Ecoflex® and Ecovio®: Biodegradable, Performance-Enabling Plastics

Biodegradable polymers are sustainable alternatives to standard plastics in applications where the functional property of biodegradability is an advantage. Ecoflex® is the brand name of completely biodegradable aliphatic–aromatic polyesters produced by BASF. By the use of renewable raw materials either in the production of Ecoflex® itself and/or by blending with bio-based polymers like starch or poly(lactic acid) (PLA), biodegradable plastics with new and interesting properties profiles are obtained. Compounds of Ecoflex® and PLA are commercialized by BASF under the brand name Ecovio®. Ecoflex® and Ecovio® combine very good mechanical properties with complete biodegradability and are, in certain applications, drop-in substitutes for standard plastics like polyethylene or polystyrene. The application range is very broad: from film applications like organic waste bags, shopping bags or agricultural mulch films to knitted nets, shrink films, coated paper board and stiff foamed packaging.