Bio Plastics
Plastral is the exclusive Australasian distributor for the range of Mater-Bi™ starch based biodegradable polymers from Novamont SpA, Italy.
Plastral's Bio Plastics Division also sells semi finished products made from Mater-Bi™ resin. |
 Mater-Bi™ bioplastic, made using natural starch and biodegradable polyesters is suitable for injection moulding, sheet and film applications. Mater-Bi™ conforms to the European EN 13432-2000 requirement for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation.
Typical applications:
 Film for agricultural mulching
Carrier bags
Liners for separate organic waste collection
Personal care products
Catering products (cutlery, plates and cups)
Food packaging
Pet products
Expanded packaging products
A range of Mater-Bi™ grades are available sufficient for the manufacture of many consumable items.
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Mater-Bi™ is a bioplastic material with similar properties to conventional plastics. Based on natural renewable resources, products made from Mater-Bi™ retain their properties while in use, then when disposed of into an environment containing bacteria, biodegrade to carbon dioxide, water and organic humus with no polymeric or toxic residue.
The key raw materials are natural starch and biodegradable polyesters. As Mater-Bi™ biodegrades, carbon dioxide and water evolved are absorbed in growing more corn and other natural ingredients, unlike conventional petroleum based plastics.
A range of Mater-Bi™ grades is available sufficient for the manufacture of many consumable items.
Characteristics and properties
It is biodegradable, recyclable and compostable
It can be used like conventional plastic materials
It can be coloured with biodegradable masterbatches and with natural pigments
It can be heat laminated to paper, cardboard, cotton and other natural fibers
It is intrinsically antistatic
It can be sterilized by gamma rays
It can be glued with solvents and water-based adhesives
The Mater-Bi™ production plant:
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The production plant of Mater-Bi™ is located in Terni in the region of Umbria, Italy.
The current production capacity of Novamont is 35,000 tonnes per year. A well equipped quality control laboratory guarantees the reliability of
Mater-Bi™ production. |
Technical support:
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In conjunction with Novamont, Plastral provides technical support to assist in the development of applications for Mater-Bi™.
Identification of the most suitable Mater-Bi™ grade.
Design of the application.
Advice on processing conditions. |
Packaging and distribution:
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The standard package for Mater-Bi™ resins is an octabin containing 700 kg.
Mater-Bi™ pellets are ready for use straight from the octabin - no drying of the pellets is required prior to processing. Care should be taken to close opened octabins after partial use.
Technical bulletins and safety data sheets of each Mater-Bi™ grade are available. |
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The Mater-Bi™ range of bioplastics is made using renewable resources including corn starch and vegetable oils. Most items which are made from conventional plastics can be made from Mater-Bi™, a material which has low environmental impact, is biodegradable and non-toxic to marine and terrestrial wildlife. Biodegradable loose fill, disposable cutlery, plant pots, mulch film and many other items are made from Mater-Bi™.
Possibly the most important use is for the collection and disposal of organic waste to composting using biodegradable bags made from Mater-Bi™. Currently in Europe, approximately 5000 municipalities use Mater-Bi™ bags for the collection and disposal of organic waste. Mater-Bi™ has been tested and certified to the most demanding European standards for biodegradable and compostable plastics including EN13432.
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Stand-alone bin liners from small kitchen tidy bins up to industrial bins |
Planet Ark estimates that Australians are throwing away 3.3 million tonnes of food each year-enough to fill Sydney Harbour three times. Most is disposed of to landfill, a complete waste of a very valuable resource.
If that 3.3 million tonnes of discarded food was composted, a very valuable resource would be produced, enriching the soil and dramatically reducing the generation of the green house gas methane.
The use of Mater-Bi™ bags and bin liners makes the collection and disposal of the organic waste to composting much more efficient and easier for the following reasons:-
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The bag is biodegradable to the same extent and at the same rate as the food scraps. |
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A Mater-Bi™ bag breathes, helping to reduce the weight of the organic waste during storage and transport by up to 50%. Smaller or less trucks are required to transport the waste, less fuel is used and less waste is ultimately to be composted. |
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Because it breathes, the putrescible waste in a Mater-Bi™ bag does not develop strong odours as it does in the plastic bag. |
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As the bag biodegrades in composting, breaking down to CO2, water and carbon biomass just the same as the food scraps, there is no contamination with plastic particles so the compost is of high quality. |
Biodegradable and compostable according to:-
- AS4736-2006
- EN13432
- DIN 54900
- UNI17585
- ASTM D6400
Compatible with any type of composting plant (from home composting to rotary fermenting reactor).
Safer for marine life
Clean Up Australia estimates that 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles are killed by plastic debris. The UK-based Marine Conservation Society further estimates that up to one million seabirds are killed or injured each year by plastic debris.
A Mater-Bi™ bag will biodegrade in any environment which contains bacteria, whether a compost heap, the soil or the sea. Because it is heavier than water, a Mater-Bi™ bag will sink from the surface and biodegrade at the bottom of the sea, river or lake. It does not eliminate the hazard for marine wildlife, but significantly reduces it.
Mater-Bi™ biodegradable bags are made in Australia in all sizes from small bags suitable for packing frozen fishing bait right through to large industrial bin liners.They can be made to virtually any size and thickness.
Download more information on BioPlastics
Warwick Hall, Manager - Bioplastics
Tele: 03 9490 0111
Email: materbi@plastral.com.au
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A Mater-Bi™ bag breathes, helping to reduce the weight of the organic waste during storage and transport by up to 50%? Smaller or less trucks are required to transport the waste, less fuel is used and less waste is ultimately to be composted.
Film made from Mater-Bi™ biodegrades rapidly in a well operating composting system. Contact us and we will provide a sample so you can test it yourself.
Clean Up Australia estimates that 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles are killed by plastic debris. The UK-based Marine Conservation Society further estimates that up to one million seabirds are killed or injured each year by plastic debris.
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The Mater-Bi™ technology was and is continually being developed by Novamont in Italy. Dr. Catia Bastioli, CEO of Novamont, has been awarded the prestigious international prize of "European Inventor of the Year 2007".
The "European Inventor of the Year" award is a joint initiative by the EU Commission and the European Patent Office and aims to recognise those who, with their inventions and innovations, have made a substantial long-term contribution to technological progress in Europe and elsewhere.
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