GO!PHA’s Post

The world currently produces 430 million metric tons of new plastics every year, according to the UNDP. And this rate is expected to triple by 2060. “This is unsustainable in the long term,” says Rozendal.  Based in the Netherlands, Paques Biomaterials is developing a natural alternative to plastic from organic waste streams. It is working to scale a technology that encourages microbes to overeat organic pollutants found in industrial wastewater or solid organic waste, such as food waste and wastewater treatment sludge, and produce “fat” in their cells. This bacterial equivalent to fat is a biopolymer called PHA, which can be used as a natural alternative to plastic.  “We’re basically creating obese bacteria,” explains Rozendal, noting that some bacteria can store up to 80-90% of their cell weight in the form of this compound. Paques Biomaterials then extracts the PHA as a powder, known as Caleyda®, which can be melted into any shape or form to make plastic-like products. Moreover, bacteria also consume PHA as food, so if these materials end up leaking into nature, they will decompose without forming harmful microplastics. This means Caleyda® has the advantages of conventional plastics without its disadvantages. Congratulations René Rozendal for your impactful journey.

Is this the so much desired Holy Grail of biobased and biodegradable plastic? Thanks to a collaboration between University of San Diego and Algenesis Materials a new seaweed based polymer has been developed to prevent microplastics formation This is still at the early stages of testing, but this shows the great drive for innovation to resolve the microplastics challenge we all face #microplastics #innovation #biobased #seaweed #circulareconomy https://lnkd.in/eqpJ6BAY

🌿Advancing Sustainable Materials in Rubber Industry Recent researchs highlights the development of biodegradable synthetic rubbers and bio-based rubbers using sustainable materials from biological sources. With natural rubber facing supply limitations, integrating bio-based materials into synthetic rubbers is crucial. This approach not only enhances biodegradability but also promotes sustainability in the rubber industry. 🌍🔬 Dive deeper into the study; Link below. https://lnkd.in/dy7MaXEW

BIOPLASTICS 101 🔆 Biobased - Biodegradable - Compostable 🔆 There needs to be more clarity regarding the different types of plastics. The term “bioplastics” is often used as an umbrella term for very different materials, and the terms “biobased,” “biodegradable,” and “compostable” can be misleading. ✔ Biobased: Biobased plastics are made entirely or partially from biological resources instead of fossil raw materials. However, it’s crucial to understand that being biobased does not automatically imply biodegradability or compostability. It simply refers to the source of the raw materials used in its production. ✔ Biodegradable: Biodegradable plastics can be broken down or decompose under specific conditions at their end-of-life. This decomposition occurs under specific environmental conditions, which can vary depending on the type of biodegradable plastic. It's important to note that biodegradable plastics can be made from renewable biological resources or traditional fossil-based resources. ✔ Compostable: Compostable plastics, a type of biodegradable plastic, typically break down into natural, non-toxic components in composting facilities under specific conditions, including a combination of heat, moisture, and microbial activity. Therefore, they first need to be collected. For more: www.crassolutions.com #bioplastics #biobased #biodegradable #compostable

According to this article, microplastics can take anywhere between 100 to 1000 years to break down 😦. That's a lifetime of accumulation inside our bodies. What if we could reduce that to < 7 months? Research on algae-based polymers shows that's a reality. Now, how do we manufacture these biodegradable alternatives? #sustainability #plasticpollution

Given the extreme levels of non-biodegradable plastic waste in our oceans, fresh water systems, lands, and lungs, this is really exciting news. If you are not reading Science Daily, I highly recommend it. Both for environmental and other research breakthroughs that offer optimism in a rising tide of depressing eco-system news. Summary: Engineered bacteria can produce a plastic modifier that makes renewably sourced plastic more processable, more fracture resistant and highly biodegradable even in sea water. The development provides a platform for the industrial-scale, tunable production of a material that holds great potential for turning the plastic industry green.

Could plant-based polymers be a game-changer for tackling plastic pollution? Researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a method to create recyclable polymers from plant cellulose. This breakthrough offers a promising alternative to traditional plastics, potentially reducing #plastic pollution and its environmental burden. Here's what makes this discovery significant: Sustainable Source: Cellulose, a readily available material from plant #waste like straw and sawdust, forms the base for these recyclable polymers. ♻️ Versatile Applications: By adjusting the polymer structure, scientists can create materials suitable for various uses, opening doors for #innovation. Focus on Recycling: Crucially, these polymers can be broken down and recycled, promoting a circular economy. While the initial focus might be on high-performance applications like electronics and biomedicine, this research offers exciting possibilities! The team at Paving+, a #sustainability startup focused on upcycling plastic waste, we see this news as a major leap towards a more sustainable future. Let us know your thoughts on this discovery. Ranjan Kumar Gupta Sheikh Ziaur Rahaman Sameer Joshi PhD♻️ UnLtd India Ramanathan V Villgro NSRCEL Read more : https://lnkd.in/dguttWya #SustainableMaterials #PlantBasedPolymers #CircularEconomy #PlasticPollution #PavingTheWay #GreenFuture

Science journalist Andy Extance, who also chairs the Association of British Science Writers has asked us a few questions on compostable plastic and bioplastics. Here is the Q&A dialogue/2: Why can’t anaerobic digesters handle compostable plastics? Anaerobic digestion is a biological process whereby organic matter is converted in the absence of oxygen into a mixture of carbon dioxide and methane called biogas. The reason for which usually biodegradable polymers are not used as raw materials for anaerobic digestion is that under the typical conditions of biogas plants, they require significantly longer time to reach full biodegradation. Is it possible scientifically to make compostable packaging that could work in an anaerobic digester? If so, what would need to be done? It is already feasible because most of the biodegradable polymers that are biodegradable under industrial composting conditions are also biodegradable under anaerobic digestion conditions, though at a reduced rate. Why did you publish the guidelines for this area? We published an openly accessible study in 2019 entitled "Biodegradable and compostable plastics: A critical perspective on the dawn of their global adoption" (https://lnkd.in/e-Q4W5eF) that turned out to be highly read and cited. The aim was to update policy makers and even managers of the chemical industry that bioplastics market would experience a production and uptake growth curve similar to that of photovoltaic solar cells, that remained very low for decades until the early 2000s when suddenly massive uptake of photovoltaic panels occurred in Germany, Italy and Spain driving impressive growth that dramatically reduced the cost of solar cells, making them affordable even for low income countries. Therein we also provide arguments for which India, and not only China, will play a pivotal role in the uptake of bioplastics.

𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 - 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞 The global biodegradable plastic market size was estimated at USD 5.43 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% from 2023 to 2030. 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 @ https://lnkd.in/gP_4rsys Biodegradable plastic is a plastic that decomposes naturally in the environment. This is mainly carried out by the #microorganism present in the environment that breaks down the structure of #biodegradable #plastic. Biodegradable plastic is eco-friendly and has no toxicity as it is produced using #renewable raw material. This type of plastic is mainly produced using #natural #plant #material, which mainly includes corn oil, orange peels, starch, and plants. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑰𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 @ https://lnkd.in/g28Gpr4K 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬: With growing awareness about #environmental #pollution and the #harmful effects of traditional plastics, there was a significant push towards biodegradable alternatives. This trend was largely driven by consumers demanding eco-friendly products and governments imposing stricter regulations on plastic use and disposal. 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: Researchers and companies were investing in developing new #technologies and formulations to improve the properties and performance of biodegradable #plastics. This included enhancing #biodegradability, #durability, and #scalability to meet the diverse needs of various industries. 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞: BASF | NatureWorks | Corbion | Mitsubishi Chemical America | Novamont | Biome Bioplastics Limited | FKuR Kunststoff GmbH | bioMérieux | Plantic Technologies Ltd. | TotalEnergies

Scientists Create an Algae-Based Biodegradable Plastic About half of all of the plastics in the world have been created in only the past 15 years, and we are now swimming in the stuff. This tough material is made from petroleum-based chemicals, and is extremely durable. It is so durable, that it doesn't really break down even though tons of it is thrown away every day, and there are few good options for recycling plastic. Instead, it just breaks down into smaller and smaller bits, which are being found everywhere from soil and clouds to human lungs and placentas. But researchers may have now developed a much better option than plastics made from petrochemicals. In new work published in Scientific Reports, scientists created a plastic made from a algal polymer. This natural polymer can biodegrade in fewer than seven months, even at the microscopic level, according to scientists at the University of California San Diego and materials-science company Algenesis, who developed the material. While there is a lot more work to be done, this study has shown that there are viable alternatives to plastic. https://lnkd.in/ewM58XPd