Bioresins manufacturer Cereplast (Hawthorne, California / USA; www.cereplast.com) and A. Schulman (Akron, Ohio / USA; www.aschulman.com) have extended their European distribution agreement to include all countries. Under a deal agreed in early 2009 – see Plasteurope.com of 28.01.2009 – the Ohio group already distributes Cereplast’s “Compostables” (single-trip food packaging) and “Hybrids Resins” (automotive, consumer electronics and packaging) in France, Benelux and Spain and a number of other European countries.

Cereplast is regarded as a leader in biodegradable plastics. A. Schulman is keen to expand its portfolio and can provide a solid distribution platform. Both companies hope to profit from the expected growth in demand for bioplastics in Europe. Renewable products currently account for less than 1% of European plastics consumption; however, market research group Freedonia (Cleveland, Ohio / USA; www.freedoniagroup.com) forecasts a market value of more than USD 5 bn by 2018 – see PIEWEb of 26.11.2009.

Expanding the agreement with A. Schulman provides “an exceptional opportunity for Cereplast to gain a competitive edge,” said Frederic Scheer, the company’s founder, chairman and CEO. Schulman’s director for engineered plastics in Europe, Thomas Koerlin, says the partners will now be able to reach a “wider range of plastics processors.”

Nordmann, Rassmann (NRC, Hamburg / Germany; www.nrc.de) distributes Cereplast’s compostable PLA compounds and other non-biodegradable polyolefin products in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Nordic countries (see Plasteurope.com of 05.02.2009). Auto maker Ford is using A. Schulman’s "AgriPlas”, PP and wheat straw composite in the storage bins of its 2010 “Flex” model.