Purac – a leading company in lactic acid based bioplastics – has sponsored the Perpetual Plastic Project to highlight how easilyPoly Lactic Acid (PLA) bioplastic can be recycled. PLA drinking cups were provided by Purac; intended for use at events where people can immediately recycle them into new products after use. The project is designed to educate people on the recyclability of bioplastic, in order to close the loop and promote a circular, biobased economy for future generations.
The Perpetual Plastic Project has successfully created a ‘do-it-yourself’, interactive ‘Machine’, which provides users with a small-scale demonstration of how easily PLA can be recycled: following the steps of cleaning, drying, shredding, melting andextrusion,before finally being remade into a new article. In this case, a 3D printer was used to create jewelry and small toys from the used PLA cups.The Machine is currently touring the Netherlands at numerous events, including the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven, the Science Center NEMO in Amsterdam and the National Sustainability Congress in Nieuwegein.
The Perpetual Plastic Project is an initiative created by former TU Delft students. Purac, together with GroenBeker, provided the PLA bioplastic drinking cups which accompanied the Machine. François de Bie, Marketing Director PuracBioplastics, is pleased with the project: “This initiative demonstrates in a tangible, understandable way just how easily PLA can be recycled. Although PLA is still a relatively new material to the plastics industry, it promises to become widely implemented throughout a broad range of applications.
It is therefore vital that we already start to think about how best to recycle these valuable materials. Thanks to the Perpetual Plastics Project, we can show people at events and festivals what can ultimately be achieved on a much larger scale’. Purac is a leading company in lactic acid based bioplastics and the worldwide market leader in lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives and lactides. Purac develops the bioplastics market through innovative solutions and partnerships with a select group of companies in the plastics industry. Purac has 80 years of experience in the development, manufacturing and marketing of these products in a broad range of industries. Puracoperates production plants in the USA, the Netherlands, Spain, Brazil and Thailand andmarkets its products through a worldwide network of sales offices and distributors. Purac isheadquartered in The Netherlands and is a part of CSM.
