Quick Answer
Profile extrusion is the manufacturing process used to make biodegradable straws, tubes, clips and handles from compostable resin granules. Converters in India who need biodegradable profile extrusion resin should look for granules that can run on their existing extrusion lines. The supplier/manufacturer of the biodegradable profile extrusion resins should have valid IS/ISO 17088 and CPCB certification. The resin should be priced to be competitive with conventional plastics on a total cost of ownership basis. UKHI manufactures compostable profile extrusion resin under the EcoGran brand at our facility in Faridabad, Haryana. We compound the resin in-house and can ship free samples within seven days.
What to Look for in a Biodegradable Profile Extrusion Resin Supplier in India
The following are the most important factors for buyers when choosing a biodegradable profile extrusion resin supplier or manufacturer in India for profile extrusion work.
CPCB certificate
Under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, any company selling compostable plastics in India must hold a valid Central Pollution Control Board certificate. Raw material resin and pellet suppliers are classified as “sellers” under this framework.
IS/ISO 17088 test reports
IS/ISO 17088 is the Indian standard for industrial compostability. A manufacturer/supplier of compostable profile extrusion resin should be able to show test reports from CIPET or an NABL-recognised laboratory proving compliance with this standard.
Consistency across batches
Even minor variations in biopolymer batches can cause production problems such as uneven melt flow, inconsistent wall thickness, and surface defects. The supplier should have a documented quality control process.
Drop-in compatibility
The granules should be drop-in compatible, which means a converter should be able to use them on standard, conventional profile extrusion lines without requiring new machinery.
What Specifications Should Converters Check When Buying Biodegradable Profile Extrusion Resin
Converters looking for PLA PBAT profile extrusion granules in India need to look at the technical data sheet carefully. The most important specifications for bioplastic granules for profile extrusion are listed below.
| Specification | What it means | Typical range for biodegradable profile extrusion resin |
| Moisture content (before processing) | PLA-based resins degrade if moisture is too high. Excess moisture causes fish-eyes and pin-holes in the finished profile. | Must be below 0.2%. Pre-drying at 60°C for 2 to 4 hours is standard. |
| Melt temperature | The temperature at which the resin flows through the extruder. Must match the extruder’s operating range. | 150°C to 195°C depending on the grade. |
| Melt flow rate (MFR) | Indicates how easily the resin flows. Too low and the extruder struggles. Too high and the profile loses shape. | Around 4 to 6 g/10 min at 190°C/2.16 kg for most profile grades. |
| Tensile strength | Determines whether the finished profile (straw, tube, handle) can withstand pulling force without breaking. | 25 MPa to 49 MPa. |
| Density | Affects the weight of the finished product and the material consumption per unit. | 1.23 to 1.36 g/cm³. |
| Food-grade certification | Required if the finished product is a drinking straw, food-grade tube or any profile that touches food. | FSSAI certification in India. |
Which Materials Are Used to Manufacture Biodegradable Profile Extrusion Resin
Biodegradable and compostable profile extrusion resins are not a single polymer. They are manufactured by blending two or more base materials to achieve the right balance of rigidity, flexibility and compostability.
The main materials used in biodegradable profile extrusion resins in India are as follows.
PLA (Polylactic Acid) — A rigid, plant-based thermoplastic made from fermented starch sourced from corn, sugarcane or sugar beet. On its own, PLA is too brittle for most profile extrusion applications. It is almost always blended with a flexible polymer.
PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate co-Terephthalate) — A flexible, fully biodegradable co-polyester. PBAT acts as the toughening agent in most PLA PBAT profile extrusion granules. The blend of PLA and PBAT is the most common formulation for compostable profile extrusion resins sold in India.
Thermoplastic starch (TPS) — A low-cost biopolymer derived from crops like corn, potato, rice or tapioca. Manufacturers blend TPS into PLA/PBAT compounds to reduce the cost per kilogram and increase the rate of biodegradation.
PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoates) — A family of biobased polyesters produced through microbial fermentation. PHA-based resins biodegrade in soil, freshwater and marine environments, not just in industrial composting facilities.
How Converters Use Biodegradable Profile Extrusion Resin to Manufacture Finished Products
Converters can use UKHI biodegradable granules on standard profile extrusion equipment. No new extruder, die or winder is required. But the processing parameters are different from conventional polyethylene or polypropylene. The key steps are as follows.
Drying — Biodegradable profile extrusion resin must be dried to below 0.05% moisture before processing. Most grades require drying at 60°C for 2 to 4 hours.
Purging — The extruder must be purged with low-viscosity PP or PE before production begins, and with high-viscosity PP or PE after production ends.
Temperature control — Biodegradable resins have a narrow processing window. A typical temperature profile runs from 60°C at the feeding zone up to 185°C to 190°C at the die.
Shear and residence time — High-shear screw designs can damage biodegradable resins. Converters should use low-shear screw components and keep the melt residence time as short as practical. The feeding rate should maintain a barrel filling of 60% to 70% to avoid dead corners where resin can sit and degrade.
How Much Does Biodegradable Profile Extrusion Resin Cost in India
The price of biodegradable profile extrusion granules in India depends on the polymer type, the presence of natural fibre reinforcement and the order volume.
| Resin type | Approximate price per kg (before GST) |
| Bio-filler compounds (high filler content, lower performance) | ₹63 to ₹98 per kg |
| Standard PBAT granules (extrusion grade) | ₹128 to ₹185 per kg |
| PLA PBAT profile extrusion resin with natural fibre reinforcement (rice husk, bamboo) | Around ₹194 per kg |
| Speciality and custom-formulated compostable compounds | ₹200 to ₹300 per kg |
Converters who need an exact quote for biodegradable profile extrusion resin at a specific volume and grade can reach out to our team with their requirements.
Why Buy Biodegradable and Compostable Profile Extrusion Resin from UKHI
UKHI is a material science company based in IMT Faridabad, Haryana. We manufacture biodegradable and compostable resin for profile extrusion under the EcoGran brand. Here is what we bring to a converter or brand looking for this material.
- We compound EcoGran resin in-house. We are not traders or assemblers. We control the formulation from raw polymer to finished granule, which means converters get consistent batch quality and can request grade adjustments for specific applications.
- Our EcoGran granules are drop-in compatible with standard profile extrusion lines.
- EcoGran is cost-competitive with conventional petroleum-based plastics.
- Our certifications cover the full regulatory stack: IS/ISO 17088, CIPET testing, FSSAI for food-contact applications, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and GMP.
- Our technology is backed by partnerships with IIT Guwahati, IIT Mandi Catalyst and IIM Bangalore NSRCEL.
UKHI is also developing EDHA, a next-generation PHA-based biomaterial that biodegrades in soil, freshwater and marine environments. EDHA is currently in its pilot phase.
Converters who want to evaluate EcoGran compostable straw resin or any other profile extrusion grade on their own line can request a free sample. We ship within seven days at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can EcoGran profile extrusion resin run on existing conventional extrusion machinery?
EcoGran biodegradable profile extrusion resin is engineered to run on standard profile extrusion lines without requiring new machinery or barrel modifications.
What moisture level is required before processing biodegradable profile extrusion resin?
Biodegradable profile extrusion resin based on PLA must be dried to below 0.05% residual moisture before processing. The standard recommendation is drying at 60°C for 2 to 4 hours.
Is EcoGran profile extrusion resin certified food-safe for manufacturing drinking straws?
UKHI holds FSSAI certification for the EcoGran range, which covers food-contact applications. Converters who manufacture biodegradable drinking straws from EcoGran resin can use this certification to support food-safety compliance.
What is the minimum order quantity for EcoGran biodegradable profile extrusion resin?
Converters who want to run a machine trial can request a free sample from UKHI. For commercial orders, the minimum order quantity depends on the specific grade and formulation required. Converters can share their specification, and we will confirm the MOQ and lead time against that requirement.
Does UKHI provide technical support for converters processing biodegradable profile extrusion resin for the first time?
UKHI provides processing recommendations, drying guidelines and troubleshooting support to converters running EcoGran biodegradable profile extrusion resin on their lines.
