The report mentions the “instability” that the oxo-biodegradable plastic packaging market is experiencing in the west, which may prove to be a “critical restraining factor in the coming decade.” Supportive government regulations regarding the use of oxo-biodegradable plastics in some parts of the world, such as the Middle East and Africa, will drive increased adoption, however.

In May of this year, Thunderbird acquired MPR Plastics, an injection molder based in Elgin, IL. It also acquired Williams Plastics in 2017, Indiana Plastics in 2018, and the plastics division of Tuthill Corp. in 2020, all of which are now operating under the Impact Molding umbrella.

The acquisition includes an ISO Class 7 cleanroom typically used to manufacture medical devices such as IV connectors and surgical instruments. Bright Plastics also has a 67,000-square-foot corporate manufacturing center and 103,000-square-foot manufacturing and logistics hub. The more than 160 Bright Plastics employees will continue to partner with customers from design to distribution, said Thunderbird.

Until she retired in September 2021, Clare Goldsberry reported on the plastics industry for more than 30 years. In addition to the 10,000+ articles she has written, by her own estimation, she is the author of several books, including The Business of Injection Molding: How to succeed as a custom molder and Purchasing Injection Molds: A buyers guide. Goldsberry is a member of the Plastics Pioneers Association. She reflected on her long career in "Time to Say Good-Bye."

In 2017, the global oxo-biodegradable plastic packaging market stood at $637.3 million; it is estimated to surpass $1 billion by the end of 2026.

“The specialized abilities at Bright Plastics coupled with their collaborative approach to manufacturing complements our existing high-volume plastic production capabilities,” added Phil Kretekos, President of Thunderbird

Awareness of environmental health and the need to curb plastic pollution will offer potential growth opportunities for oxo-biodegradable plastics, which have only become a vital component in the packaging industry in recent years. A higher percentage of various types of plastics are being used for packaging, and are also being discarded after use. Most of the plastic ends up in landfills, where it takes several years to degrade, said the study. “This has created a huge concern for the health of the environment and little has been done to eradicate the issue,” said Persistence Market Research. “As complete elimination of plastic is not possible, manufacturers have been promoting the use of biodegradable packaging solutions. This has triggered the adoption of oxo-biodegradable plastic packaging solutions and is expected to drive the growth of the global market.”

“We will benefit from the broader reach of the diverse capabilities at Bright Plastics, as will our customers,” said Kevin Prunsky, Chairman of the Board of Thunderbird. “We expect customers to realize their goals in new ways thanks to the unique equipment and depth of knowledge at Bright.”

The race is on to see which biodegradable product biodegrades the fastest. Japan’s NEC Corp. announced that its new NeCycle bioplastic is now commercially available in an injection-molding grade. NeCycle is made of 50% cellulose from non-edible plants, including straw and wood, and doesn’t require a coating. NeCycle’s properties mimic conventional plastics but with the added benefit that it will break down in as few as four years in soil or water.

What is an acceptable timeframe for biodegradable plastics to fragment and disappear from the environment? The primary selling point for plastics that biodegrade appears to be the length of time it takes for them to vanish. Fewer than 100 years seems to be acceptable.

In the grand scheme of the universe, I suppose that four years is a very short time. When people see it in the environment, however, that seems like way too long for anything plastic to persist.

Oxo-biodegradable garbage bags are expected to see high demand in the near future, with sales expected to exceed $360 million by the end of 2026. The pharmaceutical and healthcare markets have shown increased adoption of oxo-biodegradable plastic packaging recently, and both of these segments are expected to contribute to the growth of the global market in the forecast period.

The acquisition of Bright Plastics continues Thunderbird’s commitment to growth and investment in American manufacturing, said the company, which is based in Oak Brook, IL. Although its business model ostensibly mirrors a private equity approach, Thunderbird claims that its active management process and long-term ownership model differentiate it from other private equity firms.

The study on oxo-biodegradable plastic packaging projects that the global market is “expected to soar” at a rate of 5.4% CAGR during the forecast period, driven primarily by increasing demand for environmentally friendly packaging and supportive government regulations.

Thunderbird LLC announced today the acquisition of Bright Plastics Inc.. The addition of the Greensboro, NC–based plastics processor to the Thunderbird portfolio of manufacturing companies expands its injection-molding support for a range of industries, including medical, defense, aerospace, transportation, recreation, waste management, and telecom, said Thunderbird.

Shortening the amount of time it takes biodegradable plastics to break down and disappear from the environment is the holy grail for bioplastics developers. The race to improve is on.

Shortening the time it takes any biodegradable plastic to break down from years (or millennia) to a matter of weeks would seem to be the holy grail for developers of bioplastics. Oxo-biodegradable plastic has the most potential to succeed. Persistence Market Research has published a report on this topic, “Oxo-Biodegradable Plastic Packaging Market: Global Industry Analysis (2013-2017) and Forecast (2018-2026).”

Persistence Market Research noted that Asia Pacific is expected to be an attractive region for the manufacture and adoption of oxo-biodegradable plastics, and the market is expected to grow at a high value CAGR during the forecast period. Polyethylene will “witness high demand in the manufacturing of oxo-biodegradable plastics,” as will PET, which is gaining traction.

Key players in the manufacturing and distribution of oxo-biodegradable plastics are focused on investing in research to develop innovative packaging solutions with additional features that can enhance the quality and usability of the products, said the study. Key players competing in the global oxo-biodegradable plastic packaging market include Unibag Maghreb (Morocco); EPI Environmental Technologies Inc. (Vancouver, BC); Wells Plastics Ltd. (UK); Willow Ridge Plastics Inc. (Erlanger, KY); and Newtrans USA Co. (Miramar, FL).

It appears that the oxo-biodegradable plastics industry remains relatively small. Given the positive outlook for this material in terms of fast biodegradation — weeks rather than months or years — and if the oxo-biodegradable industry can come to terms with its detractors in the biodegradable plastics space, oxo-biodegradable plastics just might win the day.

“Becoming a Thunderbird company is a testament to our team at Bright Plastics,” said Kirk Sparks, President of Bright Plastics. “This move ensures the legacy of our founder, Steve Bright, and speaks to the talent and commitment of the professionals at Bright who continually embrace new technology and new equipment to meet the demands of a growing customer base.”