Imagine taking the waste gas from a sewage plant and turning it into a plastic wrap that doesn't pollute the ocean. It works like a recycling loop where carbon emissions are captured and chemically rebuilt into a sturdy material. This new plastic acts like a shield against air and water, making it perfect for keeping food fresh without using oil.
Food packaging relies heavily on fossil-based polyethylene, which creates pollution and GHG emissions. Simultaneously, wastewater plants emit biogenic CO2 that is currently underutilized.
A process to capture CO2 from wastewater and convert it into PLGA polymer. They produced PLGA samples at > 5kg scale and developed basic engineering specifications for CO2 separation.
If you are a container manufacturer dealing with pressure to replace fossil-based polyethylene — this project developed a bio-based PLGA polymer that provides excellent water and gas barrier properties. It allows for the production of biodegradable take-out boxes and sealed trays.
If you are a plant operator dealing with biogenic CO2 emissions from sludge — this project developed a capture and conversion technology that turns those emissions into a sellable raw material for plastics.
If you are a paper producer dealing with non-recyclable plastic coatings — this project developed a PLGA film coating that is fully biodegradable and made from renewable resources for paper cups.
The project has successfully developed a synthesis recipe for PLGA at a scale of > 5kg. Based on available project data, further research is needed to scale this up to a commercial plant.
Based on available project data, a full business case analysis has been initiated in the early stages to provide targets, but specific cost-per-unit figures are not yet provided.
The project is coordinated by Avantium Chemicals BV with 15 partners. Specific licensing terms are not mentioned in the provided data.
The technology integrates by capturing and separating biogenic CO2 from the biogas produced during wastewater treatment processes.
The project runs from 2023-09-01 to 2027-08-31, with the consortium stating they have 2/3 of the project remaining to prove the principle.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven with a 53% industry ratio, comprising 8 industrial partners (including 4 SMEs) and 6 research/university entities across 7 countries. This structure suggests a strong focus on commercial viability and market application rather than pure academic research.
Contact Avantium Chemicals BV regarding PLGA polymerization and CO2 conversion
Contact us to track the scale-up progress of HICCUPS for your packaging supply chain.
