UK bioplastics breakthrough wins US plastics industry prize
“2024 is our year – we've scaled up three products, secured investor backing, brought new talent onboard and successfully launched our first commercial application"
Floreon was announced the winner of The US Plastics Industry Association’s (PLASTICS) Innovation in bioplastics Award for its breakthrough plant-based, flame retardant, halogen-free polymer - uniquely suited to high performance engineering applications.
Floreon CEO Sandrine Garnier
Floreon
The accolade signifies Floreon Therma-Tech’s far reaching potential for global industries including - but not limited to - building and construction, transportation, electricals and electronics and sport and safety equipment.
Up to now there was a major gap in the market for a bioplastic with proven fire retardancy. Established halogenated additives that are traditionally used to control flammability are undesirable and can also complicate recycling. With Therma-Tech, the Floreon team has developed the first halogen-free PLA (polylactic acid compound) to achieve the UL94V-0 rating - meaning it is certified safe for use in the plastic parts of devices and appliances.
Patrick Krieger, PLASTICS’ Vice President of Sustainability congratulated Floreon, saying, “Innovation is about providing people with more options, not less. Floreon Therma-Tech offers companies that want to use biobased materials in durable applications, like building and construction, with sustainable attributes from beginning to end of life.”
Born from a successful Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with The University of Sheffield, UK, Floreon has scaled-up three products to-date. Alongside the award-winning Floreon Therma-Tech, its Floreon Dura-Tech and Floreon Bio-Tech grades have interesting properties for medical devices, toys, promotional merchandise, technical packaging and more.
“2024 is our year – we've scaled up three products, secured investor backing, brought new talent onboard and successfully launched our first commercial application. Now, being recognised by our peers in the bioplastics space highlights that the industry shares our excitement for the technology's far-reaching potential," says Sandrine Garnier, CEO of Floreon.
"Winning this award is testament to the relentless innovation and commitment of the entire team and the importance of the advances we've made in developing the highest performing bioplastic yet.”
Floreon’s awards success was announced during The Plastics Industry Association’s annual Bioplastics Week celebrations.
The company is also a finalist in the UK’s upcoming Plastic Industry Awards being held in November.
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