C.A.R.M.E.N. Organises Stand on Bioplastics with International Exhibitors

Straubing, January 27th, 2004 * (schu) BioFach 2004, the world's leading trade fair for organic products, takes place in Nuremberg from February 19th to 22nd, 2004. C.A.R.M.E.N., the Bavarian co-ordinating agency for renewable raw materials, is in charge of the organisation of a joint stand on bioplastics, uniting ten international exhibitors in hall 6, stand no. 223.
Bioplastics are ideally suitable for the production and packaging of organic products. They consist mainly of renewable raw materials. Being biodegradable and mostly also compostable, bioplastics can be re-integrated into the natural materials cycle. International chains of stores have realised these advantages. In Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Italy, consumers can already find packagings made of biodegradable materials and also corresponding shopping bags. A chain in Switzerland sells biodegradable one-way tableware and cutlery. Compostable mulch films are used in agriculture and gardening in Spain, Italy, France, and Germany on an area of more than 5,000 hectares.
At this year's Biofach Trade Fair, C.A.R.M.E.N. pays special attention to starch bags that facilitate the handling of biowaste. These bags on the basis of corn starch are fully compostable and more tear-resistant than paper, thus making a hygienic waste collection possible. The background of this is the "Straubing Model Project" for enforcing the German-wide introduction of compostable biowaste bags.
Ten international companies will be presenting themselves together with C.A.R.M.E.N. at the stand. BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, FukR-Kunststoff GmbH, Willich, Novamont GmbH, Eschborn, and Rodenburg-BioPolymers, Oosterhout (from the Netherlands), are going to introduce bioplastics for numerous fields of application.
Zerzog GmbH & Co. KG, Ottobrunn, and natura Verpackungs GmbH, Rheine, will be presenting packagings made of biodegradable materials, natura also tableware and bags made of biodegradable materials.
Bags and films are also in the focus of Wentus Kunststoff GmbH, Hoexter. BayWa Agrar Gartenbau, Munich, presents compostable mulch films for agriculture and gardening. A disposal system for packagings made of biodegradable materials will be introduced by Interserroh GmbH, Cologne. Pronovial, Reims (France), collects and distributes information about markets for regenerative products.
A free brochure bearing the title "Mater-Bi - A Biodegradable Alternative to Conventional Plastics" is available at C.A.R.M.E.N. in English language. Moreover, C.A.R.M.E.N. will this year publish the third edition of the presently certainly most comprehensive and most up-to-date volume on bioplastics: "Biokunststoffe" ("Bioplastics", in German language). It can be ordered in advance at a price of EUR 37.45 (plus post and packaging).
Information: C.A.R.M.E.N. e.V., Dr. Bettina Schmidt, Schulgasse 18, 94315 Straubing, Germany, Tel.: +49-9421-960-300, fax: -333, e-mail: bs@carmen-ev.de and NürnbergMesse (http://www.biofach.de).

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Press inquiries to Ursula Schulte, Tel. +49-9421-960-349.
Pictures of bioplastics are available for download on the internet under http://www.carmen-ev.de ->Presse ->Pressebilder ->Materbi.