To deter false or misleading communication of environmental product properties, European Bioplastics, the association for the European bioplastics industry, has published its Environmental Communications Guide for Bioplastics.

Communicating attractive environmental profiles and delivering ample and honest information while meeting national and international (communication) standards is not always an easy task for communication and marketing experts. However, especially when it comes to the communication of environmental beneficial properties of products, flawless claims are a must.

European Bioplastics has developed its Environmental Communications Guide within an international working group of member and non-member experts. As of today, the 30-page brochure is available for download at http://en.european-bioplastics.org/ecg. A short summary of the key messages of the guide is also available in German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Swedish.

The brochure outlines general, ISO compliant guidelines for environmental communication. In addition, it provides recommendations regarding relevant claims for bioplastics such as biobased, biodegradable, compostable or CO2 neutral. Recommendations are illustrated by both good and poor examples.

The Environmental Communications Guide is a source of information which is particularly relevant to the packaging sector, where bioplastics are commonly used. Both communications and marketing experts, as well as product designers and brand managers can get a quick and up to date overview of the subject.

US private equity firm Carlyle Group has paid US$4.9 billion to acquire DuPont Performance Coatings.

German chemicals firm BASF has set up a new research laboratory for thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) in the US.

German automotive products supplier Mann + Hummel GmbH is expanding in China by acquiring Bengbu Haoye, a manufacturer of filters for the automotive industry.

US-based Emerald Kalama Chemical is building a facility to manufacture environmentally friendly materials in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, at the plant it acquired from DSM in 2010.

Mitsui Chemicals of Tokyo has established a company for functional polymeric materials in Shanghai’s Jinshan district.

Five years after Huntsman Polyurethanes teamed up with renewable resource-based polyol producer Alberdingk Boley to co-develop PU solutions for the coatings market.

Solvay Advanced Polymers is upping capacity for its Spire polyetheretherketone (PAEK) by 70% at its Panoli, India, plant.

In lieu of a growing lighter vehicles trend, Lanxess opens its first US$20 million worth production plant for high-tech plastics plant in Gasronia in the U.S. state of North Carolina, to help meet the increasing demand for premium, lightweight plastics.