Australia’s national science agency CSIRO and Murdoch University have launched the Bioplastics Innovation Hub, a project that aims to develop 100% compostable bioplastics.
The hub is the result of an AUS 8 million (€4.9 million) investment that will bring together industry and academia to produce bioplastics that can break down in compost, land, or water.
The Bioplastics Innovation Hub is based at Murdoch University’s main campus in Perth, Western Australia. It will bring together experts in microbiology, molecular genetics, synthetic biology, biochemical engineering, advanced manufacturing and circular economy by translating advancements in bioplastics research to real-world applications. It will also act as a training centre for the next generation workforce in advanced biomanufacturing.
“Our primary focus is the development of 100% compostable, bio-derived packaging for use as sprays, films, bottles, caps and wrappers which are engineered to fully break down in compost, land and in aquatic environments,” said Dr Andy Whiteley, CSIRO research programme director.
CSIRO expects the hub to assist industry in establishing an advanced biomanufacturing sector and commercialising compostable bioplastics that meet certification standards for 100% biodegradation.
The hub’s first project will be a partnership with PHA-producer Ecopha Biotech Pty, also based in Perth. The partners aim to develop a new process for producing water bottles from PHA derived from waste products from the food industry.
Australia introduced national targets for packaging in 2018 in an industry-led scheme that does not impose penalties for failures. It requires 70% of plastic packaging to be recycled or composted by 2025, but it has become clear that Australia will not reach the target, with only 18% of plastic packaging being recycled in 2023.
The Australian government has also introduced new rules that have come into force this week, including a ban on all soft plastics shopping bags and single-use plastics including coffee cups from Sept. 1. The new laws also require packaging to be designed to be recovered, reused, recycled, and reprocessed safely in line with circular economy principles.