UT prof's firm says it's built a better bottle
Austin's PlastiPure makes plastic bottles that are free of potentially unsafe chemicals
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, May 02, 2008
In 2000, University of Texas neurobiology professor George Bittner founded PlastiPure Inc. to make plastic bottles that were free of potentially unsafe chemicals.
Bittner said studies show that most of the plastic containers that hold everything from water to toothpaste have estrogenic activity, which means they can cause adverse effects on growth rates, sexual maturity and learning abilities.
 Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman |
| University of Texas neurobiology professor George Bittner. |
"We wanted to create a safe alternative," he said.
This week, Austin-based PlastiPure launched its first line of bottles free of estrogenic activity, and though it took eight years, the timing couldn't be better.
"Suddenly the safety of plastic is an issue that everyone is talking about," said John Porter, an investment banker with Direct Capital Securities Inc., which is working to connect PlastiPure with institutional investors. "These guys are positioned to tap into what's becoming a very fast-growing market."
In recent weeks, the use of the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, in baby bottles, toys and other children's products has received widespread attention. BPA, which causes estrogenic activity, is used in shatterproof plastic water bottles, canned food linings and hundreds of other common items.
Experiments on rats have linked the chemical to changes in behaviors and the brain, early puberty and precancerous changes in the prostate and breast.
Last month, Canada banned the use of BPA in baby bottles. On Tuesday, Democrats in the U.S. Senate introduced a bill to ban manufacturers from using BPA in children's products.
The American Chemical Council, which represents chemical makers, said the legislation would "create unnecessary public alarm" and remove products from the market that have already been deemed safe. The group said BPA has been used safely for 50 years and is not a danger to humans at low levels.
But retailers and manufacturers aren't waiting for legislative action: Toys "R" Us, Babies "R" Us, CVS and Wal-Mart have said they would no longer sell baby bottles made with BPA, and Playtex has said it would stop using BPA in all its baby bottles by year's end.
Although a number of big players, including Eastman Chemical, have begun making plastic without BPA, Plasti-Pure said its patented resins are unique because they are free of all estrogenic activity, not just BPA.
"BPA is only one of hundreds or even thousands of chemicals that have estrogenic activity," Bittern said. "Other firms are taking out BPA but are leaving in or substituting other chemicals that have dangerous levels of estrogenic activity."
Among its first customers is Austin-based Lafe's Natural Body Care, which sells deodorants and sprays. The company will use PlastiPure bottles for its upcoming baby care line, which will include shampoo, massage oil and bug repellent.
"There are a lot of really good baby products out there with organic ingredients, but they're in plastic bottles that are most likely leaching chemicals into the products," founder Lafe Larson said. "When we decided to do a baby line, we wanted the packaging to be as safe as the product, and PlastiPure was a perfect fit."
Lafe's has contracted with a molder that will make bottles using PlastiPure's resins. PlastiPure, which has been self-funded by Bittern and two private investors, is focusing on raising venture capital to expand marketing.
"The hard work is done: We've got a patent and a product that sets us apart," said Mike Usey, chief operating officer. "We're talking with investment groups right now so we can reach out faster than we're doing today. That's our next challenge."
lhawkins@statesman.com
Additional material from The Associated Press.
