An attention-grabbing study is currently ongoing in Idaho Falls (USA). BioLogiQ, Inc, a manufacturer of compostable plant-based resin materials is examining the effects of plastics in the marine environment by conducting a scientific study in full view of the public at a local aquarium.
An aquarium was chosen in order to mimic a realistic aquatic environment, said Steven Sherman, BioLogiQ's CEO. BioLogiQ's NuPlastiQ iQ technology is made entirely from plants and has been engineered to biodegrade much faster than normal plastic, including in the ocean.
"iQ technology can help fight the truckloads of plastic pollution accumulating in our ocean every minute,” said Sherman.
The study aims to educate the public on the negative impact of pollution caused by traditional plastics in the world’s rivers and oceans on life in the seas and on land. At the same time, it also seeks to generate awareness for technologies like iQ, which can contribute to a more sustainable plastics economy.
The NuPlastiQ IQ technology developed by BioLogiQ is is made from annually renewable agricultural resources such as potatoes, corn, and cassava. Besides industrially manufactured starch, the company also uses starch that remains after processing potatoes into potato chips and french fries. According to BioLogiQ, 0.4% of the weight of all potatoes grown around the world is turned into starch that is not used for human consumption.
The bioplastic material is stable during its useful life. Biodegradation is only triggered by enzymatic reactions caused by the introduction of water and microorganisms. BioLogiQ’s iQ NuPlastiQ has been tested to EN 13432 and ASTM D-6400 and has received TUV OK Compost Industrial certification.
As a plant-based thermoplastic, the carbon in its backbone comes from atmospheric CO2. The materials are designed to be blended, either with other bioplastics or with conventional fossil-based resins to make bioblends that increase the sustainability of all plastic products.