Soy-based BPA alternative coating wins award

By Joseph James Whitworth

- Last updated on GMT

Picture: Ohio Soybean Council
Picture: Ohio Soybean Council
A coating technology which could be used to replace Bisphenol A (BPA) in a variety of applications has been awarded second place in a category at the 2016 Bio-Based Innovation Awards.

Soy-PK Reactive Oligomer Cross-Linker was awarded in the Bio-Based Chemical Innovation of the Year section.

The soy-based resin has corrosion resistance for aluminum and steel cans so can be used for packaging highly acidic food and beverages.

Soy-PK dries quickly which allows production facilities to maintain line speeds when spraying or applying the coating to food or beverage containers.

Regulation on the use of BPA in Europe could be strengthened with the migration limit for the chemical in food contact plastics being stricter and including food contact varnished or coated materials and articles.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is to review BPA again following a request from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).

The soy-based alternative was created by the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) and soybean checkoff with researchers at Battelle in Columbus, Ohio.

Barry McGraw, OSC director of product development and commercialization, said: “It’s great timing with respect to market trends and consumer demands. We have the potential to fill that gap for food production, such as food, beer or soda companies.”