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Using natural fibers (hemp or flax) to produce bioplastic and composites in a sustainable manner replacing the use of fossil fuels.
Triflon AB, produce a number of natural fibre-based products including, BioLite™ a hemp fibre reinforced heterophasic copolymer designed for injection moulding. BioLite™ combines natural fibres from industrial hemp with polymers to create sustainable bio-composites.
The natural fibres undergo a mechanical cleaning, a chemical purification and an optimization process, before they are mixed with polypropylene and additional additives. BioLite™ involves the mixing of hemp-based natural fibres with polymers that come primarily from recycled plastic. It is produced in two product classes. One product class is used for automotive panelling, home and garden goods, consumer products (e.g., dust collectors, food trays) and luggage application, and the other for e.g., brackets and industrial parts as well as home, garden and consumer goods. The outcome is the biocomposite BioLiteTM in granulate form with different ratios of polypropylenes and natural fibers. BioLiteTM AP21 consists of 10 % natural fibres and 90 % polypropylene and BioLiteTM AP23 consists of 30 % natural fibres and 70 % polypropylene. The different ratios result in different product properties like bio-content, stiffness and weight. The latter can perform even better than competing fossil-based compounds (30 % stiffer and 10-25 % lighter). Finally, both types of granulate can be fed to conventional injection moulding units. Triflon has 3 material families a) BIOLITE (hemp reinforced with polypropylene) b) Switch polyester (wood cellulose & hemp incorporated with starch based polyester c) Revo (recycled polypropylene with plant fibers
A major break-through in terms of market access was the signature of a five-year exclusivity deal with EPIC Travelgear, a luggage manufacturer to produce the luggage EPIC PhantomBIOBioLite™. It is currently focusing on three key market sectors, i.e., the automotive and transportation sector, industrial and consumer goods, and home furnishings. BioLite™ is providing a substitute material for common plastics used in these markets, e.g. polypropylene (PP). Such a process would require the scaling up of hemp production in Ireland to be transferable.
A standard product made with BioLiteTM AP21 (AP23) reduces the carbon footprint by 30% (54%) compared to a product made from virgin polypropylene. The CO2 eq/kg is around 1.21 (Biolite), 0.98 (Switch), 0.46 (Revo) which is almost 9 times lower than existing plastics.
Trifilon focuses on local hemp and flax resources, they plan to use the local flax fibers from the production of flax oil which are not used yet, remaining as residues. By adding value to these leftovers, new income streams for farmers and flax oil producers can be generated.
Hemp farmers who provides raw ingredients, technology developers/industry partners, Injection molding partners
Natural fibres from industrial hemp or flax blended with polymers (polypropylene)
9
Triflon AB
The natural fibres undergo a mechanical cleaning, a chemical purification and an optimization process, before they are mixed with the polypropylenes and some additives
Bioplastic and Biocomposites (Biolite grade, Switch and Revo grade)
5000 tonnes annually
Stockholm, Sweden
2015
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