From turtles to bioplastics

Mazzucchelli 1849, based in Castiglione Olona (Varese, Italy), is the recognized world leader in the production of plastics for eyeglass frames. It was founded 160 years ago, manufacturing its products from natural materials such as tortoise shells. In line with its time-honoured tradition, the company introduced a new material at its press conference on Monday, 26 September. The material is dubbed M49, a cellulose acetate extracted from wood and cotton fibres characterized by a new formulation relying on renewable resources.
This new biodegradable material is free of phthalic esters and thus compatible with other polymers such as polycarbonate. It maintains all the aesthetic qualities and performance of traditional acetate and can be produced without modifications to the eyeglass production process.