Bio-based plastics – a sustainable solution to plastic pollution
Arturo Aburto Medina A * , Soulayma Hassan A , Chaitali Dekiwadia B , Chengrong Chen C D and Andrew S. Ball A DA
B
C
D
Dr Arturo Aburto Medina obtained his PhD from the University of Essex, UK, and has more than 10 years’ experience conducting research and consulting on diverse bioremediation and environmental projects. He has conducted postdoctoral studies at the University of California—Irvine, Flinders University and RMIT University. His research interests include bioremediation of contaminated sites, antimicrobial surfaces, conservation of the environment and indoor air quality. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2871-609X. |
Soulayma Hassan is a PhD candidate at RMIT University, Australia. Her research focuses on the sustainable production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from lignocellulosic biomass, particularly sugarcane bagasse, aiming to develop cost-effective and eco-friendly bioplastics. Her research interests include the circular economy, sustainable resource management and waste valourisation. Soulayma’s research experience also extends to the anaerobic digestion of organic waste, further promoting waste-to-resource technologies. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8839-2611. |
Dr Chaitali Dekiwadia is a platform scientist at RMIT’s Microscopy & Microanalysis Facility. She has conducted postdoctoral studies at The University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. She specialises in life sciences, cryo and X-ray CT, with a passion for advancing research through cutting-edge technology. Her deep knowledge of electron microscopy as a core facility staff for cross discipline collaboration has significantly contributed to produce good research outcomes, fostering technical excellence and enhancing scientific collaboration. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0928-4420. |
Prof. Chengrong Chen is distinguished professor in environmental biogeochemistry and waste recycling at Griffith University and research director of the Solving Plastic Waste CRC. Over the past 30 years, Prof. Chen has worked in the areas of environmental biogeochemistry, with a broad interest in waste recycling, climate change, decarbonation and environmental pollution and sustainability. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed journal papers. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6377-4001. |
Andrew S. Ball is the director of the ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia’s Biosolids Resource, a distinguished professor at RMIT University, Melbourne, and Solving Plastic Waste CRC program leader. He has worked in the areas of soil microbiology, environmental pollution and biogeochemical cycling for 40 years, publishing over 300 peer-reviewed articles. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2387-968X. |
Abstract
Global annual plastic production is >410 × 106 tonnes with an annual rate increase of 4%; most of this plastic is non-biodegradable. Bio-based plastics (also known as bioplastics) are formed from polymers created from renewable or recycled raw materials, making them part of a sustainable plastic life cycle and part of a circular economy. Their production uses carbon-neutral energy and products are recycled at their end of life (EOL). Thus, they stand as an alternative to the current global plastic waste problem (>80% goes to landfill). Bio-based plastics can have a lower carbon footprint than conventional plastics, their materials properties can be advantageous, they are compatible with current recycling streams and biodegradation as EOL is also an option for some. Some challenges include having a larger production of bio-based plastics by gene-edited microorganisms and an improvement in the chemical and biological methods of recycling (upcycling) to process larger volumes and create higher-quality materials. Also, policy is important for the clear identification of bio-based plastics and their acceptance by creating financial incentives for their upscaling.
Keywords: bio-based plastics, biological recycling, carbon-neutral energy, circular economy, PHAs, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polyhydroxylalkanoic acids, renewable sources.
Dr Arturo Aburto Medina obtained his PhD from the University of Essex, UK, and has more than 10 years’ experience conducting research and consulting on diverse bioremediation and environmental projects. He has conducted postdoctoral studies at the University of California—Irvine, Flinders University and RMIT University. His research interests include bioremediation of contaminated sites, antimicrobial surfaces, conservation of the environment and indoor air quality. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2871-609X. |
Soulayma Hassan is a PhD candidate at RMIT University, Australia. Her research focuses on the sustainable production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from lignocellulosic biomass, particularly sugarcane bagasse, aiming to develop cost-effective and eco-friendly bioplastics. Her research interests include the circular economy, sustainable resource management and waste valourisation. Soulayma’s research experience also extends to the anaerobic digestion of organic waste, further promoting waste-to-resource technologies. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8839-2611. |
Dr Chaitali Dekiwadia is a platform scientist at RMIT’s Microscopy & Microanalysis Facility. She has conducted postdoctoral studies at The University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. She specialises in life sciences, cryo and X-ray CT, with a passion for advancing research through cutting-edge technology. Her deep knowledge of electron microscopy as a core facility staff for cross discipline collaboration has significantly contributed to produce good research outcomes, fostering technical excellence and enhancing scientific collaboration. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0928-4420. |
Prof. Chengrong Chen is distinguished professor in environmental biogeochemistry and waste recycling at Griffith University and research director of the Solving Plastic Waste CRC. Over the past 30 years, Prof. Chen has worked in the areas of environmental biogeochemistry, with a broad interest in waste recycling, climate change, decarbonation and environmental pollution and sustainability. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed journal papers. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6377-4001. |
Andrew S. Ball is the director of the ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia’s Biosolids Resource, a distinguished professor at RMIT University, Melbourne, and Solving Plastic Waste CRC program leader. He has worked in the areas of soil microbiology, environmental pollution and biogeochemical cycling for 40 years, publishing over 300 peer-reviewed articles. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2387-968X. |
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