Project and Research
Our bioplastic research is divided into two product categories based on their material characteristics: water-soluble (WS) and water-resistant (WR) bioplastics.
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Water-soluble bioplastics are produced from bio-based components like starch or plant cellulose, enabling them to degrade as they dissolve in water. However, due to a chemical reaction between starches and added synthetic materials (used as additives), water-soluble bioplastics cannot be composted properly. Their composting requires an industrial disintegration process. Nonetheless, composting WS plastic is not mandatory as it is biodegradable within 180 days.
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On the other hand, Water-Resistant bioplastics can be composted within 180 days when buried in the ground. However, they are not biodegradable and may cause sea pollution if not composted properly, due to their lower bio-based material composition.
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The 'holy grail' of our research lies in finding the right balance between compostability and biodegradability of plastics while maintaining the correct composition of bio-based materials. We are also researching several bio-based materials that contain natural polymers for making WS bioplastics. This enhances their quality in terms of durability, strength, and minimal eco-toxicity.
01
Exploring Bio-based materials from food wastes
Many types of food waste can be used to produce bio-based plastics. Our projects involve researching formulations and examining starches derived from waste products from tubers plant. Starch is one of the natural polymers found in plants.
02
Compostable and biodegradable
Due to the different characteristics of plastics, WR plastics contain only 20-30% bio-based materials in order to maintain water resistance. We are working to enhance the bio-based content of WR plastics and researching the optimal balance between the bio-based materials and their compostability. We evaluate our WR products based on their eco-toxicity levels and compostability.
03
Product diversification
To expedite the use of bioplastics in efforts to reduce plastic waste, we diversify our bio-based products into everyday items. We recognize that current alternatives may not be entirely user-friendly, so we are committed to enhancing the quality and durability of our products to increase its user-friendliness.
Bioplastic standardizations
1. ISO 16929.
https://www.iso.org/standard/80302.html
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2. ISO 22403:2020
https://www.iso.org/standard/73121.html
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3. DIN 13432