BioLogiQ: Redefining Plastic, Redefining Sustainability

20 Nov 2024

In the farming community of Idaho Falls, Idaho, in 2011, BioLogiQ was founded with a revolutionary vision: to create a sustainable, plant-based alternative to fossil-fuel-based plastics. Its proprietary biopolymer, NuPlastiQ®, uses annually renewable materials to reduce the environmental footprint of plastic products. Carbon-neutral at production, NuPlastiQ blends seamlessly with a variety of other plastics, from bioplastics like PLA and PBAT to traditional polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). When combined, NuPlastiQ enables faster biodegradation of the final product. BioLogiQ named this groundbreaking discovery iQ Technology™.

iQ Technology transforms plastic sustainability by increasing biodegradation rates in multiple environments, including marine settings. Unlike OXO degradable plastics, which fragment into microplastics, NuPlastiQ does not use a chemical catalyst to accelerate abiotic degradation and instead utilizes microbial activity to create conditions that lower the polymer’s molecular weight at the surface area. This technology has the potential to reduce the environmental persistence of plastic pollutants from centuries to years or decades.

BioLogiQ demonstrated the efficacy of its NuPlastiQ iQ Technology in a public marine study, which revealed that (PE) film with iQ Technology biodegraded visibly within 6 months and disappeared after 2 years. Research conducted by microplastic experts at Nagasaki University confirmed that the PE film did not simply fragment but experienced increased biodegradation. These findings highlight iQ Technology’s potential to reduce the persistence of plastic pollution, underscoring the need for continued research and commercial application.

In developing NuPlastiQ, BioLogiQ significantly advanced thermoplastic starch (TPS) technology using a proprietary process that transforms high crystalline starch powder into low crystalline (amorphous) biopolymer. This advanced TPS is blended with various partner resins to create their line of BioBlends. In addition to iQ Technology for single-use applications, the company has developed a line of resin grades intended for durable applications, called DuraPlantiQ.

Another advantage of NuPlastiQ is its ability to blend with post-consumer recycled plastics. When combined, it streamlines the extrusion process, improving manufacturing efficiency and increasing market demand for recycled plastics. By integrating renewable materials and improving biodegradation, BioLogiQ helps industries align with UN Sustainable Development Goals, transition to a regenerative economic model, reduce plastic waste and microplastic potential, and lower fossil fuel dependence.

With full commercialization efforts completed in 2017, BioLogiQ was primed to scale up. The company’s global expansion in 2019, powered by substantial investment from Asia, enabled a tenfold capacity increase through new global facilities. Industries worldwide have adopted BioLogiQ’s products for flexible and rigid packaging, consumer goods, and durable applications.

With over 42 international patents and over 30 additional pending, BioLogiQ has built an extensive portfolio of intellectual property. This strong IP foundation safeguards the company’s core technologies and product portfolio.

Today, BioLogiQ continues to lead the way in bioplastics innovation. Derived from organic materials, their plant-based technologies offset more virgin plastic as their use increases, helping in turn to reduce plastic waste, including microplastics and related health concerns. By redefining the role of plastics in a sustainable economy, BioLogiQ is delivering solutions that align performance with environmental responsibility, paving the way for a cleaner, greener planet.

To learn more about BioLogiQ and its product offerings, visit their website at www.biologiq.com

Author
Grace Pratama
Grace Pratama

Communication Officer

In the farming community of Idaho Falls, Idaho, in 2011, BioLogiQ was founded with a revolutionary vision: to create a sustainable, plant-based alternative to fossil-fuel-based plastics. Its proprietary biopolymer, NuPlastiQ®, uses annually renewable materials to reduce the environmental footprint of plastic products. Carbon-neutral at production, NuPlastiQ blends seamlessly with a variety of other plastics, from bioplastics like PLA and PBAT to traditional polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). When combined, NuPlastiQ enables faster biodegradation of the final product. BioLogiQ named this groundbreaking discovery iQ Technology™.

iQ Technology transforms plastic sustainability by increasing biodegradation rates in multiple environments, including marine settings. Unlike OXO degradable plastics, which fragment into microplastics, NuPlastiQ does not use a chemical catalyst to accelerate abiotic degradation and instead utilizes microbial activity to create conditions that lower the polymer’s molecular weight at the surface area. This technology has the potential to reduce the environmental persistence of plastic pollutants from centuries to years or decades.

BioLogiQ demonstrated the efficacy of its NuPlastiQ iQ Technology in a public marine study, which revealed that (PE) film with iQ Technology biodegraded visibly within 6 months and disappeared after 2 years. Research conducted by microplastic experts at Nagasaki University confirmed that the PE film did not simply fragment but experienced increased biodegradation. These findings highlight iQ Technology’s potential to reduce the persistence of plastic pollution, underscoring the need for continued research and commercial application.

In developing NuPlastiQ, BioLogiQ significantly advanced thermoplastic starch (TPS) technology using a proprietary process that transforms high crystalline starch powder into low crystalline (amorphous) biopolymer. This advanced TPS is blended with various partner resins to create their line of BioBlends. In addition to iQ Technology for single-use applications, the company has developed a line of resin grades intended for durable applications, called DuraPlantiQ.

Another advantage of NuPlastiQ is its ability to blend with post-consumer recycled plastics. When combined, it streamlines the extrusion process, improving manufacturing efficiency and increasing market demand for recycled plastics. By integrating renewable materials and improving biodegradation, BioLogiQ helps industries align with UN Sustainable Development Goals, transition to a regenerative economic model, reduce plastic waste and microplastic potential, and lower fossil fuel dependence.

With full commercialization efforts completed in 2017, BioLogiQ was primed to scale up. The company’s global expansion in 2019, powered by substantial investment from Asia, enabled a tenfold capacity increase through new global facilities. Industries worldwide have adopted BioLogiQ’s products for flexible and rigid packaging, consumer goods, and durable applications.

With over 42 international patents and over 30 additional pending, BioLogiQ has built an extensive portfolio of intellectual property. This strong IP foundation safeguards the company’s core technologies and product portfolio.

Today, BioLogiQ continues to lead the way in bioplastics innovation. Derived from organic materials, their plant-based technologies offset more virgin plastic as their use increases, helping in turn to reduce plastic waste, including microplastics and related health concerns. By redefining the role of plastics in a sustainable economy, BioLogiQ is delivering solutions that align performance with environmental responsibility, paving the way for a cleaner, greener planet.

To learn more about BioLogiQ and its product offerings, visit their website at www.biologiq.com

Author
Grace Pratama
Grace Pratama

Communication Officer

Ornament

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