Solegear Bioplastics
Encyclopedia
Solegear Bioplastics is an award-winning bioplastics company founded in 2006 and based in Vancouver
, British Columbia
, Canada
. Solegear manufactures 100% natural "high-performance" bioplastic
materials under the brand names Polysole and Traverse. Polysole is made by combining a base polymer
, called polylactic acid
(PLA), with a natural additive formulation which increases various mechanical and physical performance characteristics of the material. Traverse is made by combining conventional plastic
(like polyethylene
, polypropylene
, polystyrene
, or nylon
) with natural biomass
such as wood fibers
or rice husks
.
and compostable plastics. After introducing its initial Polysole compostable material in the summer of 2010, Solegear introduced the Traverse line of biocomposite
s shortly after. Recognizing that the plastics industry was open to 100% natural as well as hybrid plastics, Solegear is positioning the Traverse line as an opportunity to meet the transition from petroleum-based plastics to fully bio-based/biodegradable plastics. Solegear markets the Traverse line as a 'hybrid' for major plastics manufacturers who may one day wish to switch to 100% natural, compostable
plastics, such as Solegear's Polysole.
with the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department at the University of British Columbia
.
polymer. It can be used in durable applications such as children's toys and cosmetics cases. It currently is available in three grades: Polysole TF, Polysole XD, and Polysole LV. Each grade is intended for different purposes: "TF" stands for "thermoforming", "XD" stands for "extra durability", and "LV" stands for "low viscosity", the latter two being injection molding grades.
material. Made of biomass
fibers mixed with conventional plastic (like PE
, PP
, PET
, or nylon
), it can be used in durable applications such as outdoor furniture and automotive parts. The conventional plastic component of Traverse biocomposite material can come from recycled
or virgin plastic.
, filed these two provisional patent applications, converting them into full international patent applications one year later on October 31, 2010.
On June 2nd, 2011, Solegear received positive opinions from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
regarding its international patent applications, with the CIPO deeming the company's intellectual property to be novel and inventive. The international patent applications are expected to be further examined by the CIPO with a decision on issuance expected late in 2012 or early 2013. Solegear expects to continue to deliver further innovations in the field of bioplastics through in-house and partner-based research & development.
with the 2010 New Product Innovation of the Year Award for its Polysole compostable polymer.
New Ventures competition. The BCIC Economic Impact Prize recognized the potential of Solegear and its products to have significant impact on the economy of British Columbia, both by creating jobs within the province and by exporting goods outside the province. The BC Hydro
Sustainability Prize recognized Solegear's contribution to provincial environmental sustainability. The BCIC Second-Prize Package recognized Solegear's overall promise of growing into a viable and successful BC company.
.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Solegear manufactures 100% natural "high-performance" bioplastic
Bioplastic
Bioplastics are a form of plastics derived from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, pea starch, or microbiota, rather than fossil-fuel plastics which are derived from petroleum...
materials under the brand names Polysole and Traverse. Polysole is made by combining a base polymer
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
, called polylactic acid
Polylactic acid
Poly or polylactide is a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch , tapioca products or sugarcanes...
(PLA), with a natural additive formulation which increases various mechanical and physical performance characteristics of the material. Traverse is made by combining conventional plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
(like polyethylene
Polyethylene
Polyethylene or polythene is the most widely used plastic, with an annual production of approximately 80 million metric tons...
, polypropylene
Polypropylene
Polypropylene , also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes...
, polystyrene
Polystyrene
Polystyrene ) also known as Thermocole, abbreviated following ISO Standard PS, is an aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is manufactured from petroleum by the chemical industry...
, or nylon
Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
) with natural biomass
Biomass
Biomass, as a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms. As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel....
such as wood fibers
Wood flour
Wood flour is finely pulverized wood that has a consistency fairly equal to sand or sawdust, but can vary considerably, with particles ranging in size from a fine powder to roughly the size of a grain of rice. Most wood flour manufacturers are able to create batches of wood flour that have the...
or rice husks
Rice hulls
Rice hulls are the hard protecting coverings of grains of rice. In addition to protecting rice during the growing season, rice hulls can be put to use as building material, fertilizer, insulation material, or fuel.-Production:...
.
Product Development
Solegear began its research and development efforts in 2006, focusing on the development of bio-basedBio-based material
A bio-based material is simply an engineering material made from substances derived from living matter. These materials are sometimes referred to as biomaterials, but this word also has another meaning. Strictly the definition could include many common materials such as wood and leather, but it...
and compostable plastics. After introducing its initial Polysole compostable material in the summer of 2010, Solegear introduced the Traverse line of biocomposite
Biocomposite
A biocomposite is a material formed by a matrix and a reinforcement of natural fibers . With wide-ranging uses from environment-friendly biodegradable composites to biomedical composites for drug/gene delivery, tissue engineering applications and cosmetic orthodontics...
s shortly after. Recognizing that the plastics industry was open to 100% natural as well as hybrid plastics, Solegear is positioning the Traverse line as an opportunity to meet the transition from petroleum-based plastics to fully bio-based/biodegradable plastics. Solegear markets the Traverse line as a 'hybrid' for major plastics manufacturers who may one day wish to switch to 100% natural, compostable
Biodegradation
Biodegradation or biotic degradation or biotic decomposition is the chemical dissolution of materials by bacteria or other biological means...
plastics, such as Solegear's Polysole.
NRC-IRAP
Solegear receives financial support from Canada's National Research Council through its support institute, NRC-IRAP (Industrial Research Assistance Program).University of British Columbia
Solegear performs its R&DResearch and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
with the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
.
Polysole
Polysole is a compostableBiodegradation
Biodegradation or biotic degradation or biotic decomposition is the chemical dissolution of materials by bacteria or other biological means...
polymer. It can be used in durable applications such as children's toys and cosmetics cases. It currently is available in three grades: Polysole TF, Polysole XD, and Polysole LV. Each grade is intended for different purposes: "TF" stands for "thermoforming", "XD" stands for "extra durability", and "LV" stands for "low viscosity", the latter two being injection molding grades.
Traverse
Traverse is a biocompositeBiocomposite
A biocomposite is a material formed by a matrix and a reinforcement of natural fibers . With wide-ranging uses from environment-friendly biodegradable composites to biomedical composites for drug/gene delivery, tissue engineering applications and cosmetic orthodontics...
material. Made of biomass
Biomass
Biomass, as a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms. As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel....
fibers mixed with conventional plastic (like PE
Polyethylene
Polyethylene or polythene is the most widely used plastic, with an annual production of approximately 80 million metric tons...
, PP
Polypropylene
Polypropylene , also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes...
, PET
Polyethylene terephthalate
Polyethylene terephthalate , commonly abbreviated PET, PETE, or the obsolete PETP or PET-P, is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in synthetic fibers; beverage, food and other liquid containers; thermoforming applications; and engineering resins often in combination...
, or nylon
Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
), it can be used in durable applications such as outdoor furniture and automotive parts. The conventional plastic component of Traverse biocomposite material can come from recycled
Plastic recycling
Plastic recycling is the process of recovering scrap or waste plastics and reprocessing the material into useful products, sometimes completely different in form from their original state. For instance, this could mean melting down soft drink bottles and then casting them as plastic chairs and tables...
or virgin plastic.
Product Launch
Solegear formally announced the launch of its proprietary bioplastic, Polysole, in the summer of 2010, after more than four years of research & development at some of Canada's largest chemical engineering institutes. Solegear then launched its proprietary biocomposite material, Traverse, two weeks later, building out the company's product assortment for its launch period.Capacity Growth
After the successful launch of the company's award-winning product assortment of Polysole and Traverse, Solegear went on to generate small initial sales at the pilot scale level. These critical, initial milestones validated the company's launch and paved the way for the company to pursue the next stage in its development: building out capacity. The management team was upgraded (not without difficulty in one case: the outgoing CEO filed a suit which Solegear was forced to counter in BC Supreme Court, eventually obtaining a judgement in its favour) while large scale production partnerships were established on both coasts of North America, giving Solegear the capacity to produce their materials for large customers into the hundreds of millions of pounds on an annual basis.International Patents
Solegear's research & development efforts began in 2006, accelerating in 2007 with the involvement with the NRC's IRAP program. In the fall of 2009, it was determined that the company was in a position to file its first two provisional patent applications. So, On October 31, 2009, Solegear, through its IP counsel at Gowling Henderson Lafleur in Vancouver, BCGowlings
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, Gowlings, is Canada's second largest full-service law firm, with over 750 professionals practising in 10 cities in Canada, Russia, China and the United Kingdom....
, filed these two provisional patent applications, converting them into full international patent applications one year later on October 31, 2010.
On June 2nd, 2011, Solegear received positive opinions from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
Canadian Intellectual Property Office
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office is the patent, trademark, and copyright administration body of Canada. Structurally the CIPO functions as a Special Operating Agency which is associated with Industry Canada....
regarding its international patent applications, with the CIPO deeming the company's intellectual property to be novel and inventive. The international patent applications are expected to be further examined by the CIPO with a decision on issuance expected late in 2012 or early 2013. Solegear expects to continue to deliver further innovations in the field of bioplastics through in-house and partner-based research & development.
Frost & Sullivan
In August 2010, Solegear was recognized by Frost & SullivanFrost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, Inc. is an American firm which provides market research & analysis, growth strategy consulting and corporate training services. Its headquarters are located in San Antonio, Texas, with offices in over 20 countries across the world....
with the 2010 New Product Innovation of the Year Award for its Polysole compostable polymer.
BCIC New Ventures
In September 2010, Solegear received three awards in the BCICBC Innovation Council
The BC Innovation Council is a Crown Agency of the provincial government of British Columbia, Canada...
New Ventures competition. The BCIC Economic Impact Prize recognized the potential of Solegear and its products to have significant impact on the economy of British Columbia, both by creating jobs within the province and by exporting goods outside the province. The BC Hydro
BC Hydro
The BC Hydro and Power Authority is a Canadian electric utility in the province of British Columbia generally known simply as BC Hydro. It is the main electric distributor, serving 1.8 million customers in most areas, with the exception of the Kootenay region, where FortisBC, a subsidiary of Fortis...
Sustainability Prize recognized Solegear's contribution to provincial environmental sustainability. The BCIC Second-Prize Package recognized Solegear's overall promise of growing into a viable and successful BC company.
Canadian Youth Business Foundation
In November 2010, Solegear received the Best Green Business award from the CYBF (Canadian Youth Business Foundation).Manning Foundation
In February 2011, Solegear's Founder was selected as a nominee for the annual Canadian Manning Innovation AwardsManning Innovation Awards
The Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation has been recognizing and encouraging innovation in Canada since 1982. By means of a nomination, Canadian resident citizens, who have demonstrated recent innovative talent in developing and successfully marketing a new concept, process or procedure, may be...
.
2011 G20 Youth Entrepreneurship Summit
In November 2011, Solegear's Founder was selected to participate as a member of the Canadian delegation in the G20 Youth Entrepreneurship Summit in Nice, France.External links
- Solegear.ca Official Solegear Website
- Solegear Featured on Global BC TV