Terralene®

Recyclable, bio-based bio-PE compounds for a more circular economy

Terralene® is a product family of customized compounds based on bio-PE. All Terralene® grades are based on the renewable raw material sugar cane and thus make a valuable contribution to conserving fossil resources. In addition, the use of renewable raw materials can help reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions: During its growth, the sugarcane plant absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere and stores it. If the plant is subsequently used to produce plastics, the absorbed CO2 remains bound in the plastic and the finished product throughout the entire product life cycle.

Nevertheless, Terralene® has the same properties as its fossil counterparts (PE or PP) and can be processed on existing production lines without any adjustments. In addition to film, tube and blow molding grades, the portfolio includes a wide variety of injection moldable bio-PE and PP compounds.

All Terralene® granules are biobased, but not biodegradable. Due to the compound’s durability, products with a long useful life can be realized. At the end of their use phase, products made from Terralene® can be fully integrated into existing polyethylene material streams; they are 100% recyclable.

Granules with high barrier properties for sustainable packaging solutions

The main areas of application for Terralene® are packaging in the food and non-food sectors. Compared to biodegradable plastics such as PLA (poly-latid-acid/polylactic acid), Terralene® offers an outstanding oxygen and water vapor barrier. This allows moisture- and oxygen-sensitive products to be packaged in bioplastics and extended shelf life. The high-quality functional properties of the packaging are fully preserved.

Even demanding “vertical form fill and seal” (VFFS) applications can be realized due to the high toughness and weld strength of Terralene® film grades.

Terralene® is resistant to oils, greases and chemicals

In addition to a high barrier, Terralene® is characterized by excellent chemical resistance. This makes these bio-PE compounds ideal for the production of tubes and bottles for cosmetics, personal care or household care and cleaning products. The shelf life of the bio-based packaging is equivalent to that of packaging made from conventional fossil polyethylene.

Dishwasher-safe, freezer-safe and resistant to stress – Terralene® injection-molded grades for housewares and catering articles

The injection-moldable Terralene® compounds are ideal for the production of household goods of all kinds, catering items and reusable alternatives such as recyclable to-go beverage cups. In these applications, the materials are exposed to high stresses due to cleaning in the dishwasher as well as possible temperature differences, by microwave or freezer. Repeated opening and closing also places high demands on the granules.

For storage boxes or beverage cups in particular, however, an exact form fit is essential: box and lid must fit together exactly. While increased flexibility is required for lid applications, boxes or cups should be as rigid and dimensionally stable as possible. With our modified Terralene® Bio-PE compounds, we take these different requirements into account.

Terralene® PP granules are a real alternative to bio-based PP (Bio-PP)

Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most widely used plastics in the world. It is almost universally applicable, equally suitable for injection molding, thermoforming and extrusion, and unproblematic for recycling.

Customers can tap into this field of application with Terralene® PP, a PP compound based on renewable raw materials. The partially biobased granules of the Terralene® PP product line are equivalent to fossil PP in terms of stiffness and impact strength and can easily replace it. Furthermore, converters can continue to use their existing tools, as Terralene® PP has similar performance and processing properties to established fossil-based PP grades.

After use, the products can be recycled in the conventional way. Interseroh certifies that Terralene® PP compounds have very good recyclability.

Advantages of Terralene® PP at a glance:

• Use of PP virgin material and PP recyclate possible
• Bio-based content of up to 35% (BCC)
• Processing of the material possible on existing PP equipment and molds
• Mechanical characteristics comparable to PP
• Suitable for contact with food

PP granules based on renewable raw materials (bio-PP) have only recently become available on the market. However, these Bio-PP grades follow a mass-balance approach, which is why they are usually referred to as bio-attributed rather than bio-based.

Renewable raw materials combined with recycled materials: Terralene rPP combines the advantages of bioplastics with those of recycled plastics

We turn plastic waste into resources by incorporating recycled polymers into our bio-based PP compounds: Terralene® rPP compounds are hybrids that combine recyclates and bio-based raw materials while being fully recyclable. These compounds offer the advantage that technical properties can be adjusted even more consistently and process performance can be optimized.

Depending on the application, a high-quality polypropylene post-consumer (PCR) or post-industrial recyclate (PIR) is combined with a bio-based plastic for the manufacture of the compounds.

Terralene® rPP thus makes a significant contribution to a functional circular economy. The use of plastics based on renewable raw materials conserves fossil resources and sustainably reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions. By reusing plastics, these valuable materials are kept in the cycle and plastic products are thus made more sustainable.

At the end of their useful life, products made of Terralene® rPP can be recycled in existing disposal systems. The processing conditions and mechanical properties correspond to those of Terralene® PP or fossil PP virgin material. Terralene® rPP grades are characterized by high impact strength combined with toughness and are a direct drop-in solution.

Advantages of Terralene® rPP at a glance:

• Bio-based content of up to 33 %
• Terralene® PP with high-value post-consumer PP recyclate (PCR) or post-industrial PP recyclate (PIR)
• Sustainable use of valuable resources
• Processable on PP equiment and molds
• Mechanical characteristics comparable to Terralene® PP or standard PP
• Suitable for technical parts without food contact

Naturally renewable: natural fiber-reinforced bio-PE compounds

Terralene® WF compounds combine renewable raw materials with natural fibers. They do not simply satisfy the highest demands in terms of design and feel, but also make sustainability perceptible and feelable.

Wood is a natural product, which makes each batch of our natural fiber compounds unique with its own color characteristics. Depending on the lignin content of the wood fiber, the colors can vary from light to dark. This gives your products made from Fibrolon® and Terralene® WF an individual, natural look!