'Project Recon': Algae as a bioplastic?

Ohhh, algae as a 'bioplastic,' not just a 'biofuel?'

Continuing the Plastics 'Project Recon':

"Cereplast develops algae-based bioplastics"
By Frank Esposito | PLASTICS NEWS STAFF
Posted October 20, 2009

HAWTHORNE, CALIF. (Oct. 20) -- Bioplastics maker Cereplast Inc. plans to launch a line of bioplastic resins based on all-natural algae by the end of 2010.

“Algae-based resins represent an outstanding opportunity for companies across the plastic supply chain,” Cereplast founder, Chairman and CEO Frederic Scheer said in an Oct. 20 news release. “We believe that algae has the potential to become one of the most important green feedstocks for biofuels, as well as bioplastics.”

Hawthorne, Calif.-based Cereplast currently uses corn, tapioca, wheat and potatoes to make its bioplastics. The firm also compounds Ingeo-brand PLA bioplastic made by NatureWorks LLC.

“It’s critical to have access to feedstocks not based on starches,” Scheer said by phone Oct. 20. Non-starch feedstocks “have less impact on the food chain and are less sensitive to price changes.”

Scheer said Oct. 20 that the algae-based resins could be blended with polypropylene or other standard resins and used in injection molded or thermoformed parts. Cereplast also is working to use the new products in extrusion applications, he said.

Scheer declined to identify what companies Cereplast would use to supply the algae needed for its resins. Company officials pointed out that oil giant Exxon Mobil Corp. recently partnered with algae producer Synthetic Genomics Inc. of La Jolla, Calif., in a deal that may be worth more than $300 million. Oil firm British Petroleum plc also has invested $10 million in algae supplier Martek Biosciences Corp. of Columbia, Md.

Scheer said Cereplast was “very encouraged” by the ExxonMobil and BP deals.

Cereplast also is in the process of finding a toll compounder that would allow the firm to discontinue production at its Hawthorne plant. Officials said earlier this year that it was no longer cost-effective for Cereplast to produce its own bioplastic resins. Scheer said a toll compounder should be in place by the end of the year, making bioplastics based on Cereplast formulations...