Although people see bioplastics as a better alternative, several bioplastics on the market are either not fully compostable, don’t come from truly renewable sources, or lack the mechanical characteristics needed to compete with conventional plastics. At the same time, huge amounts of industrial by-products are often treated as waste. From a sustainability point of view, this is a major problem area that is open to real, meaningful change.
A team of researchers at South East Technological University (SETU) are leading multiple projects that seek to transform these by-products from different industries, especially from food and beverage processing, into bioplastics that are both sustainable but can also compete with currently used plastics in terms of their functionality. So far, the team has successfully generated a range of bioplastic materials – each with different mechanical characteristics depending on the formulation and the by-products used. The project team also performed a mechanical analysis of these materials, which is crucial to understanding how well they perform compared to traditional plastics. In addition to this, the project also assesses the environmental impact of bioplastics on soil and water, ensuring that sustainability remains central to the development process.
Another important part of the work is involving all key stakeholders throughout the process. By including the perspectives of industry representatives, researchers, and potential users, these projects aim to ensure that the bioplastics created are not only environmentally friendly, but also practical and relevant for real-world use.
Next, research teams plan to continue expanding this work by exploring new by-products that are currently underused, turning even more “waste” into valuable and compostable materials.
References
- Stanley, J., Poulain, C., DEBEAUFORT, F., Brachais, C.H., Culliton, D., Benbettaïeb, N., Jovani-Sancho, A.J. and Neves, A.C., Material Characterisation of Bioplastics: Influence of Different Starch Sources in Starch-Protein Blends. Available at SSRN 5396255.
- Mroczkowska, M., Culliton, D., Germaine, K.J., Hegde, M., Tobin, E.F. and Neves, A.C., 2024. Valorisation of tomato waste as a source of Cutin for hydrophobic surface coatings to protect Starch-and Gelatine-Blend bioplastics. Biomass, 4(3), pp.990-1004.
