Priority date established for European patent EP-2496644-B1 on mixtures of biodegradable polyesters with natural-origin polymers, listing Bastioli as inventor.
On November 5, 2008, the priority date was established for what would become European Patent EP-2496644-B1, titled "Mixtures of biodegradable polyesters with at least one polymer of natural origin," with Catia Bastioli listed as inventor and Novamont S.p.A. as assignee.
This innovation focused on blending biodegradable polyesters, synthetic materials engineered for compostability, with polymers derived directly from natural sources, such as starch or other biopolymers. Combining these two material classes allowed Novamont to fine-tune properties like flexibility, strength, and biodegradation rate while increasing the proportion of renewable content in the final material, an important consideration for both environmental impact and raw material sourcing.
Establishing an early priority date safeguarded Bastioli's and Novamont's claim to this technology internationally, ahead of the full European filing that would occur two years later. This work represents part of the continuous evolution of Novamont's Mater-Bi bioplastic platform, reflecting Bastioli's sustained role at the technical forefront of sustainable polymer science well into the following decade.