By Plasteurope.com correspondent

Swedish bioplastics company Gaia Biomaterials (Helsingborg; www.gaiabiomaterials.com) has announced the development of a new grade of limestone-based Biodolomer material, which is suitable for drinking straws.

The new, compostable grade is fit for use with hot beverages and can handle temperatures over 80 °C without substantial loss in rigidity or stability, the company said. The grade can be produced using traditional processes such as tube extrusion, extrusion coating, thermoforming, blow molding, and 3D printing with minimal adjustments. 

Gaia added that Biodolomer granules are suitable for a variety of film-based and single-use-product applications including grocery bags, aprons, beer cups, bottles, and food containers, besides drinking straws.

Related: Biodegradable straw that doesn't get soggy

For nine years now, the company has been producing Biodolomer, a renewable, sustainable, and compostable material based on limestone that also includes ingredients such as calcium carbonate, sugar cane, vegetable oil, and ester. 

Biodolomer has been certified for compostability in the US for film applications by third-party verification company Biodegradable Products Institute (New York, New York, USA; https://bpiworld.org). The company says Biodolomer has similar European certification by TÜV Austria and the German certification bureau DIN Certco (Berlin; www.dincertco.de).