Polymerisation method development for the manufacturing of novel, high-performance, compostable and recyclable hetero-aromatic bioplastics for the packaging industry (BioPolyMet) - Resilience fund

自20世纪50年代以来，全球估计产生了83亿吨塑料废物（《科学》，2017年），其中约80%留在垃圾填埋场或散落在环境中。塑料生产和处理产生的全球温室气体排放量是航空旅行的两倍多（《自然气候变化》，2019年）。根据目前的需求，油基塑料的年产量约为3.3亿吨。虽然它们很有用，但它们的开发重点是功能，而不是寿命结束后的性能和对环境的影响。单靠回收并不能完全解决“塑料问题”。这些问题包括成本、食品污染、聚合物降解和环境泄漏。生物基和可生物降解塑料是解决方案的重要组成部分。Biome技术有限公司和诺丁汉大学化学工程系之间的这个合作项目将加速Biome目前与现有商业客户合作研究的三种新型生物塑料的制造工艺开发优化和规模扩大。该项目的成果将使一系列新的可持续和可生物降解材料在启动后的两年内实现商业部署，减少垃圾填埋场和塑料的环境负担，同时提高英国（生物）经济的生产力和增长。

An estimated 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste has been generated globally since the 1950s (Science, 2017) of which approximately 80% remains in landfill or loose in the environment. Global greenhouse gas emissions from the production and disposal of plastics is more than double that of air travel (Nature Climate Change, 2019).In line with current demand, oil-based plastics are produced at a rate of ~330mtpa. While useful, they have been developed focusing on function than end-of-life performance and their environmental impact.Recycling alone is not the complete answer to the "plastics problem". These include cost, food contamination, polymer degradation and environmental leakage. Bio-based and biodegradable plastics are an important part of the solution.This collaborative project between Biome Technologies plc and Nottingham University's Chemical Engineering Department will accelerate manufacturing process development optimisation and scale-up of three novel bioplastics from Biome's current research in partnership with existing commercial customers.The project's outcome will enable the commercial deployment of a new range of sustainable and biodegradable materials within 2 years of launch, reducing landfill and the environmental burden of plastics whilst increasing productivity and growth for the wider UK (bio)economy.