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Project title

Development of piscine gelatin-starch blend thermoset bioplastic as a replacement for petroleum-based plastic and assessment of its biodegradation in soil environment.

Primary Funding Agency

Irish Research Council

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Institute of Technology, Carlow

Lead Applicant

n/a

Project Abstract

The European Union has introduced a Plastic Strategy (EU Action Plan for a Circular Economy), which will ban all single-use plastics by 2030 in order to eliminate the 8 million tonnes of plastic waste, which pollute the earth�s oceans annually. As a result, the food packaging industry has recently begun to consider non-petroleum plastics, as possible replacements for their current range of petroleum plastics. This proposal aims to address this need by developing a suitable range of bioplastics underpinned by Industrial Symbiosis: (i) harness a current waste stream e.g. fish, include food-positive additives, and create a home-compostable superior alternative to petroleum-based plastics; (ii) use tomato peel waste to produce a hydrophobic coating to apply to the bioplastic. The Irish fish industry generates large amounts of valuable waste (ranging from 20% - 80% of total catch weight), which is currently incinerated at high cost. This waste (bones, skin) is rich in collagen which can be extracted and used as a base for a novel range of bioplastics. Some bioplastics, with improved strength and durability, have successfully been formulated. However, these bioplastics are water soluble and degrade rapidly when in contact with food or moisture. This is a serious limitation of the developed bioplastics. Fortunately, this limitation can be addressed by using additives such as Cutin, a tomato by-product, extracted from tomato peels, which acts as a hydrophobic coating for the bioplastic. Cutin would improve the bioplastic�s resistance to moisture and broaden its industrial applicability. These bioplastics will adapt to numerous large markets, such as food packaging, film (including agricultural film), and transport wrapping. Microbiome analysis will assure environmental safety of the bioplastic which could also be potentially used as biodegradable mulch films which suppress weeds and conserve water in crop production, further expanding the potential applicability of this novel bioplastic.

Grant Approved

�103,000

Research Hub

Climate related research

Research Theme

Achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

Start Date

01/10/2021

Initial Projected Completion Date

30/09/2025