Browsing by Subject "plastics"

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    Could a Sustainable Bio-Based Plastics Supply Chain Become a Commercial Reality?
    (2023-04-28) Barnett, Patrice; Hyyppa, Reino; Reynolds, Grace; Roberton, Kelsie
    The objective of this research is to examine the feasibility of scaling the bio-based plastics industry in a sustainable manner and to evaluate the commercial viability of its supply chain. Bio-based plastics present a viable alternative to the use of fossil fuels in conventional plastics by creating innovative plastics from renewable resources that have the potential to be compostable and emit less carbon dioxide than petroleum-based plastics. Nevertheless, the use of bio-based plastics presents certain obstacles, such as competition with food production, limited consumer awareness, and obstacles to achieving cost competitiveness with conventional plastics. The report analyzes the current state of the bio-based plastics sector, identifies key challenges and opportunities, and presents recommendations for sustainably scaling the industry. As of 2021, the bio-based plastic market is valued at $11.2B USD and is expected to grow at a rate of 17.02% per year, reaching $46.1B USD by 2030 (Precedence Research). To identify opportunities for meeting this level of growth sustainably, the Master’s Project team conducted semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in the bio-based plastics industry and conducted desk research. The original scope of research was to determine how waste-based feedstocks for bio-based plastics are defined, however, based on feedback from interviewees, the Master’s Project team pivoted due to limited demand for waste-based solutions. The team adopted a more holistic approach to understand the market by analyzing different feedstock sources and end-of-life (EOL) options for bio-based plastics, as well as the role of the government and certification services to develop a sustainable, competitive alternative to the plastics industry. Based on the report’s findings, a commercially viable and sustainable supply chain for bio-based plastic can be feasible. The report drew on desk-based research and interviews with ten stakeholders in the bio-based plastics sector including producers, buyers, certification services, and non-governmental organizations. As a result, five key areas were identified that stakeholders in the bio-based plastic value chain should consider to enhance the industry’s sustainability. These areas include: 1) Design with EOL in mind, 2) Create partnerships with stakeholders across the bio-based materials value chain, 3) Urge for a global standardized labeling process, 4) Consider bio-based plastic terminology and use of EOL terms carefully for better consumer education, and 5) Confirm how feedstock is sourced with suppliers.
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    Macrofouling Settlement on Commercial Plastics
    (2021-04-28) Scanlon, Kelly
    Globally, 8 million metric tons of plastic makes its way to the oceans annually. With plastic comes open surface area for macro-fouling organisms to settle upon. Where literature stands now, there is a story of succession for these settlers. The succession story is that settlement starts with a molecular film, then bacteria settle in the first week or so, and then by 4-6 weeks the macrofouling organisms begin to settle and grow. This study aimed to change the narrative of this succession story to say that many macrofouling organisms in the biofouling community settle as, or more, quickly than bacteria and are actually reproducing in less than a month. The other message is that plastics are dynamic surfaces and communities on these surfaces vary with plastic type over time. Using commercial plastics, we show that settlement of macrofouling organisms happens in hours to days, rather than 4-6 weeks. Three major fouling animals are reproductive on plastics immersed for less than a month. The communities on the different single use plastics are not the same after 30 days and some of these differences related to surface energy and to molecules added to plastics for processing that leach out and change over time. This research is a step towards a more accurate story of macrofouling settlement on plastic surfaces.
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    The Barriers Facing the Adoption of Compostable Biopolymers in the Canadian Food and Beverage Industry
    (2020-11-22) Ferreira, Eugenio
    The food and beverage industry in Canada, generates large volumes of single-use plastic waste as a result of its packaging materials. Utilizing compostable bioplastics in food and beverage packaging can provide an improved environmental performance alternative to conventional fossil-based plastics. Recycling efforts across Canada have historically placed effort on conventional plastics recycling to capture and manage the ubiquitous single-use plastics. However, through industry research and policy review, this report shows that the conventional recycling approach fails to effectively manage this stream. The report supports the adoption of compostable bioplastics as a practical alternative, but understands that its success requires more coordinated and adopted standardized terminology, government regulations and policy incentives to provide the impetus for food and beverage manufacturers to shift towards the adoption of compostable bioplastics as a practical solution to addressing the environmental performance issues associated with fossil-based, single-use plastics.