FoodProductionDaily reported this month Meredian received a Food Substance Contact Notification approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which certifies certain biopolymers by the company are safe to use as food containers and storage for the general public.
FDA Patented process
The trial using the patented process now opens the door for mass production of biodegradable plastics on a commercial scale.
“Meredian is thrilled to confirm our patented PHA process has hit another milestone in our effort to make biodegradable, food contact approved plastics on a commercial scale,” said Paul Pereira, executive chairman, Board of Directors.
Michael Smith, VP manufacturing and engineering, Meredian, told FPD at K Show Dusseldorf, Germany last year the firm will reach full capacity by the second quarter of 2014.
Commercial applications
He added it will provide another 4m lbs. to complete joint development activities while launching commercial applications in mid-2014.
Greg Wenndt, VP, business development, Tate & Lyle said it was thrilled to have combined its fermentation expertise and scale-up capabilities with the Meredian process.
“Successes like this demonstrate that sustainability can and does benefit both the environment and the economy,” he said.
Meredian manufactures PHA biopolymers using renewable resources, reducing the global dependence on petroleum used in production of plastics.