacturer of sustainable materials, to develop its products.

JSP spokesperson Gary Carr said AgriPlast is created by combining meadow grass (produced during normal crop rotation) and recycled plastic, which can come from a number of polymer types including PP, PE and PET.

“AgriPlast BW plastic granules are 40-75% cellulose fibres, obtained from grasses, and 25-60% polyethylene or polypropylene,” he told European Plastics News. “[The] granules are free-flowing and can be processed into moulded components such as spoons, brackets, machine cases, and protective caps.”

The company says AgriPlast is ideal for injection moulding because of its excellent ease of flow. This enables high cycle times, even when manufacturing complex moulded parts.

The resulting moulded parts are up to 20 % lighter than the same components made of 10% polyethylene or polypropylene, said Carr.

Biowert has so far concentrated sales in the DACH countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland but “the new website in German, English and French is part of a broader view of supplying further afield in Europe”, he added. 

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