Microalgae as a biomanufacturing platform for bioplastics

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Plastics are a foundation of the modern economy, but our dependence on plastics has come at a heavy environmental cost. Global production of plastics has increased by 80% in the past two decades, reaching 370 million metric tons per year (Statista, 2022), and is responsible for 3.4% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions from plastic manufacturing in the UK alone amounted to 2.4 million metric tonnes in 2020 (Statista, 2020). The UK was also the world's second largest generator of plastic waste per capita in 2016 (Statista, 2016). Bio-based and bio-degradable plastics are an important part of the solution to this problem, due to the reduced carbon footprint and pollution associated with their production and disposal, respectively. This 6-month collaborative feasibility study between PhycoWorks and FlexSea will evaluate and optimise the use of microalgae as a biomanufacturing platform for bioplastics.