April 2024: The 2024 Award Program Nomination Period will open.
Heather Nortz
Manager, Sustainability & Materials
Plastics Industry Association
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 processes by a company. The judging criteria are described further below.
This award, along with our other 5 Sustainability Innovation Awards, is annually presented at either the Re|focus Sustainability & Recycling Summit or NPE.
The nomination period for the 2024 award will open in April, 2024. To be informed when the nomination period opens, email [email protected].
This competition is open to any corporation, partnership, or other business entity located within or outside the United States that is not excluded by the Official Rules. The same company may submit multiple entries for different materials, products, or processes, provided that a separate and complete entry from is submitted for each innovation. All applicants will be judged based on the following three categories:
Innovation is the act of being creative, introducing something new, and representing a progression of the state-of-art. Does the bioplastic material, product, or process truly bring something unique and groundbreaking to the marketplace? Examples may include:
Does the bioplastic material, product, or process provide some measure of enhanced sustainability? Examples may include:
Does the material, product, or process have an impact on the marketplace? Questions to consider may include:
UltraMelt was engineered for the efficient and sustainable injection molding of bioresins. It specifically addresses these challenges with non-reactive surfaces and stainless-steel components to preserve the sensitive chemistry of bioresin materials and minimize degradation. After rigorous testing and optimization, UltraMelt was introduced to the marketplace in 2022, becoming a pioneering solution for bioresin melt delivery.
2023 – Husky Injection Molding for their hot runner system, UltraMelt, 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), Press Release
2016 – Club Coffee’s PurPod100™,Press Release
2015 – Eastman Kodak’s bio-toner, Press Release
2014 – Teknor Apex’s Terraloy® PLA compounds, Press Release
2013 – Avantium’s development of polyethylene furanoate (PEF), Press Release