STTR Phase I: Cellulose Based Material Innovations for Ocean Compostable Fish Friendly Plastic Packaging Replacement Platform Technology

这个STTR项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力正在推动环保安全包装的发展。到2022年，全球包装市场预计将增长到9800亿美元，到2020年，盖子预计将达到14亿美元。由于40%的塑料是一次性制造的，因此需要创新的包装。目前的石油塑料杯盖是不可持续的，也不能回收，而且它们在环境中不会分解。提出的解决方案是一种新型的冷热饮料盖，成本低，可以用纸回收，如果乱扔也不会损害海洋环境。这个STTR一期项目提议推进一种方法的转化，使用高度精炼的木纤维素微纤维，结合碳酸钙和其他低成本添加剂，产生一种盖子，模仿目前塑料聚丙烯和聚苯乙烯盖子的感觉，但提供良好的环保性能。环境影响将通过分解时间、海洋影响以及斑马鱼胚胎暴露的影响和死亡率来检验。所提出的解决方案将显示出任何石油或玉米塑料材料都无法获得的环境分解行为。技术上的障碍包括将这种新纸浆模塑和干燥成大规模的自动化盖子生产过程。这个项目将描述这种新纸浆的特性。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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 STTR project is advancing the development of environmentally safe packaging. The global packaging market has been estimated to grow to $980 B in 2022, with lids estimated at $1.4 B in 2020. As 40% of plastic is created for one-time-use, a need exists for innovative packaging. The current petroleum plastic lids are not sustainable nor recycled and they do not break down in the environment. The proposed solution is a new class of hot and cold drink lids that are low-cost, can be recycled with paper, and will not harm the ocean environment if littered. This STTR Phase I project proposes to advance the translation of a method to use highly refined wood cellulose microfibers, combined with calcium carbonate and other low-cost additives, to generate a lid that mimics the feel of current plastic polypropylene and polystyrene lids but provides excellent environmental performance. The environmental impact will be tested via decomposition time, and ocean impact by zebrafish embryo exposure effects and mortality. The proposed solution will demonstrate environmental decomposing behavior not obtained with any petroleum or corn plastic material. The technical hurdles include molding and drying this new pulp into an automated lid production process at scale. This project will characterize this new pulp.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.