KEY DATES
About the Award
Judging Criteria
Tips for Entries
ABOUT THE INNOVATION IN BIOPLASTICS AWARD
The Innovation in Bioplastics Award, presented by the PLASTICS Bioplastics Division, will recognize one outstanding innovation in unique and creative applications of bioplastics materials, products, or manufacturing processes by a company. Completed submissions should be entered into this Entry Form no later than midnight, EST on August 9, 2024. The award winner will be recognized during the Bioplastics Week social media campaign during the week of October 7 – 11.
This award, along with our other 5 Sustainability Innovation Awards, are presented annually at a PLASTICS event. Last year’s awards were presented at NPE2024!
INNOVATION
Innovation is the act of being creative, introducing something new, and representing a progression of the state-of-the-art. For this measure, the judges will ask - does the bioplastic material, product, or manufacturing process truly bring something unique and groundbreaking to the marketplace? Examples may include:
Use of new materials never before used in processes or products
Unusual combinations of materials in a process or product
Use of new material in a current product
Early applications of new process technology
First use of a particular process to produce a particular part
New performance features of a product
Pioneering applications into new markets
TIPS FOR ENTRIES
While there is no maximum word count, try to strike a balance between providing sufficient information and brevity. Consider that this application will be read by volunteer judges alongside multiple others and the information may be used in the press release or on social media.
Provide sufficient information about your material, product, or manufacturing process to explain how it is relevant to the bioplastics industry. For example, new or novel biobased polymers might include what type of feedstock it is made from.
Include challenges you’ve overcome or that you’re still working through. Part of the innovation process is trial and error, which adds important context to your story!
Include product photos, links to marketing brochures, and/or technical documentation. In the case of claims related to a form of biodegradability (industrial/home compostable, marine/soil biodegradable, or anaerobically digestible), technical information has been appreciated by the judges.
ABOUT THE AWARDS
The award plaque embodies the essence of this awards program, which is bioplastic sustainability and innovation. The most recent award plaques were manufactured by Plastic Forming Enterprises (PFE) and made with PLA, provided by NatureWorks. The design allowed for PFE to try out a new process, which ended up being a success! PLASTICS truly appreciates both Plastics Forming Enterprises and NatureWorks for their contribution in helping these awards come to life.
May 31, 2024
Nomination period opens
August 9, 2024
Nomination period closes
August 5 – 16, 2024
Nominations are judged
Week of August 19, 2024
Winner is notified
October 7 – 11, 2024
Winner is announced during Bioplastics Week
TBA
Winner is presented at a future PLASTICS sustainability event
Judging Criteria
About the Award
JUDGING CRITERIA
This competition is open to any corporation, partnership, or other business entity located within or outside of the United States that is not excluded by the Official Rules. The same company may submit multiple entries for different materials, products, or manufacturing processes, provided that a separate and complete entry from is submitted for each innovation. All applicants will be judged based on the three categories of Innovation, Environmental Impact, and Market Impact.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Impact on the environment is a crucial consideration for any innovative venture. The Plastics Industry Association is committed to sustainable development and is supportive of those that are making strides to reach similar goals. For this criterion, judges will assess whether the bioplastic material, product, or manufacturing process provides some measure of enhanced sustainability? Examples may include:
A new material, product, or process that leads to improvements in waste reduction or efficient resource use
A process that consumes less water or energy compared to a traditional process
A product that results in pollution reduction or reduction in CO2 emissions
A finished product that is designed for circularity (recycling and/or composting)
MARKET IMPACT
A successful innovation is one that is able to scale up in or disrupt the current market. Even if your innovation is in the beginning stages of increasing scale, express your vision for what impact it is intended to have. The judges will be considering if the material, product, or manufacturing process currently or will likely soon have a significant impact on the marketplace. Questions to consider may include:
What is the potential impact to the marketplace?
Is the impact significant? If so, how?
Does the material, product, or process address a new market, or does it enhance the current market?
Tips for Entries
2024 – Floreon Technologies Ltd. for their Floreon Therma-Tech PLA-based compound, Press Release
2023 – Husky Technologies for their UltraMelt™ Hot Runner System, Press Release
2022 – Anellotech for the first 100% bioPET bottle, Press Release
2021 – Eastman for their Aventa™ Renew cellulose-based resins, Press Release
2020 - Danimer Scientific & WinCup’s First commercially sold straws made of PHA, Press Release
2019 - Novamont for Mater-Bi, Press Release
2018 – Danimer Scientific & PepsiCo Industrial Compostable Snack Bag, Press Release
2017 – DuPont & ADM’s biobased furan dicarboxylic methyl ester (FDME)
2016 – Club Coffee’s PurPod100™, Press Release
2015 – Eastman Kodak’s bio-toner
2014 – Teknor Apex’s Terraloy® PLA compounds
2013 – Avantium’s development of polyethylene furanoate (PEF)
PAST AWARD WINNERS
Congratulations to our most recent Innovation in Bioplastics Award Winner, Floreon Technologies Ltd.!
Floreon Therma-Tech is a UL94V-0 rated, halogen-free fire-resistant PLA-based compound. It offers the performance of styrenic polymers but with a renewable feedstock and low carbon footprint.
All questions can be emailed to Heather Nortz, Manager, Sustainability & Materials.
Questions?
View the Official Rules of the Award Program