BioPBS Story

What if paper packaging could break down at home - without persisting in the environment?

Sustainable packaging is gaining increasing attention, particularly in paper-based applications due to its renewable nature. However, many existing solutions are non-compostable or require industrial composting conditions, which may limit their practical end-of-life management.

This creates an opportunity for materials that can be managed more practically such as home compostable solutions. Bio-based and compostable polymers BioPBS FX85AC offer extrusion coating solution with good performance while enabling more sustainable end-of-life options.

What is BioPBS FX85AC?

BioPBS FX85AC is a mixture of bio-based polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA) and bio-based polybutylene succinate (PBS). It is designed to deliver performance characteristics comparable to conventional plastics, while offering the added benefit of home compostability.

BioPBS FX85AC is particularly suitable for coating applications such as paper cups and trays, which are suitable for both hot and cold applications.

Why use BioPBS FX85AC for Paper Coating?

Paper alone cannot effectively resist moisture or grease. Traditionally, polyethylene (PE) has been widely used as a coating material to provide these functional properties. However, as sustainability requirements evolve, alternative materials are being explored to support improved end-of-life options.

BioPBS FX85AC offers several advantages as an alternative coating material:

Home Compostability Advantage 

One of the key benefits of BioPBS FX85AC is its ability to biodegrade under home composting conditions (28±2°C), unlike many materials that require industrial composting facilities (58±2°C). This makes BioPBS FX85AC particularly attractive for applications where post-consumer waste is likely to be disposed of in household compost systems.

Under appropriate composting conditions such as sufficient temperature, moisture, oxygen, and microbial activity, BioPBS FX85AC coated paper can disintegrate and biodegrade into natural substances such as carbon dioxide, water, and biomass, leaving no harmful residue.

In addition, BioPBS FX85AC has been certified for home compostability under the TÜV Austria OK compost HOME certification, providing third-party validation of its performance.  This is solid evidence of FX85AC’s home compostability.  This also sets it apart from general water-based and/or aqueous coatings that use non-compostable polymer solutions to form a water- and grease-proof layer on paper.

Processing Recommendations

BioPBS FX85AC can be applied using standard extrusion coating. Key considerations include:

• Processing temperature: Typically, in the range of 240-250°C, with proper control required to maintain material stability.
• Coating thickness optimization: Minimum coating weight of ~20 gsm is recommended to balance performance and processability.
• Surface treatment: Corona treatment of the paper substrate is recommended to improve adhesion performance.

Adhesion & Coating Weight Optimization

For applications requiring high adhesion strength at low coating weight, blending BioPBS with a functional masterbatch is recommended. This approach can provide the following benefits:

• Improved adhesion performance: Enhances bonding between the coating and paper substrate, supporting stronger interfacial adhesion.
• Coating weight reduction: Enables reduction in coating weight (typically up to 25-50%), depending on machine and processing conditions.

Applications

BioPBS FX85AC coated paper is suitable for a range of food contact applications, including:

• Paper cups, paper straw and takeaway containers
• Sachets and flexible paper-based packaging
• Paper-based packaging for dry and low-moisture foods

In addition, BioPBS FX85AC can be used as an intermediate (tie) layer in multilayer structures to support interfacial adhesion between different substrates in coating or lamination processes, while enabling compostable material design.

Moving Forward: Sustainable Paper Cups in Action

After use, BioPBS FX85AC coated paper cups can be repurposed for planting activities, from growing small household plants to supporting large-scale tree planting programs. The cups serve as seedling shelters which can be placed directly into soil without removal, where they gradually break down and integrate seamlessly back into nature.

This is a small but important step toward more practical and circular packaging solutions.

Conclusion

BioPBS FX85AC represents a compelling solution for paper coating applications, combining good overall performance with sustainability. It is particularly suitable for food contact applications, including both hot and cold uses, while enabling improved end-of-life options such as home composting and potential recyclability.

As sustainability expectations continue to evolve, materials like BioPBS FX85AC can support the transition toward more circular packaging systems by aligning material performance with application needs.

If you are interested in exploring packaging solutions that are designed not only for performance in use, but also for responsible end-of-life, please feel free to contact us.

PTT MCC Biochem Co., Ltd. (PTTMCC) welcome further discussion on how BioPBS FX85AC can support your packaging development.

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