iConnectHub
Access
Login/Register
Supplier Login
LEADING exhibitors are bringing solutions to Asia that emphasize sustainability via large, crowd-drawing events like Chinaplas. While many of these materials, additives and pigments have been launched in the West and incorporated in products that are sold in the region, these products are now being addressed to domestic manufacturers, especially in China.
Borouge continued to emphasize environmental stewardship and sustainability in a range of showcases from high-performance infrastructure materials to low VOC interior solutions for the automotive industry. One of the most intesting installations at the stand, however, was an arch-like structure titled "Delivering richer harvest," which upon closer inspection was a section of a greenhouse-like facility.
This type of greenhouse is different from most types seen in China that are clear and which you can see right through; but instead the panels were transluscent owing to a unique Borstar® film developed for growing applications. Contrary to common belief, Borouge has found that light that is diffused through the film actually allows more light to penetrate than clear glass or film in typical greenhouses, and consequently improves the growth of quality crops.
"By letting more light through and diffusing the light so there are no shadows inside the greenhouse, and you get earlier crop growing, bigger crop yield and more uniform crop yields, which allows farmers to more accurately predict when crops are coming to fruition and products can go to market" explained Laurence Jones, vice president Marketing Centre for Film & Fibre at Borouge.
He related the success of a strawberry farmer in China who was able to grow more fruit so fast and so big that he was able to bring them to market two weeks earlier than other farmers. "Bringing them so early in the season allowed him to demand more for his strawberries than when more fruits are in the market and the price goes down," Mr Jones added. "He got higher yield, earlier yield and he got more money."
Mr Jones believes that this success story can be replicated and help farmers to increase crop yields, reduce waste and feed more.
Another of these exhibitors is Clariant, whose emphasis on improving sustainability underlies how it is addressing the mega trends in Greater China through product innovations. Noting the dramatic improvements in standards of living and dynamic economic growth in the country, the company sees great potential for development in this region. Alongside fast development of the domestic market are stricter legal requirements and regulations in the chemical industry and increased awareness on environmental and sustainability issues.
Clariant said it is leveraging its rich international experience and expertise in quality, safety and sustainability to help to upgrade the chemical industry in China to the next level. “Much of Clariant's success is based on our extensive insights of our local markets as well as our ability to identify upcoming trends and new customer needs at an early stage, and then develop innovative and efficient solutions to match these,” commented Jan Kreibaum, regional president of Clariant Greater China, ahead of Chinaplas 2015 (May 20-23).
Among the highlights during the four-day show that we noted from Clariant’s showcase are AddWorks®, the new branding for its series of innovative polymer additives, which can be used in construction of greenhouses, and Hydrocerol® chemical foaming masterbatches and nucleating agents that achieve weight reduction, raw material savings, improved thermal and acoustic insulation, increased wall stiffness and enhanced surface textures. Another is the PV Fast Pink E pigment, the Clariant EcoTain® – labeled product based on bio-succinic acid with excellent fastness properties and outstanding dispersibility, suitable for high-end applications with sustainability performance over the whole life cycle.
Learn more about other sustainable solutions launched and showcased at Chinaplas 2015:
Dow addresses China’s farm-to-table packaging needs
SABIC's innovative solutions for improved quality of life in China
CPPIA participates in Operation Clean Sweep
New DuPont TiO2 systems solution enables thinner flexible films
Femme