Conference Speakers

Kristel Beckers

Sr. Application Technician, Total Corbion PLA

BIOGRAPHY

Kristel Beckers obtained a Materials Engineering Degree at the KULeuven in Belgium, with a specialization in polymers and composites. At the start of her career, she worked for a Belgian research institute on various national and european projects, with a main focus on filament extrusion of biobased polymers and its conversion into composites. In 2016, Kristel joined Corbion as a PLA application engineer, targeting fiber, filament and nonwoven applications. Since the start of the joint venture between TotalEnergies and Corbion in March 2017, she is the company's technical advisor for PLA in fiber, filament and nonwoven applications.

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New PLA Meltblown for Future-Ready Filtration

Luminy® PLA is a biobased polymer offering up to an 85% reduction in carbon footprint compared to conventional fossil-based plastics—making it a meaningful contributor toward a more sustainable future for current and next generations. The Luminy® portfolio already comprises a broad range of PLA resins suitable for diverse applications, including nonwovens.

To extend its capabilities, a new 100% PLA grade has been developed specifically for meltblown applications. This enables the production of fully biobased meltblown nonwoven — complementing existing grades used in bicomponent spunbond and other structures. Together, these Luminy® PLA grades can be integrated into complex nonwoven systems designed for enhanced performance and sustainability.

The newly launched grade exhibits favorable rheological behavior, allowing the formation of meltblown filaments down to 1 micron. Combined with beneficial electrostatic properties, it delivers robust filtration performance suitable for HVAC systems, air purifiers, and vacuum cleaner bags.