IIT-Madras unveils innovative zero-waste bioplastics initiative

INDIA – The Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) has launched a groundbreaking initiative to develop zero-waste bioplastics, according to reports by The Hindu.

The project is supported by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Government of India.

This initiative focuses on creating sustainable, cost-effective, and scalable alternatives to conventional plastics.

The bioplastics are designed to be biodegradable and microplastic-free, ensuring complete decomposition without leaving harmful residues in the environment.

Professor M. Ethayaraja from the IIT-M Department of Chemical Engineering explained that earlier generations of bioplastics relied on food sources like corn and potato starch, raising food security concerns.

The current initiative addresses this by developing third-generation bioplastics derived from organic byproducts such as bagasse and rice straw.

“We’re working on third-generation bioplastics because they don’t compromise on food security and have a much lower environmental impact,” said Professor Ethayaraja.

“These bioplastics are made from agricultural residues or algae and are biodegradable at the molecular level, which is crucial for reducing the environmental footprint of packaging.”

Overcoming challenges in cost and scalability

While bioplastics show great promise, challenges remain in terms of cost and scalability. Common alternatives like polylactic acid are expensive to produce, and polyhydroxyalkanoates are not yet commercially viable.

The IIT-M team is actively researching ways to lower production costs, making bioplastics more accessible for widespread use.

One primary objective of the initiative is to develop sustainable food packaging solutions. Additionally, the centre is exploring bioplastics for medical textiles, such as protein-based materials derived from agricultural waste.

These materials can be used in absorbable medical implants, eliminating the need for surgical removal.

UFlex partners IIP to promote recycling

This initiative follows UFlex’s partnership with the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) in Delhi to promote recycling, circular economy principles, and sustainability.

The Ideation Zone at IIP serves as an innovation hub, engaging students, professionals, and the public to raise awareness about sustainable practices.

Built using recycled materials like multi-layer plastic and aseptic packaging waste, the Ideation Zone demonstrates circular economy principles.

Sites in Poland, Mexico, and India currently return approximately 30,000 metric tons of plastic waste to the environment in a sustainable manner.

As part of this collaboration, industry leaders and sustainability experts will conduct workshops and seminars at IIP.

These sessions will focus on recycling innovations, advancements in sustainability, and the role of research and development in transforming the packaging industry.

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