We owe a lot to honeybees. They play a very special part in our ecosystem by pollinating plants and flowers that we depend upon for survival. According to the US Department of Agriculture, bees pollinate 80 percent of the foods we eat, including crops of broccoli, apples, asparagus and blueberries as well as alfalfa which feeds cows. In fact, honeybees and other pollinators are responsible for one in every three bites of food we take and increase crop values by more than $15 billion each year.
That's why it is so critical to keep honeybees healthy and active. If parasites or other mites infiltrate their nests, it will impact their health and their behavior, even causing them to leave the hive and not be able to contribute to their very important role in our ecosystem
To prevent mite infestation in beehives, our customer offers a product that enables bee keepers to defend their hives against mites using an alternative to fogging or vaporized chemicals. This bee strip application calls for a polymeric material that is cleared for use in food contact and that contains certain bio-based ingredients that can deliver the mite treatment without harming the bees or ending up in the honey.
Based on their criteria, we believed that our SUPERKLEEN bio-based PVC compound was a good place to start because it offered ease of use and safety for the bees. We were able to formulate the physical properties needed by the customer for ease of processing and the addition of the active agent to the strips. The end result is that they were able to extrude SUPERKLEEN PVC compounds into strips that deliver the necessary mite prevention to the beehive.
SUPERKLEEN PVC COMPOUNDS
SUPERKLEEN PVC compounds are formulated with a non-phthalate, bio-based plasticizer. They are ideal for healthcare, food-contact and other specialty applications requiring FDA-sanctioned ingredients under Title 21 CFR, and are designed to pass the requirements of USP Class VI Biocompatibility and Cytotoxicity.
As material scientists, it's gratifying that we can innovate products that enable sustainable solutions, especially solutions that are critical to the health of our ecosystem and our food resources. It's one small way we are helping to Advance Life Around the World.
ABOUT ALPHAGARY
Alphagary is an Orbia business and part of Orbia's Polymer Solutions business group. Over the decades, we have grown steadily, and today we work as a global team to bring solutions to our customers by formulating durable and functional materials including polymer compounds, additives for polymers, and additives for food preservation.
Alpha Chemical & Plastics, Gary Corporation, Evode Plastics, AW Compounders, Mexichem Compounds, Bayshore Polymers, Vinyl Compounds, Sylvin Technologies, Shakun Polymers and our latest acquisition, Neotrimental, together form the Alphagary group.