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Montachem International announced it will make a move into biomaterial with an agreement with , a California-based company that makes resins from seaweed that can be processed with plastic manufacturing equipment.

The biomaterials will be a first for Montachem: the company currently offers Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, PVC, and PET. The distribution agreement is expected to be finalized by the end of 2023.

Loliware’s SEA TechnologyResins are made completely from seaweed and other natural materials. They have been engineered to be processed using conventional techniques such as injection molding, extrusion, and thermoforming, for an easy transition from petroleum based commodity resins. According to Victoria Piunova, chief technology officer at Loliware, only subtle changes are needed, such as melt temperature adjustment and—in some applications—post-processing.

Loliware’s resins are already on the market in North America; its extrusion formula is used to make drinking straws, and its injection molding formula is used to make utensils. The material is home-compostable. Testing indicates products manufactured from the resin will break down in around 51 days via aerobic degradation.