After a successful one-year trial run with organic waste management using the “Biohybrid” kitchen waste bins and bags manufactured by Australia’s Cardia Bioplastics (Melbourne; www.cardiabioplastics.com) – see Plasteurope.com of 21.12.2011 – the Jianye district council of Nanjing / China has decided to make the project permanent. The council has initially ordered products worth AUD 250,000 (EUR 164,000), with a forecast of annual supply requirement worth AUD 1m (EUR 650,000).

The current contract represents 5% of households in the city of more than 6m people. Other Nanjing districts are still in trials with the waste management products, and the company said it sees potential to expand the rollout. Renewable waste management is also taking hold in other Chinese cities. At the end of 2012, Cardia secured a contract to supply the Pudong district of Shanghai with the hybrid kitchen bags – see Plasteurope.com of 10.01.2013.

Cardia’s proprietary technology combines renewable thermoplastics made from non-GMO starch with polyolefins. The end product is claimed to contain less oil than conventional plastics and deliver a lower carbon footprint. Under the brand name “Cardia Compostables”, the Australian company also manufactures compostable bags, which it said are delivering sales in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Canada, Brazil, the US and UK.

Through its Brazilian subsidiary, the bioplastics specialist has also won an annual contract to supply Biohybrid carrier bags to Ricoy Supermercados. The deal was clinched after a four-month trial, for which Cardia supplied bags worth USD 150,000 (EUR 109,000) to the leading Brazilian supermarket chain. The company said its Brazilian subsidiary has set up resources and infrastructure to supply both resin and finished goods to the country’s large plastics and retail market.

In response to growing demand for its bioplastics products, Cardia is currently expanding output capability. It has ordered three new film extrusion and bag-making machines with the aim of ordering an additional three machines by the end of June 2014. According to Cardia, each production line is capable of producing an additional volume of 1.5m bags per month. The company said growth in its portfolio is being driven by its reputation for a “price competitive, high-quality product,” along with changing legislation and increased global demand for sustainable bags, film and packaging.