Biopolymer Network

ZealaFoam




The Revolutionary Bioplastic Solution...



The growing global demand for "bio-based plastics" inspired BPN to develop ZealaFoam® as a sustainably sourced alternative to petroleum-based foam such as polystyrene. Bioplastics are a form of plastic derived from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, pea starch or microbiota.

ZealaFoam® is an expanded polylactic acid foam (E-PLA). It is an excellent material offering excellent impact resistance and insulation properties suitable for a broad range of existing commercial and commodity-focused products. We manufacture this versatile product from commercially available PLA beads which are plant-derived. We impregnate the beads with CO2, a green blowing agent, using our revolutionary patented technology and ZealaFoam® can be safely disposed of by industrial composting or burning. Click here to download more information.

Commercial Applications - read more:
Packaging Solutions
Home and Leisure


Good news for manufacturers


ZealaFoam® can potentially be substituted for almost any moulded polystyrene product. This means manufacturers can mould ZealaFoam® on existing EPS moulding equipment without the costly exercise of buying new moulding machines and re-tooling. We are happy to work with manufacturers to embed ZealaFoam® in the factory.

ZealaFoam® tests have returned performance data comparable to polystyrene for both impact resistance and insulation properties.


Process from PLA Resin to Finished Product

BPN has developed a second generation of bio-based foam products. These incorporate biomass which can alter cost, appearance and functionality. BPN has worked with a number of available waste streams including pine bark, proteins from a number of plant sources and plant fibres. Excellent moulded products have been produced with a range of colours and textures.


ZealaFoam® Lightweight Printable Film

BPN's ZealaFoam® Film is a closed micro-cellular foamed product. It is made from Polylactic Acid (PLA) which is an industrially compostable material derived from renewable resources such as corn. The blowing agent used for foaming is CO2, meaning no petrochemicals are used in the production of ZealaFoam® films. It looks and feels like a film but has the ultra-lightweight properties of a foam with an improved specific strength in comparison to solid PLA films. The film has a smooth and shiny surface which can be printed on. The PLA grade and processing parameters can be manipulated to tailor properties for specific applications.

Typical Product Attributes

  • Density range 20 g/L - 140 g/L - application dependant
  • Improved Specific Strength (3.5 x higher than solid PLA film of identical grade)
  • Thickness of samples 80 to 200 microns (thinner samples are possible)
  • Tear Resistance (ASTM D1938-09) 0.07 N
  • Slow Probe Penetration (ASTM F1306-90) 7.00 N
  • Cobb testing shows no water penetration
  • 100 % Bio-based
  • Industrially compostable
  • Shiny and smooth surface that is printable

100 micron thickness sample.

Microscope view of interior cellular structure.


BPN continues to develop new technologies in several areas including Plant-based Composites and Water-absorbing bio-based film.

Copyright © 2017 BioPolymer Network.
Website by Web Design, Ecommerce, Content Management and Website Hosting at Datadog