r-PET – Using Crop Waste to Develop Biobased Plastics 08-07-2024 - Arhive

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Neveon and Brantner have launched a joint venture to mechanically recycle foam materials from end-of-life mattresses in Austria

Neveon, part of the Greiner Group specializing in foam production, has partnered with Austrian recycler Brantner to address the disposal of used mattresses voluntarily. The new venture, pending antitrust approval, will be headquartered in Krems, near the Danube. It will manage the collection, separation, and mechanical recycling of mattress components, particularly focusing on polyurethane foams. r-PET   r-PET 

The recycled foam will be repurposed by Neveon and other manufacturers to produce new composite foam products, such as stable flooring and acoustic insulation. Annually, over one million mattresses are discarded in Austria, leading to around 150,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, with 25,000 tonnes resulting from waste-to-energy incineration alone. Despite the absence of an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for mattress waste in Austria, Neveon and Brantner’s initiative will proceed without financial contributions from such a system. r-PETr-PET

Neveon, established in 2021 as part of the Austrian Greiner Group, consolidates the flexible and composite polyurethane foam businesses of the group. Operating in 17 countries with 57 locations, Neveon aims to enhance the sustainability of foam production through innovative recycling practices. This venture with Brantner represents a significant step towards reducing environmental impact and promoting circular economy principles within the foam manufacturing industry.

 

Using Crop Waste to Develop Biobased Plastics

A bioplastics company in southwest Indiana, AgroRenew, is pioneering the use of local food waste to create fully biodegradable plastics. Founder and CEO Brian Southern emphasizes that their bioplastics contain no chemicals or petroleum-based elements. “It’s truly a 100% biodegradable product,” Southern states. “It can dissolve and degrade in soil or other environments.”  r-PET

AgroRenew’s bioplastics are designed to break down in soil within six months. The company plans to source waste from local watermelon, cantaloupe, and pumpkin crops that don’t make it to market. Southern explains, “We’re making a biobased PLA and a starch-based plastic. The rinds have a good starch content, pectin, and cellulose, which are valuable for our formula.”

Produce farmers often experience up to 50 percent crop waste. AgroRenew offers a sustainable solution by purchasing this waste from farmers, converting it into biodegradable plastics.  r-PET

“We’re providing an opportunity for farmers to handle their food crop waste sustainably,” Southern says. “We pay them for the waste, use it to produce plastics, and the resulting product can return to the soil and fully degrade.”

The initial focus is on watermelon, cantaloupe, and pumpkin waste, amounting to over 100 million pounds each season. AgroRenew began constructing their facility in Knox County, Indiana, in June and aims to start testing production lines by early 2025. This initiative not only supports local agriculture but also promotes environmental sustainability through innovative waste management. r-PET