Extrusion International 5-2025-USA

74 Extrusion International 5/2025 MATERIALS „Let’s keep it in the loop“ – Sustainable Plastic Solutions for a Circular Future „Plastics care for Future – Let`s keep it in the loop“ – Under this motto, FKuR will present its expanded portfolio of bioplastics and recyclates at K 2025. These materials are tailored to meet the requirements of the circular economy and the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). H ighlights at the booth include the soil-biodegradable Bio- Flex® N grades for agricultural and farming products, which leave no persistent microplastics behind. In addition, FKuR will showcase an expanded portfolio of high-perfor- mance post-consumer recyclates (PCR) and in-house developed recy- clate compounds. A new addition is the LDPE recyclate “Paluren” from Palurec (Hürth/Germany), derived from recycled beverage cartons. Visitors will also nd numerous product examples made from recy- clable, bio-based Terralene® com- pounds based on bio-PE, as well as from the bio-based I’m green™ biobased PE and EVA grades from Braskem. Bio-based plastics are a key component in the defossilization of the plastics industry and offer sus- tainable solutions for applications where environmental compatibility is a top priority. Key features of FKuR’s new Bio- Flex® N series include complete biodegradability in soil and certi - cation according to ‘OK biodegrad- able SOIL’ by TÜV Austria. Depend- ing on the grade, certi cation has already been granted or is currently in progress due to the lengthy test- ing and approval process. The port- folio includes grades for blown lm, injection molding, and extrusion, all speci cally developed to meet the requirements of agricultural and farming applications. All Bio-Flex® N types degrade in soil without leav- ing any residue and do not produce persistent microplastics. This makes them especially suitable for prod- ucts that remain in nature after use or cannot be collected again – such as mulch lms, binding twines, and plant clips for vegetables, growth tubes for trees, or drainage pipes in horticulture and agriculture. • The already OK biodegradable SOIL-certi ed Bio-Flex® N 25370 is suitable for injection molding and pro le extrusion products such as tree guards and growth tubes used in forestry. Despite its high density, N 25370 offers excellent exibility. • Key applications of the Bio-Flex® blown lm grades N 21310 and N 31310 include mulch lms as well as plant and net labels. Thanks to its well-balanced property pro le, Bio- Flex® N 21310 is a suitable alterna- tive to the industrially compostable grade Bio-Flex®F 1140when soil bio- degradability is desired. In compari- son, Bio-Flex® N 31310 offers higher puncture resistance and toughness. • Bio-Flex® N 45261 is suitable for injection molding and pro le ex - trusion. Its increased stiffness and strengthmake it ideal for applications such as clips, plant stakes, and pots. New to FKuR’s distribution pro- gram is the plastic recyclate Paluren. This LDPE, available in pellet form, is produced through an innovative recycling process from used bever- age cartons (PolyAl) and contains around 4% aluminum akes. This gives products made from Paluren a unique appearance. The recycling company Palurec employs a mechan- ical-physical process that uses no or- ganic solvents, withwater as the only separation medium. The production of Paluren LDPE meets the require- ments of the German VerpackG cer- ti cation as well as the RecyClass Re - cycling Process Certi cate. Paluren can be processed similarly to conventional PE and allows the use of hot runner injection molding technology as well as common poly- ole n-based color and additive mas - terbatches. It can also be welded and bonded. The aluminum ake con - tent is intentionally utilized to create attractive aesthetic properties. Patrick Zimmermann, Managing Director of FKuR, states: “With the forward-looking motto of our pres- ence at K 2025, we emphasize our ongoing commitment to circularity in the plastics industry. We demon- strate that those seeking pioneering new options for material substitu- tion will nd highly attractive solu - tions at FKuR thatmeet all regulatory requirements. This applies equally to consumer goods, packaging, and in- dustrial applications. In this way, we help OEMs, suppliers, and processors leverage and deliver greater sustain- ability to their customers – with our biodegradable or bio-based plastics as well as recyclates – regardless of the industry.” FKuR Group www.fkur.com K 2025: Hall 6, Booth E48 New to FKuR’s product portfolio is Paluren, an LDPE material recovered from the recycling of beverage cartons by Palurec (© Palurec)