AGENACOMP®
Home-compostable, bio-based polymer compounds for film extrusion and thermoforming
AGENACOMP® is AGRANA’s family of home-compostable, starch-based biopolymer compounds formulated for film extrusion, thermoforming and injection moulding. Variants balance bio-based content and processability to deliver PE-comparable mechanics for foils and multilayer films while enabling industrial conversion on standard equipment.
Key benefits
- Delivers high melt strength and flexibility for stable blown and cast films with PE-like mechanics.
- Available in grades with up to 50% bio-based carbon to meet sustainability targets.
- Suited for thin-gauge films (<15 μm) and multilayer constructions for improved transparency and barrier tuning.
- Good printability on AGENACOMP® films; use compostable inks for compostable end-of-life scenarios.
- Home-compostable (certified for films up to ≥230 µm).
- Colorable and recommended for multi- & monolayer constructions.
AGENACOMP® grades produce flexible, tear-resistant foils that can be extruded at thin gauges for carry and produce bags (garbage, fruit & veg, garment bags), and it balances starch content and processability.
The range supports blown and cast film routes to produce bubble wrap and protective foils; AGENACOMP® films add breathability and a silky surface feel while enabling multilayer approaches to increase transparency or barrier performance.
Technical insights
Processing and formulation: what matters for reliable extrusion
AGENACOMP® is designed around a high melt-strength, relatively low MVR melt to support extrusion and shaping; this gives the compound strong mechanical properties but requires adapted processing vs. common polyolefins. The melt viscosity is comparatively high and AGENACOMP® is not compatible with polyolefin residues – converters should purge polyethylene from equipment (we recommend AGENAPURGE or AGENACOMP® at low throughput), exchange melt filters and start production at higher film thickness (lower haul-off) to avoid bubble instability.
AGENACOMP® films print well without mandatory corona treatment, but for a compostable product lifecycle use inks certified for composting to prevent set-off or blocking.
Films and granules are moisture- and age-sensitive — AGRANA recommends controlled storage and limiting film roll storage beyond six months under ideal conditions to avoid tackiness and molecular-weight reduction. These formulation and processing choices allow converters to exploit AGENACOMP®’s compostability, multilayer compatibility and tailored transparency while maintaining stable production.