In what managing director Catia Bastioli said represents “an important strategic breakthrough” for the company, Italian producer of biodegradable materials Novamont (I-28100 Novara; www.novamont.com) has acquired the “Eastar Bio” technology of Eastman Chemical (Kingsport, Tennessee / USA; www.eastman.com) for an undisclosed sum. The deal includes all patents and technology rights but not production facilities or distribution channels. While remarking that “the emerging biodegradables industry is experiencing exciting market development,” the US group added that “only limited synergies” exist with its current portfolio. Biodegradable copolyesters have not yet made signficiant inroads into traditional plastics markets.

Polyester world market leader Eastman introduced its biodegradable polymer in 1997 and since then has invested more than USD 90m in the project. The resin is used commercially for single-trip disposable packaging, as well as for barrier films and waste-bin liners. Last spring, Eastman announced plans to close the 15,000 t/y production plant at Hartlepool in the UK it started up in 1999 (see PIE 04, 2004).

Novamont, which began life as a research centre, today counts as one of the leading manufacturers of biopolymers with a production capacity of 200,000 t/y, a workforce of more than 100 and annual sales of over EUR 30m. Its “Mater-Bi” trademark stands for a family of starch-based materials blended with a variety of biodegradable polymers. The technology acquired from Eastman will enhance the Italian company´s position in polyester and starch-based polyester systems. According to Bastioli, the acquisition willl allow Novamont not only to complement its existing portfolio but also speed up the internal development of polyesters from renewable raw materials.