A disruptive alternative to plastic packaging materials - exploring the potential of cyanobacteria derived exopolysaccharides as novel, biodegradable and edible biopolymers – (CyoBPoly)

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An estimated 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste have been generated globally since the 1950s (Science, 2017) of which approximately 80% remains in landfill or loose in the broader environment.In line with current demand, oil-based plastics are produced at a rate of ~350mtpa. While undoubtedly useful, they have been developed with a focus on function rather than end-of-life performance and their impact on our environment.A disruptive solution to the single use plastic problem could be the design of biobased, biodegradable and high-performance polymers which have the potential to replace oil based packaging materials.This collaborative, 9 month proof of concept study between Biome Technologies plc, the University of Glasgow's Institute of Molecular Cell & Systems Biology and the University of Nottingham's Chemical Engineering Department will explore a novel, blue-green algae derived biopolymer in line with the UK Plastics Pact targets.