New materials firm Alterra Holdings is working with DuPont Industrial BioSciences on the development of bioplastic compounds. The goal will be to provide a range of product options with different biodegradability profiles to enable various end of life requirements. Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic compounds made by Clifton, N.J.-based Alterra which contain DuPont's Nuvolve™- engineered polysaccharide materials. The incorporation of engineered polysaccharides can provide synergies to accelerate biodegradation. This can be of special interest for products which enter into industrial composting, or home composting environments. Especially compounds in combination with PHA and Nuvolve™ are designed to meet the ASTM standards for marine biodegradation. In an upcoming presentation, Alterra officials outline the firm's goal to provide expanded options on PLA and PHA biodegradation properties. Alterra officials will present their findings May 23, 2017 at a bioplastics conference hosted by Innoplast Solutions in Newark, N.J. PLA and PHA compounds using Nuvolve™ engineered polysaccharides can be used in injection molding and thermoforming applications. PLA compounds with engineered polysaccharide can be used in film applications as well. Some PHA applications using Nuvolve™ engineered polysaccharides are able to completely biodegrade meeting ASMT standards.