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

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是设计产品，这些产品将在自然界中分解，是纸流可回收的，海洋可堆肥鱼类友好（OCFF），成本与塑料包装相似。 自2018年以来，美国通常会消耗5-8.7%的塑料。据海洋保护协会称，“每年，除了目前在海洋环境中流通的估计2亿吨塑料之外，还有1100万吨塑料进入海洋。”拟议的产品不需要杀菌剂，在生产过程中不使用任何添加剂。 产品采用100%森林管理理事会（FSC）认证的树木纤维素制成，确保产品来自可持续采伐的树木。这些产品将大幅减少塑料垃圾，同时为需要经济发展的农村地区带来就业机会。该产品是无毒的，将堆肥的任何地方和任何地方。 SBIR第二阶段项目继续开发新产品的原型，并将新的成型和干燥技术商业化，以生产耐用，功能性和易消化的海洋可堆肥鱼类友好包装。该产品预计将被越来越多的消费者谁想要环保安全，一次性使用的包装产品。该产品取代了一次性塑料和其他生物塑料。它具有天然的抗油脂性，将取代全氟烷基物质（PFAS），全氟烷基物质因其对人体健康的有害影响而在全国范围内被禁止。领先的聚乳酸（PLA）可堆肥包装产品本质上是不可堆肥的，会污染回收流。这些产品将有一种材料，感觉和成本类似于塑料，是防油脂，是无害的自然和野生动物，如果乱扔。最初的产品是由100%来自树木的原纤化纤维素（FC）组成的蛋奶酥杯，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个正在申请专利的台式系统，脱水和模具的FC成所需的形状。该项目的目标是扩大机器规模，将100% FC成型为客户期望的产品。该奖项反映了NSF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 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.