Turning Waste into Bioplastics: A Study from the National Technical University of Athens
In the frame of the Symsites project, the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) studied the benefits of using food waste to produce biodegradable plastic. The research, entitled “Comparison of polyhydroxyalkanoates production efficiency from acidified kitchen biowastes in sequential batch and fed batch mode”, was presented during the 11th International Conference on Environmental Management, Engineering, Planning, and Economics (CEMEPE).
11th International Conference on Environmental Management, Engineering, Planning, and Economics
Lefkada (Greece) hosted the 11th International Conference on Environmental Management, Engineering, Planning, and Economics (CEMEPE11) from June 16 to 20, 2024. This event brought together researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers to exchange ideas and solutions to address today’s environmental challenges.
The conference was organized by the Division of Hydraulics and Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in collaboration with:
- the Sector of Industrial Management and Operations Research, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens;
- the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Thessaly;
- the Department of Food Science and Technology, International Hellenic University;
- the Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace;
- the Department of Environment, University of Thessaly.
Turning Waste into Bioplastics
The National Technical University of Athens team explored how food waste, specifically kitchen biowaste, can produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), such as biodegradable plastic. PHAs are a promising sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, but their production has historically been expensive due to the high cost of raw materials.
NTUA’s research addressed the issue by using kitchen biowaste to produce PHAs, a widely available and underutilized resource. This approach reduces food waste and reduces the costs associated with PHA production, making it more competitive with traditional plastics.
The benefits
The research demonstrates a practical way to turn food waste into a valuable product, therefore promoting waste-to-resource strategies.
This potentially reduces waste management costs for municipalities, as it diverts food waste from landfills and transforms it into biodegradable plastics. For industries, especially those in packaging or manufacturing, PHAs offer a sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics. For policymakers and urban planners, the study can provide data and insights to support sustainable urban development strategies.
By showing how to integrate biowaste into existing waste management systems, the study directly supports the circular economy principle of turning waste into valuable bioproducts.
