SBIR Phase II: Cellulose Based Material Innovations for an Ocean Compostable, Fish Friendly, Plastic Packaging Replacement Platform Technology

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是设计出在自然中分解、可纸流回收和海洋可堆肥鱼类友好(OCFF)的产品，成本类似于塑料包装。自2018年以来，美国通常回收5%-8.7%的塑料。根据海洋保护协会的数据，“每年有1100万公吨塑料进入海洋，而目前海洋环境中流通的塑料估计有2亿公吨。”建议的产品不需要杀菌剂，在生产过程中也不使用任何添加剂。这些产品是由100%森林管理委员会(FSC)认证的树木纤维素制成的，这确保产品将来自可持续收获的树木。这些产品将大幅减少塑料垃圾，同时将就业机会带回需要经济发展的农村地区。该产品无毒，可随时随地堆肥。这个SBIR第二阶段项目继续开发新产品的原型，并将生产耐用、功能和可消化的海洋可堆肥鱼类友好型包装所需的新成型和干燥技术/技术商业化。预计该产品将被越来越多想要环保、一次性包装产品的消费者采用。本产品取代一次性塑料和其他生物塑料。它自然是防油的，并将取代全氟烷基物质(PFAS)，后者因其对人体健康的有害影响而在全国范围内被禁用。领先的聚乳酸(PLA)可堆肥包装产品本质上不是可堆肥的，会污染回收流。这些产品的材料手感和成本与塑料相似，防油，如果乱扔，对自然和野生动物无害。最初的产品是一款蛋奶酥杯子，由100%来自树木的纤维纤维素(FC)组成，这种材料尚未开发用于商业规模的包装。第一阶段的结果包括一种正在申请专利的台式系统，该系统可以脱水并将FC塑造成所需的形状。该项目的目标是对机器进行规模调整，将100%FC塑造成客户想要的产品。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the design of products that will decompose in nature, are paper-stream recyclable, and Ocean Compostable Fish Friendly (OCFF), with a cost similar to plastic packaging. Since 2018, the US typically recycles between 5-8.7% of its plastic. According to Ocean Conservancy, “Every year, 11 million metric tons of plastics enter the ocean on top of the estimated 200 million metric tons that currently circulate the marine environments.” The proposed products do not need biocides and use no additives in their production process. The products are made with 100% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified tree cellulose, which ensures that the product will come from sustainably harvested trees. These products will drastically reduce plastic waste while bringing jobs back to rural areas in need of economic development. The products are non-toxic and will compost anywhere and everywhere. This SBIR Phase II project continues the prototype development of novel products and the commercialization of a new molding and drying technology/techniques required to produce Ocean Compostable Fish Friendly packaging that is durable, functional, and digestible in nature. This product is expected to be adopted by the growing number of consumers who want environmentally-safe, single-use packaging products. This product replaces single-use plastics and other bioplastics. It is naturally grease resistant and will replace perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are being banned nationwide due to their harmful effects on human health. Leading Polylactic Acid (PLA) compostable packaging products are not compostable in nature and contaminate recycling streams. These products will have a material that feels and costs similar to plastic, is greaseproof, and is not harmful to nature and wildlife if littered. The initial product is a soufflé cup comprised of 100% fibrillated cellulose (FC) from trees, a material not yet developed for packaging on a commercial scale. Phase I results included a patent-pending benchtop system that dewaters and molds the FC into desired shapes. The goal of this project is to scale the machine to mold 100% FC into products that customers desire.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.