Boston, MA — Novomer, a materials company that has been developing plastics, polymers and other chemicals using feedstocks like carbon dioxide (CO2), is entering the second phase of a plan to commercialize its plastics that are partially made of CO2.

The project will create polypropylene carbonate (PPC) materials for use in making several packaging and coating items like bottles and plastic film, and then having companies test the products. The PPC materials are made up of 50 percent fossil fuel and 50 percent CO2.

They also use as much as 50 percent less energy to manufacture than conventional plastics, provide a better oxygen barrier - meaning that food packaged with them can stay fresher longer - and require less material when making packaging.

The $800,000 project is part of Novomer's partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and the project also includes Kodak Specialty Chemicals and the Rochester Institute of Technology. All of the investment from NYSERDA will go into manufacturing the plastics since the companies will be able to use existing infrastructure.

This effort was preceded by a feasibility study, funded by a $150,000 grant, to investigate the financial, marketing and environmental potential for PPC materials. The study found that Novomer could use existing manufacturing infrastructure to produce PPC materials at a lower cost and with fewer environmental impacts than traditional plastics.

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