ENVIPLAST® within its mission to promote the global use of environmentally-friendly materials, particularly with regards to packaging materials, participated in an international conference in Cologne, Germany between 23rd and 24th November 2015. Dr. Asmuwahyu Saptorahardjo as a longstanding technical consultant to ENVIPLAST® took upon the role of speaker on behalf of the brand to deliver a seminar entitled ‘Cassava Starch-based Bio-plastic, A Potential Solution for the Micro-plastic Problem’ at the conference on ‘Micro-plastic in the Environment - Sources, Impacts and Solutions’.

In discussing this topic, Dr. Saptorahardjo sought to disseminate a variety of key facts and figures related to the world’s ongoing plastic pollution problem and present breakthrough solutions provided through a cassava starch-based bio-plastic resin that has been researched by PT Inter Aneka Lestari Kimia - the experienced Indonesian producer of masterbatch and polymer compounds behind ENVIPLAST®. The material has been tested to meet the strict requirements imposed upon biodegradable products in accordance with EN13432 standards; can be converted to packaging products with a tensile strength of 12-14MPa and a fracture strain of 225%; and has demonstrated advantageous anti-static properties and a low oxygen barrier level.

Additionally, ENVIPLAST®’s participation at the international conference aimed to illustrate Indonesia’s promising position as a country with the immense potential to produce more than 17.3 million tonnes of bio-plastic resin per year. The two-day conference itself served as a broad-scope discussion platform for producers, scientists, environmental organisations, governmental agencies and consumers. Various innovative ideas for preventing and resolving the threat of micro-plastic waste were proposed, such as through the use of cutting-edge substitute materials as exemplified by ENVIPLAST®, pioneering recycling methods, as well as other prospective solutions.