The exponential increase in the utilization of synthetic plastic use, as well as the waste generated afterwards, has been identified as one of the existential threats to the sustenance of our planet. Hence, the past decades have witnessed the search for more sustainable and environmentally- friendly substitutes to the different fossil-based plastics. Being generated from renewable sources including animals, microbes and plant biomass, bioplastics are among the most viable alternatives to the conventional plastics. It is believed that their production processes are more benign, furthermore, relative to conventional plastics, their degradation products are less likely to be harmful to the environment. Thus, this research is aimed at developing efficient synthesis methods for the production of novel bioplastics from sustainable polysaccharides with enhanced bioactive functionality and improved biodegradation.
Project funding:
Research Council of Lithuania (RCL), Projects of Postdoctoral fellowships funded by the state budget of the Republic of Lithuania
Project results:
It is expected that this project will pave the way for the development of industrially viable bioplastics production technology with the right balance between affordability, resource management, environmental sustainability, and additional bioactive functionality.
Period of project implementation: 2024-03-15 - 2026-03-14
Project coordinator: Kaunas University of Technology
