Terratek SC Starch Composites
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Fossil fuels and their extraction are continuing to have a serious effect on the environment, and the plastics industry has surely played a part in contributing to these ill effects. According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), of the estimated $75 billion the plastics industry costs the world in natural capital each year, 30 percent of that is from the extraction and processing of petroleum-based raw materials.
At Green Dot, we’re interested in ways to bring that number down, so that plastics can continue to be the ubiquitously useful materials they always have been without leaving such a lasting impact on the environment. Starch-composite plastics are a great option for doing just that. These biocomposites are able to replace up to 65 percent of the petroleum-based feedstock that goes into traditional plastics.
Additionally, products made with biobased materials may be eligible to be certified as such by the USDA. The USDA began its BioPreferred program in order to designate items that have a positive impact on the nation’s energy security, economy and environment. Having your product certified will let your customers know that sustainability is an important aspect of your brand. Products certified by the BioPreferred program may also receive preferential treatment by federal procurement agencies.
Biocomposites vs. traditional plastics
Plastics are useful and ubiquitous. But just how much are traditional formulations costing us?
Terratek SC from Green Dot
The Terratek® SC line of starch biocomposites provides effective solutions to meet growing demand for eco-friendly, biobased goods. The Terratek SC line is made from up to 65 percent renewable material. Because these unique biobased composites can be formed into a variety of shapes and sizes, they have virtually unlimited applications in the production of both pliable and hard plastic products, including tableware, golf tees, credit cards, and more.
Because a wide range of properties can be achieved by altering the starch-to-plastic ratio and by the inclusion or admission of other additives, Green Dot’s flexibility in developing customized formulations allows us to meet many specific needs and applications based on customer requirements.
Green Dot’s line of starch-based bioplastic composites, including Terratek SC 50 and SC 65, is also certified biobased by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) BioPreferred Program.
The finished products have the functionality and characteristics equal to those of traditional plastics and we can oftentimes work with our customers to focus on the qualities most important to them. This unique line of biobased plastics is also capable of withstanding temperatures beyond boiling point and can be processed into finished products using conventional and existing technologies.
Importantly, Terratek® SC can also be injection molded or extruded using standard processing machinery. This means costly machine investments are usually unnecessary, and experienced plastics manufacturing professionals can quickly be brought up to speed on the new materials. In some cases, lower processing temperatures actually lead to energy savings over the long run.
Advantages and benefits
- Adds natural feel
- Made with renewable resources
- Reduced mold shrinkage
- Added stiffness
Application examples
- Tableware
- Films
- Toys
- Injection-molded and profile extrusion parts
Interested in discussing whether our Terratek SC line of starch-composite materials is right for your product? We’d be interested in hearing from you. Get in touch with us today to schedule a material selection consultation.
