A new European project will develop wound dressings and packaging made of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) to address plastic waste in humanitarian contexts, including war and natural disaster zones, where waste management is often unfeasible.
Called ANIPH (Avoiding the Negative Impacts produced by Plastic materials in Humanitarian contexts), the 4-year project will leverage PHA’s properties like biocompatibility and the ability to fully degrade in various environments, including soil, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, without contributing to microplastic pollution.
Coordinated by the Plastics Technology Centre (CETEC), a Spain-based non-profit, the initiative brings together seven other partners: Agricultural University of Athens, University of Granada, PHA producers CETEC Biotechnology and Terraverdae, and industry association GO!PHA. The consortium also includes social science experts from Knowledge Value Consulting and communication and dissemination specialists from ICONS.
ANIPH’s primary focus is to develop wound dressings and flexible, water-resistant packaging made from PHBV, a type of PHA, project coordinators Verónica Alcaraz Rodriguez and Carmen Fernández Ayuso told Sustainable Plastics in an interview.
Alternative to cotton wound dressings
Cotton dressings are one of the most widely used wound management materials due to their low-skin-irritating nature, softness, moisture-absorbing ability, and low cost. Wound dressing made of 100% cotton are also biodegradable under certain conditions.
“However, the hydrophilic nature of cotton dressings provides appropriate conditions for the growth of pathogenic bacteria on their surface, which can potentially induce wound infection and significantly impede healing,” Alcaraz and Fernández explained.
“Although cotton dressing is one of the most commonly used wound management materials, it lacks antimicrobial and healing-promoting activity and requires being loaded with antimicrobials or antibiotics.”
Alternatives to cotton are generally made of non-biodegradable components such as polyurethane foam, silicones, synthetic polymers, hydrogels, and adhesives. Outer packaging is usually made of non-degradable polyethylene plastics or cellulose coated with fossil-based paraffins.
Unlike conventional wound dressings, which often contain non-biodegradable components and antimicrobial substances that contribute to antibiotic resistance, ANIPH’s dressings will be biodegradable, biocompatible, and non-toxic. They will also incorporate probiotic cellulose as a natural alternative to antibiotics.
The project also aims to create PHA-based packaging to store and protect the wound dressings. This monomaterial packaging will be mechanically recyclable and biodegradable in various environments, including soil and marine settings, ensuring minimal environmental impact.
The University of Granada will employ 3D printing to manufacture customised PHBV wound dressings with controlled layer thickness and porosity, enhancing their effectiveness.
The Agricultural University of Athens will use artificial intelligence tools to predict biodegradation rates and assess environmental safety. A digital traceability system will ensure transparency in the supply chain.
Cost
ANIPH takes a sustainable approach to PHA production, using residue feedstocks such as hydrolysed yeast from brewing and sugar-rich agro-industrial waste.
To keep costs manageable, ANIPH will leverage next-generation industrial biotechnology (NGIB) using halophilic microorganisms, Alcaraz and Fernández said. These organisms flourish in salty environments, allowing for non-sterile processing, reducing energy and production costs. The project will also implement a by-product recovery strategy during PHA polymer manufacturing, promoting circularity and enhancing both environmental and economic sustainability.
The consortium will be supported by an expert group of stakeholders including NGOs and healthcare experts to understand how to deploy PHA materials in humanitarian contexts. They will conduct a study on uncontrolled waste littering in such contexts, analysing the potential of biobased and biodegradable products in these contexts, Alcaraz and Fernández explained.
This study will be widely disseminated and promoted amongst policy makers to help shape future policies and recommendations related to biobased and biodegradable plastics for specific uses, the project coordinators added.
Impact
ANIPH’s innovations are expected to cut CO2 emissions by 43% for packaging and 68% for wound dressings compared to fossil-based alternatives. Additionally, the project aims to eliminate 12930 tonnes of hazardous substances while recirculating 1475 tonnes of biomass.
Beyond technological advancements, ANIPH will work to establish new standards and certification frameworks for biobased and biodegradable plastics. The project will also engage in public outreach and education to promote the adoption of sustainable materials.