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BASF and Smart Planet Technologies target strategic partnership
Focus on Smart Planet Technologies` mineralized coating technology, EarthCoating® Ludwigshafen, Germany and Newport Beach, California – September 30, 2014 – BASF and Smart Planet Technologies are currently discussing a possible strategic partnership concerning the mineralized coating technology, EarthCoating®, for paper packaging applications. EarthCoating is a sustainable and cost efficient alternative to traditional extrusion applied coatings providing excellent barrier and heat seal performance and focusing on improving the recyclability of the packaging. It is engineered for processing within the traditional paper recycling infrastructure and can for example be used for folding cartons, detergent boxes, paper cups, paper plates, etc..
“EarthCoating is a long-awaited breakthrough technology for the packaging industry. A strategic partnership with BASF greatly advances the opportunities for the packaging industry to leverage EarthCoating towards greater sustainability in packaging applications,” said Will Lorenzi, President of Smart Planet Technologies.
“The search for more sustainable coating solutions has been growing in recent years and has become a priority for many companies involved in the paper packaging industry,” added Christian Schulz, Vice President, Center for Sustainable Paper Packaging within BASF.
By forming the Center for Sustainable Paper Packaging (CSPP) in 2013 BASF has committed itself to address these industry needs.
About BASF At BASF, we create chemistry – and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world’s leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of about €74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com
About Smart Planet Technologies Smart Planet Technologies is a packaging technology company with intellectual property focused on advancements in sustainability for the packaging industry. Our innovative technologies are focused on conserving precious natural resources and provide high quality, environmental alternatives across a wide variety of packaging applications. For more information, please visit our website at www.SmartPlanetTech.com
Media contacts BASF Andrea Hoerdt Global Communications Paper Chemicals Division Phone: +41 61 636 0644 andrea.hoerdt@basf.com
Smart Planet Technologies, Inc. Todd Gasparik Director of Marketing Phone: +1 949 610 7063 marketing@smartplanettech.com
Smart Planet Technologies and Printwinner announce breakthrough in sustainability in packaging with commercial availability of paper cups with EarthCoating
Paper Cups achieve success in recyclability testing while reducing plastic content Newport Beach, CA, August 11, 2014 – Smart Planet Technologies, Inc., a leader in innovative materials that address sustainability challenges in packaging, and Printwinner, a printing and packaging distribution company, announce commercial availability of paper hot cups using EarthCoating®. The cups can be ordered through PrintWinner’s website at www.printwinner.com.
EarthCoating is a highly mineralized coating providing high barrier and heat seal performance while containing 40% less plastic than traditional 100% polyethylene coatings. EarthCoating is engineered for processing within the traditional paper recycling infrastructure. Paper cups with EarthCoating with select specifications have successfully completed recyclability and repulpability testing at Georgia Tech’s Institute of Paper Science and Technology, and the Newark Recycling Group.
Traditionally, paper cups and packaging used for hot drinks, cold drinks, and ice cream, have been coated with 100% polyethylene and similar materials. The legacy coatings on paperboards are poor candidates for recycling and often destined for the landfill. Paper cups with EarthCoating provide great potential for post-consumer recyclability. Paperboards with EarthCoating technology offer a recyclable alternative for the approximately 700,000 tons of 100% polyethylene-coated paper cup material produced in the US annually.
Recycling collection pilots are being planned such that specific packages can be labeled recyclable subject to FTC Green Guide stipulations. In addition, cup manufacturing companies can commercially recycle their trimmings, resulting in additional economic and environmental advantages at the point of manufacture. Newark is actively seeking paperboard materials with EarthCoating from both pre- and post-consumer collections.
“The use of EarthCoating tackles the long standing challenge to find a recyclable material for paper cups. I believe this to be the technology breakthrough sought by all environmentally conscious retailers, such as coffee shops and other food service providers. EarthCoating continues to prove itself as a superior technology to 100% polyethylene in applications that require high performance heat seal and barrier requirements,” says Chris Tilton, Chief Technology Officer of Smart Planet Technologies.
About Smart Planet Technologies
Smart Planet Technologies is a materials intellectual property company focused on sustainability for the packaging industry. Our innovative technologies are focused on conserving precious natural resources and provide high quality, environmental alternatives across a wide variety of packaging applications. For more information, please visit our website at www.SmartPlanetTech.com
Contact Smart Planet Technologies: Todd Gasparik, Director of Marketing, Smart Planet Technologies at marketing@smartplanettech.com
To order paper hot cups with EarthCoating from Printwinner, go to http://www.printwinner.com
EarthCoating Article, "Plastic Coatings, Step Aside"
Featured in Labels & Labeling Magazine
Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions and Smart Planet Technologies Announce Strategic Collaboration
For immediate release:
Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions and Smart Planet Technologies Announce Strategic Collaboration
Newport Beach, CA, February 25, 2014 – Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions and Smart Planet Technologies, Inc., announce a strategic collaboration to evaluate the use of Smart Planet Technologies’ EarthCoating technology in recyclable barrier paperboard solutions.
Traditionally, barrier packaging materials used in forming hot/cold paper cups, ice cream containers, and folding cartons coated with 100% polyethylene or similar materials, are poor candidates for recycling, with low value if reclaimed, and often destined for the landfill. Smart Planet Technologies is working with Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions to confirm that select grades of paperboard, can be commercially recycled as light and heavy print bleached board cuttings, thus providing significant economic and environmental gains. In addition, this solution provides great potential for the post-consumer recyclability of barrier-coated packaging.
EarthCoating technology may offer a recyclable solution for the approximately two million tons of 100% polyethylene-coated boards produced in the US annually. Upon confirmation of EarthCoating’s recyclability, Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions plans to lead the promotion and acceptance of the materials as recyclable within the recycling industry.
“EarthCoating holds the potential to address the long-standing challenge in the difficulty of processing paperboards with 100% polyethylene in the recycling stream,” says Johnny Gold, Senior Vice President at Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions. The rates of recycling of folding cartons, paper cups, and corrugated materials all stand to benefit from this technology. If the pilot runs prove successful, this will be an exciting development for the recycling industry,” says Gold.
“EarthCoating is engineered for improved processing in the recycling process,” says Chris Tilton, Chief Technology Officer of Smart Planet Technologies. “Coated paperboards that traditionally have been undesirable for recyclers can become premium reclaimed materials. We appreciate the willingness of Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions to evaluate and potentially promote the recyclability of paperboard coated with EarthCoating,” says Tilton.
About Smart Planet Technologies: Smart Planet Technologies is a materials intellectual property company focused on sustainability for the packaging industry. Our innovative technologies are focused to conserve precious natural resources and provide high quality, environmental alternatives across a wide variety of packaging applications. Smart Planet Technologies is a partner with Standridge Color Corporation of Social Circle, GA in the commercial availability of EarthCoating.
Contact: Todd Gasparik Phone: +1-949-610-7063 Email: todd@smartplanettech.com
About Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions: Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions is a leader in integrated manufacturing of 100 percent recycled paperboard and paperboard products in the U.S. and Canada. The Company supplies the raw material used to produce products, making it a self-sustaining, environmentally sound company. Newark serves a diverse market, offering raw materials to finished products. It is committed to providing customers with customized innovative products and superior customer service. Privately held for 100 years, Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions is headquartered in Cranford, NJ, employs more than 1,500 and operates 34 facilities. It is a member of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC), an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests.
Contact: Susanne Batchelor Phone: +1-732-352-4138 Email: sbatchelor@tngus.com
Spark of Innovation: An Interview with Christopher Tilton
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Smart Planet Technologies is an intellectual property company focused on developing sustainable high-quality packaging materials.
• What project/research are you working on? Our primary focus is to develop recyclable, environmentally ethical alternative packaging materials. This is accomplished by replacing the plastic coating with mineral composites. By removing the plastic contamination from the packaging, they become 100 percent recyclable.
• What is your specific role in moving this project/research forward? My role includes developing, patenting and commercializing our core materials technology. I also work closely with our licensees’ engineers and manufacturing staff to support the implementation of our technology into existing industrial packaging plants.
• What would be the most successful outcome of your work, and what impact would it have on how we live? Billions of plastic-coated packages are sent to landfills every year. Unlike organic materials, which get broken down naturally by bacteria, plastic will remain in these fills for centuries. For example, coffee cups have plastic coatings that protect the paper from leaking and help seal the cup seams. Our research has developed low-cost, easily scalable materials that greatly reduce and replace the plastic contaminants with natural minerals. The mineral content allows the coatings to become compatible to the paper-recycling stream. Therefore, it is now possible to recycle billions of hot and cold cups rather than sending them off to landfills.
• What about this project is important to you personally? I now have the opportunity to provide the world with a material that can drastically improve the quality of our lives and the longevity of our planet. The most important aspect of my work is making sure I leave behind a legacy of innovation and ingenuity that will benefit my children’s world and help build a brighter future through the advancement of science and technology.
• What is the very best part of your job – when do you feel the most satisfaction?From supporting environmentally conscious companies in their efforts to take advantage of our technology.
• Why did you choose this career? As I began to understand the complexity of packaging, I realized that it is a great platform for innovation.
• Who or what inspired you to study in your field? The alarming truth is that almost every single product we buy comes in some type of packaging, and vast amounts of energy and resources are used to manufacture and dispose of packaging materials. My greatest inspiration is seeing my work and innovation combat these issues and offer real benefits to society.
• What makes you particularly well-suited to this work? I am stubborn. I, like most material scientists, have technical knowledge and engineering skills. However, it has been my willingness to try, fail and try again that has allowed me to achieve so much success.
• Where did you go to college? I graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with studies in Business and Agricultural Science. I was a Distinguished Military Science graduate and started my career as an Army officer.
• During high school and college, which courses helped best prepare you for your current position? My science and math courses were extremely interesting to me and contributed to my success. Also, the discipline and rigor of military training has proved to be invaluable throughout my career.
• What is the best advice you received that has helped further your career? Try to focus on work that you enjoy. Also, recognize that time, work and effort are needed to become proficient. Be willing to make the commitment necessary to the field you find most interesting, and become a subject-matter expert.
• What advice would you give, particularly to the student who may think math, science or engineering are “too hard” for him or her? Science is not easy; it takes commitment and hard work. I challenge students to be honest with themselves and recognize that they are more than capable, given an honest effort. It seems so easy just to avoid the “hard” classes and majors at school. But if you do, you’ll be closing the doorway to an exciting, rewarding and fulfilling career.