Extrusion International USA 4-2020

34 Extrusion International 4/2020 EXTRUSION INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS Plastics Industry Association plasticsindustry.org #BioplasticsWeek Danimer Scientific https://danimerscientific.com/ WinCup https://wincup.com/ gradable straw is only the beginning. We look forward to con- tinuing our partnership with WinCup to provide consumers with reliable and sustainable options for single-use products.” WinCup is a leading manufacturer of disposable foodservice to-go ware based in the United States. “Consumer demand continues to grow for innovative products that minimize envi- ronmental impacts while maintaining superior performance, andwe needed an innovativematerial tomeet that demand,” said Brad Laporte, Chief Operating Officer at WinCup. “Part- nering with Danimer Scientific to develop PHA based straws and stirrers is a big step to changing the future in single-use plastics.” “Customer and Market reactions to this innovative and rele- vant newproduct launch have been extremely positive andwe expect very high demand for Phade in the coming months,” said Michael Winters, President of WinCup Foodservice. The Innovation in Bioplastics Award is announced annually during PLASTICS’ Bioplastics Division’s Bioplastics Week. Bio- plastics Week is a social media-driven initiative created to in- crease the visibility of bioplastics and educate people about the many benefits of bioplastics. The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) Bioplastics Divi- sion announced Danimer Scientific and WinCup as the joint winners of the 2020 Innovation in Bioplastics Award. Togeth- er they developed the first commercially sold straws made of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a material verified as a reliable biodegradable alternative to traditional plastic. WinCup created the Phade™ straws using Danimer Scientif- ic’s Nodax™ PHA, which will completely degrade in any en- vironment without leaving behind microplastics. Consumer demand for eco-friendly plastic products is growing exponen- tially. Phade™ straws were the first plastic drinking straw on the market to meet this eco-friendly demand without losing the feel and quality of plastic. Phade™straws and stirrers have unique properties that are not sensitive to temperature and high heat shipping conditions. “We are honored to present the Innovation in Bioplastics Award to Danimer Scientific and WinCup, recognizing their work in continued innovation,” said Patrick Krieger, Direc- tor, Sustainability & Materials at PLASTICS. “In 2018, Danimer along with PepsiCo received recognition for their industrially compostable chip bag, which sought to provide a sustainable end-of-life solution for a difficult-to-recycle packaging format. Since then, they have advanced somuch with their production and compounding with PHA, resulting in a plastic straw that is marine-biodegradable. This product also speaks to a bigger principle in the plastics industry: innovative problem-solving to create products that consumers want.” Danimer Scientific is a pioneer in creating more sustainable and natural ways tomake plastic products that are biodegrad- able and compostable. Applications for its biopolymers in- clude additives, aqueous coatings, fibers, filaments, films, and injection-molded articles, among others. Based in the United States, the company holds 125 patents in nearly 20 countries for a range of manufacturing processes and biopolymer for- mulations. “Innovation is a collaborative process, and this recognition of our work with WinCup highlights the success that is possible when raw material and end-product manufacturers partner on bringing new materials to market,” said Scott Tuten, Chief Marketing Officer at Danimer Scientific. “Our launch of this first-of-its-kind backyard compostable and marine-biode- Winners of the 2020 Innovation in Bioplastics Award Named Phade™ straw (Photo Credit: WinCup) Plastic’s Life-Saving Role During Pandemic testified At the beginning of July, at a briefing of Congress enti- tled “Plastic Production, Pollution and Waste in the Time of Covid-19: The Life-Threatening Impact of Single Use Plastic on Human Health,” Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) President & CEO Tony Radoszewski refuted attacks on a ma- terial and industry that have played a critical role in the U.S. response to the novel coronavirus. “The idea that single-use plastic medical products... are ‘life- threatening’ contradicts the advice of this Subcommittee, which recently urged the President to use all his power to