What's "TERRAMAC"?

What's "TERRAMAC"?

Biomass material "TERRAMAC" Chosen for the earth of tomorrow

Keeping an affluent society with low environmental load must be our ideal. Realizing the kind of ideal world that we should create, however, remains a distant dream at the moment. Unitika's biomass material "TERRAMAC" is found in a range of products that provide support in a variety of lifestyle situations and we can shift our lifestyle step by step with "TERRAMAC". By choosing this material, we have set out on the first step towards creating the ideal future. Born from a combination of sustenance of plants and technology of human, "TERRAMAC" is intended to be the material that helps creating the ideal world for both human and nature.

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Environmental friendliness of "TERRAMAC" is rooted in its raw ingredients:Plants

"TERRAMAC" is a biomass material created from plant-derived polymers; the polylactic acid (PLA) that makes up the basis of "TERRAMAC" is generated from sugar derived from plants, a raw ingredient harvested in large quantities every year. In this environmentally friendly process, the product's base raw material is taken from the earth in large quantities every year and continues to provide resources year in, year out. In contrast to this, the raw material behind conventional plastic products --- oil --- is a finite, non-renewable resource, and if this continues to be used then it will no doubt run out in the not too distant future; oil is a far too valuable resource for humans to used in this way. Although the current generation can enjoy all of the benefits and convenience that oil offers us, we can't let future generations pick up the tab of our current lifestyles. By leading an environmentally friendly lifestyle now we can help protect both our future and that of future generations. A lot is now expected of our plant-based material, "TERRAMAC".

Throwing away this product in the trash means you're recycling

Throwing away conventional plastic actually means you're also wasting oil resources and contributing to the already serious problem of excess waste. Everybody knows, therefore, that these kinds of plastic products should be recycled whenever possible and used over and over again. This recycling process is a fairly time-consuming activity for consumers, involving washing and separating the individual items for recycling. This also involves having the relevant infrastructure in place, which can be an expensive undertaking. Compared to this, recycling products made from "TERRAMAC" couldn't be any easier - all you have to do is throw it in the trash. The unique nature of the "TERRAMAC" material means that it will be ultimately degraded into water and carbon dioxide. Plants can then absord the ultimate end product, thereby starting the product's life cycle all over again. This recycling is something that is both inherent and of great importance in nature, and "TERRAMAC" is a material capable of contributing to tomorrow's environment.

A wide range of uses based on Unitika's technology

The list of products made from "TERRAMAC" is a long and varied one, including trays, dishes, cups, cosmetic bottles, tea-bags, garden planters, garbage bags, 3D Printer filament and so on. The development of this material already covers all aspects of peoples' lifestyles and continues to expand from its intended purpose. Unitika has developed two types of food containers : a solid sheet type and a foam type. Both types are the world's first polylactic acid products capable of holding boiling water or used in microwave cooking. The material was used in cell-phone casings and shades of interior lamps. There are increasing expectations regarding the future application of "TERRAMAC" --- a product that is filled with exciting possibilities and applications, based on Unitika's unique and advanced technology.

A wide range of uses based on Unitika's technology

This standard logo is applied to only products using "TERRAMAC" and authorized by UNITIKA.

Definition 1: Biomass

A combination of "biological resources" (bio) and "quantity" (mass), biomass refers to all renewable organic resources derived from biological material, with the exception of fossil resources. Through the energy of the sun's rays beaming down on the earth's surface, the organic matter generated by living organisms is used as a sustainable and renewable resource within nature's life-cycle and this is also capable of being used as a source of energy.

Definition 2: Polylactic acid (PLA)

Polylactic acid (PLA) is an aliphatic polyester resin made from a polymerized lactic acid through a chemical synthetic process. As a crystalline thermoplastic it can be molded into a variety of different shapes and conditions by melting extrusion, injection molding, and foam molding.