Science: Slovak Researchers Created Biodegradable and Edible Plastics

Bratislava, 26 September (TASR) - Slovak biotechnologists have come up with a bioplastic made from algae and other biological raw materials to address challenges posed by the production of plastics from fossil-based raw materials and, in particular, what happens to them at the end of their useful life, TASR reported earlier this week. "In my view, plastics do not need to be such a bogeyman as they are sometimes made out to be. They have many great properties - they are lightweight, durable and practically indispensable in many industries. The problem arises with single-use plastics and also because we can't recycle them forever. That's why we're looking for materials with similar properties that are not made from crude oil but from renewable resources and are also biodegradable," explained Ema Ondrejkova from a Slovak company called BioX Technologies, adding that such materials should ideally end up in soil from which something can grow again, as opposed to a landfill or incinerator. The end of the life cycle is one of the most interesting features of the new material. While conventional plastics must be collected, sorted and further processed, the new material is designed to be biodegradable. Some formulations can even be edible. "If a more ecological material is to replace conventional plastics in practice, it's not enough for it to be made from a renewable raw material. It must possess the properties required for a specific application," said Oliver Pukalik from BioX Technologies. As he added, if it can biodegrade instead of becoming waste, this completely changes the way we think about plastics. BioX Technologies presented their solution in Denmark as part of a European project focused on biotechnological innovation and the circular economy. Slovak biotechnologists were given the opportunity to present the material to foreign experts and seek further opportunities for its development. "We don't want to claim that bioplastics will replace all conventional plastics tomorrow. The point is to use new materials where they bring a real benefit. If we can use a renewable raw material for a single-use product that will not turn into long-term waste after use, that's precisely the direction we want to take," concluded Pukalik. jrg/mcs/ko