United Soybean Board Awards Battelle and Biobent Polymers™ Funding for
Research
Money Ensures Continuation of Relationship and Research for Next Stage
Development of Groundbreaking Soy-Based Bioplastics
Columbus, OH, February 14, 2012 -- The United Soybean Board (USB) has
awarded Battelle funding specifically targeted to assist Biobent
Polymers™, the Marysville, Ohio-based bioplastics company, in the
commercialization of its revolutionary new bio-composite polymers made
from soy. This new class of bioplastics is linked on the molecular level
to maintain core characteristics of plastic which are missing in all
other biopolymer-composites while dramatically reducing petroleum use in
manufacturing. The new bioplastics can be used as a replacement for
virtually all polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE).
The USB funding will allow Battelle and Biobent Polymers to continue
pioneering work refining soy-based polymers in an effort to solidify
Biobent’s position as a leading innovator of bioplastics with the
development and commercialization of the next generation of bioplastics.
The joint announcement was made by Rick Heggs, Senior Market Manager for
Battelle’s Energy, Environment and Material Sciences Global Business and
Keith J. Masavage, Chief of Strategy and Operations at Biobent Polymers.
“With USB support, we are continuing our alliance with Biobent Polymers
taking the next step down the commercialization road for a critically
important sustainable green technology,” said Heggs.
This development effort will further the science and technology behind
the award winning bio-composite resins derived from abundantly available
soy-based agricultural co-products. While well into Biobent Polymers’
commercialization phase, the company will leverage this funding to
accelerate solutions to several key technical challenges, provide
production capacity refinements and significantly expand the markets for
this new class of bioplastics.
“We have had great success working with Battelle’s break-through soy
based resins – effectively removing as much as 40 percent of the
petroleum used in the plastics production process,” said Masavage. “These
next steps will even further refine the quality and performance of our
bioplastics and allow us to deliver a variety of grades of plastic resins
for use in a myriad of applications. As a result, we will bring price and
performance of competitive resins to a multi-billion dollar market
eagerly awaiting the arrival of truly “green” bioplastics to help reduce
U.S. dependence on foreign oil.”
“The soybean checkoff program has backed this effort from the beginning
through the Ohio Soybean Council, funding Battelle’s original research,
and now through this United Soybean Board (USB) support,” said USB New
Uses Chair Russ Carpenter, a soybean farmer from Trumansburg, N.Y. “The
USB support comes as a result of the project’s potential, its ongoing
successes, and the dividends we expect for both U.S. soybean farmers and
the environment.”
For a free evaluation kit, contact Keith J. Masavage at 937.645.4600 or
kmasavage@biobent.com
ABOUT BATTELLE
As the world’s largest independent research and development organization,
Battelle provides innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing needs
through its four global businesses: Laboratory Management; National
Security; Health and Life Sciences; and Energy, Environment and Material
Sciences. It advances scientific discovery and application by conducting
$6.5 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory
management and technology commercialization. Headquartered in Columbus,
Ohio, Battelle oversees 22,000 employees in more than 130 locations
worldwide, including seven national laboratories which Battelle manages
or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security and a nuclear energy lab in the United Kingdom. For
more information contact Katy Delaney at 614.424.7208 or
delaneyk@battelle.org, or T.R. Massey at 614.424.5544 or
masseytr@battelle.org.
ABOUT BIOBENT POLYMERS™
Biobent Polymers™, a division of global plastics manufacturer Univenture
Inc., was created in 2011 with a monumental goal; to re-shape the entire
polymers landscape by commercializing price and performance competitive
bio-composite plastics for a greener 21st century. Starting with soy-
based bioplastics exclusively licensed from the Battelle Memorial
Institute, the Marysville Ohio operation is the first in the nation to
offer renewable polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) bioplastics with
the core characteristics of conventional plastics while using up to 40 %
less petroleum. Drawing on over sixty years of award winning senior level
engineering and production expertise combined with strong relationships
in the plastics and agribusiness markets, Biobent Polymers continues to
refine its product offerings and will be launching new based bio-plastics
resins throughout 2012. For more information contact Keith J. Masavage at
937.645.4600 or kmasavage@biobent.com.
ABOUT UNITED SOYBEAN BOARD
USB is made up of 69 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the
soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds
are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization,
industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply. As
stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information
Act, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities
for USB and the soybean checkoff. For more information contact Jon Butler
at 888.235.4332 or butlerj@osborn-barr.com.
PHOTO LIBRARY - A high resolution photo library of the Biobent Polymers™
sustainable bioplastics is available for download via the following link:
http://stylegroup.com/biobent
INTERVIEWS - Biobent Polymers’ Chief of Strategy and Operations, Keith J.
Masavage, is available for interviews and desk side briefings regarding
Biobent Polymers™. He is also available to provide expert quotes and
bylined articles upon request. To schedule an interview or discuss
article options contact Steven Style at 212.465.1290 or
stevens@stylegroup.com
LINKS:
Websites: http://www.battelle.org
http://www.biobent.com
http://www.univenture.com
http://www.unitedsoybean.org
http://www.soynewuses.org
Facebook: http://www.tinyurl.com/univenture
Biobent Polymers Press Contact: Steven Style -or-Tom Dugan, The Steven
Style Group, 212.465.1290 stevens@stylegroup.com -or- tomd@stylegroup.com
Battelle Memorial Institute Contact : T R Massey, Media Relations
Specialist 614.424.5544, MasseyTR@battelle.org
United Soybean Board, Jon Butler, New Uses Program Communications,
888.235.4332, butlerj@osborn-barr.com
Contact:
Tom Dugan
The Steven Style Group
237 W 37 Street, Suite 902
New York, NY 10018
212-465-1290
stevens@stylegroup.com
http://www.stylegroup.com