Aimplas is working with researchers of BIOBOTTLE project to develop a biodegradable material for manufacturing big multilayer bottles or bags and the small monolayer bottles.
The multilayer bottles are used for packaging milk or milkshakes, whereas the monolayer bottles are used to package probiotic products.
The €1m worth BIOBOTTLE is a European project in the Seventh Framework Programme and comprises seven companies and technological centers from five different countries.
The biodegradable material is being developed as an alternative to high density polyethylene bottles, which can be recycled completely, but requires high temperature washing to eliminate any waste of products and subsequent smell.
Moreover, a 2012 data showed that only 10% to 15% of this material is being recycled, resulting in the generation of large volumes of waste.
Therefore, researchers from Aimplas and other companies are working to develop a biodegradable material, which is resistant to thermal treatments such as sterilization and pasteurization.
To attain this, the researchers are planning to put the current commercial biodegradable materials through the reactive extrusion process to enable them to overcome the thermal limitations.
Aimplas' research and technology center is located in Spain, and the company has more than 20 years of experience in offering solutions to companies of the plastics industry.
The non-profit research association is part of the register of Centros Tecnológicos of the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad and belongs to Federación Espanola de Centros Tecnológicos and Red de Institutos Tecnológicos de la Comunitat Valenciana.