BASF to Produce ecovio® Biopolymers in N. America

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FLORHAM PARK, NJ -- BASF announced that it has formed a strategic manufacturing partnership with Heritage Plastics, Inc. to produceecovio® certified compostable products in North America.
The partnership enables BASF to begin manufacturing ecovio biopolymers outside of Europe to better serve its customers and to further focus on growth in the rapidly developing North American market.
Production of ecovio will begin September 2013 at the Heritage facility in Picayune, Mississippi.
BASF's ecovio products represent a broad range of compounded polymer solutions with biobased content, which offer excellent processability and physical properties along with worldwide certified compostability.
"At BASF, we strive to find new ways to offer our customers the best solutions for their evolving needs," said Juergen Keck, Vice President Global Business Management Biopolymers. "Our partnership with Heritage Plastics allows us to respond efficiently to a growing market and pass along numerous benefits to our customers in North America."
Through the partnership, BASF will draw upon years of compound manufacturing experience at Heritage Plastics, marrying that with the innovative chemistry of ecovio. ecovio will be exclusively marketed and available for purchase from BASF, while maintaining a productionpartnership with Heritage.
"Combining our experience and expertise with BASF's to broaden the production of ecovio products was a natural fit," said Paul Lewis, President of Heritage Plastics. "Both companies are focused on helping customers achieve success by providing them the best in product quality, as well as exemplary service and support on a global scale."
By expanding manufacturing of ecovio products in North America, BASF will supply the highest quality, premium compostable products while also improving delivery flexibility, increasing reaction speed to market needs, enhancing product availability and providing more customization for new applications. ecovio products have been available commercially in the United States, Canada and Mexico since 2007, with production taking place in Germany.
® Trademarks of BASF group and BASF SE.
[h=2]About Heritage Plastics, Inc.[/h]Established in Picayune, Miss., Heritage Plastics has focused on mineral-based polyolefin compounds and concentrates for over 25 years. As among the leading manufacturers of calcium carbonate concentrates, it has earned global recognition for its product quality and consistency as well as outstanding customer service, technical support and application development.
[h=2]About BASF – The Chemical Company[/h]BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASFhas more than 16,600 employees in North America, and had sales of $18.5 billion in 2012.
BASF is one of the world's leading chemical companies. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, it enables customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. BASF products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. It has summed up this contribution in corporate purpose: "We create chemistry for a sustainable future". BASF had sales of €72.1 billion in 2012 and more than 110,000 employees as of the end of the year.
Source: BASF