EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Jan. 10, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cereplast, Inc. (Nasdaq:CERP), a leading manufacturer of proprietary biobased, compostable and sustainable plastics, has introduced the next generation of Cereplast Hybrid Resins®, an expansion of the Biopropylene® PP-based resin product offering through two new bioplastic resin grades, Hybrid 102D and 105D. Cereplast anticipates going to market with the new resin grades during the first half of 2012 in the United States and Europe.
Cereplast Hybrid Resins replace up to 50% of the petroleum content in traditional plastic products with biobased materials such as starches from annually renewable plants. Cereplast Hybrid Resins are suitable for durable goods, including consumer products, interior automotive parts, and furniture, and have a lower carbon footprint than traditional plastics. The new grades Hybrid 102D and Hybrid 105D are both injection molding grades, a heating and cooling manufacturing process in which the material is molded in different shapes.
Cereplast's Biopropylene PP-based resin consists of polypropylene encapsulating starch particles, and includes Hybrid 101, Hybrid 102D and Hybrid 105D. In addition to providing a lower carbon footprint than traditional PP, many of the desirable PP properties are maintained including chemical resistance, mold shrinkage, mold flow, surface appearance, heat deflection temperature, and hinge performance. Hybrid 102D is a formulation that offers a higher starch content than Hybrid 101, while maintaining similar performance. The primary application is injection molding requiring some ductility. Hybrid 105D is a high flow injection molding grade for thinner wall applications than Hybrid 101 and replaces Hybrid 103, providing more consistent properties and processing. All Hybrid grades are FDA compliant for direct food contact.
"As demand for bioplastic resins grows, so does the demand for high-performance durable grades that are cost effective," said Chairman and CEO of Cereplast, Frederic Scheer. "As the price of oil continues to rise, Cereplast Hybrid Resins get closer to parity with traditional plastics, providing an affordable, eco-friendly solution for companies that wish to reduce their environmental impact. Our research and development team have answered the demands of our clients for better-performing hybrid resins with higher levels of starch content. We are proud to introduce the next generation of bioplastic hybrid resins."
About Cereplast, Inc.
Cereplast, Inc. (Nasdaq:CERP) designs and manufactures proprietary biobased, sustainable plastics which are used as substitutes for traditional plastics in all major converting processes - such as injection molding, thermoforming, blow molding and extrusions - at a pricing structure that is competitive with traditional plastics. On the cutting edge of bioplastic material development, Cereplast now offers resins to meet a variety of customer demands. Cereplast Compostables® resins are ideally suited for single-use applications where high biobased content and compostability are advantageous, especially in the foodservice industry. Cereplast Sustainables® resins combine high biobased content with the durability and endurance of traditional plastic, making them ideal for applications in industries such as automotive, consumer electronics and packaging. Learn more at www.cereplast.com/" target="_top" rel="nofollow">www.cereplast.com. You may also visit the Cereplast social networking pages at Facebook.com/Cereplast, Twitter.com/Cereplast, Youtube.com/Cereplastinc and Stocktwits.com/symbol/CERP. The Cereplast, Inc. logo is available at www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/%3Fpkgid=9567" target="_top" rel="nofollow">http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=9567