Is Solinatra safe for food contact?

Solinatra offers specific grades developed for food-contact applications. These grades are designed to comply with applicable food-contact regulations, which vary by region and application.

Is Solinatra scalable for industrial use?

Yes. Solinatra Natural Engineered Materials are designed for industrial manufacturing using existing production processes. Scalability depends on the matrial grade, application, production requirements and processing conditions.

How long does a compostable material take to break down?

Breakdown time depends on the material, the composting environment, and the conditions in which it is processed. Industrial composting generally provides faster and more consistent breakdown than home composting. The time required for breakdown does not, by itself, indicate environmental performance or safe reintegration.

What is a compostable material?

A compostable material is a material that can be broken down by microorganisms under defined composting conditions. These conditions include controlled temperature, moisture, oxygen, and microbial activity and are specified by recognised compostability standards.

What is a biodegradable material?

A biodegradable material is a material that can be broken down by microorganisms into simpler natural substances under suitable environmental conditions.

What is microplastic pollution?

Microplastic pollution refers to the accumulation of small plastic particles (typically defined as less than 5mm) in natural environments including soil, water, and air. These particles result from the breakdown of larger plastic items, or from materials that fragment without fully reintegrating. Microplastics can persist for long periods and are found across ecosystems. Not all materials that fragment produce microplastics, this depends on the composition of the material and how it degrades. Solinatra materials are assessed specifically against the criterion that they do not produce persistent microplastics.

What materials break down naturally?

Materials derived from natural sources can break down through biological processes depending on composition and environmental conditions. Breakdown does not always mean safe reintegration into natural systems.

Are biodegradable plastics safe for the environment?

Biodegradable plastics are not automatically safe for the environment. Their behaviour after use depends on composition, environmental conditions, and whether they fully break down or fragment into persistent particles. Some biodegradable plastics degrade safely under the right conditions. Others may leave residues or require industrial composting to break down at all. The classification biodegradable describes a characteristic, not an outcome.

What is the difference between plastic and bioplastic?

Plastic typically refers to synthetic polymer materials derived from fossil fuels, while bioplastics may be bio-based, biodegradable, or both. The term bioplastic does not define behaviour or environmental outcome. A bioplastic can still contain synthetic additives, produce microplastics, or require specific industrial conditions to degrade. Origin and composition are not the same as behaviour.

What is eco-friendly packaging?

Eco-friendly packaging is a broad, non-standardised term used to describe packaging designed to reduce environmental impact. It does not define what a material is made of, how it behaves after use, or whether it leaves persistent residues. A package can be labelled eco-friendly while still producing microplastics or requiring specific industrial conditions to break down. When evaluating packaging materials, behaviour after use, not the label, is what determines actual environmental outcome.

Within the Solinatra approach, materials are assessed based on behaviour, including breakdown, residue formation, and safe reintegration into natural systems.

Do biodegradable plastics leave microplastics?

Some biodegradable plastics can leave microplastics if they do not fully break down. Biodegradability does not guarantee complete reintegration, and materials may fragment into persistent particles depending on composition and environment.

Are bioplastics compostable?

Some bioplastics are compostable, but not all. The term bioplastic includes materials that are bio-based, biodegradable, or both, and compostability depends on specific material composition and conditions.

Biodegradable vs compostable: what is the difference?

Biodegradable materials break down by biological processes over time, while compostable materials are designed to break down under defined conditions such as industrial compostable standard within set timeframe. The difference lies in predictability and control, as biodegradability does not define timeframe or outcome, while compostability refers to specific processes.

What processes are compatible with Solinatra?

Solinatra materials are compatible with common industrial processes including injection moulding, extrusion, and thermoforming. Compatibility depends on material specifications and intended application.

How can companies work with Solinatra?

Companies can work with Solinatra by engaging with our framework for material evaluation. This collaborative process includes material assessment and application reviews to ensure our natural engineered materials meet your specific production needs.

Is it scalable for industrial use?

Solinatra materials are developed for industrial scalability. They are compatible with standard manufacturing processes like injection moulding, extrusion, and thermoforming, and are designed to integrate into existing production lines without requiring significant infrastructure changes. Scalability depends on application requirements and production volume. Solinatra is already in use across multiple industries and processing environments.

Contact us to discuss capacity and supply requirements for your operation.

Is it more expensive than plastic?

Material cost depends on factors including application, production volume, processing requirements, and material grade. Cost should be considered alongside performance, manufacturing compatibility, and end-of-life behaviour.

For pricing relevance to your applications and volumes, contact our sales team here.

Is Solinatra as strong as plastic?

Solinatra Natural Engineered Materials are engineered to meet the performance requirements of specific applications. Performance depends on the material grade and intended use, and many applications achieve performance comparable to conventional plastics.

How long does compostable material take to break down?

The time required for compostable materials to break down depends on the conditions in which they are processed. Industrial composting typically operates under controlled temperature and humidity, which can accelerate breakdown. Home composting conditions vary significantly and may result in slower or incomplete degradation. Breakdown time is one data point and does not indicate whether a material safely reintegrates into natural systems.

What is the difference between home composting and industrial composting?

Home composting and industrial composting use the same biological process but operate under different conditions.

Industrial composting uses controlled temperature, moisture, oxygen, and microbial activity to achieve consistent breakdown within defined conditions. Home composting depends on local climate and individual compost systems, so breakdown may occur more slowly or vary between locations.

Some materials are suitable for industrial composting only, while others are designed for both industrial and home composting. The appropriate end-of-life route depends on the material grade and intended application.