POTENTIAL OF BIODEGRADABLE AND COMPOSTABLE ALTERNATIVES TO CONVENTIONAL PLASTICS - NUWAMANYA EPHRAIM (PHD) ENOCK WEMBABAZI, EVANS ATWIJUKIRE ...
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POTENTIAL OF BIODEGRADABLE
AND COMPOSTABLE ALTERNATIVES
TO CONVENTIONAL PLASTICS
Nuwamanya Ephraim (PhD)
Enock Wembabazi, Evans Atwijukire,
Steven Tumwesigye, Joseph Hawumba
For a society to attach value to its
natural resource and exploit such a
resource for societal sustainability;
such a society is on the path to
development
Bio-plastics in Uganda • Plastics from renewable biomass including microbiota and in particular agricultural waste • Where all the carbon in the said plastic is derived from renewable feed stocks • Most distinguishing characteristic is that they are bio-degradable • They can be starch based, polymer hybrids, bio-based or partial biodegradables
Why bioplastics Pros to bioplastics They have low CO2 emissions and about 200% lower than fossil based plastics Cheaper alternatives in a biomass based economy like Uganda in relation to oil Do not generate waste and can be re-used, and recycled easily Easy to manage especially after use even at homestead level Are sustainable if the right feed stock is used Very low carbon foot print Multiple uses and possibility for cottage level production and use Manufacturing process requires 65% less energy compared to fossil based
Why the demand and why now
Finite oil resources and high
energy insecurity
Reduced green house
Sustainable
gases and climate change
manufacturing
issues
Need to reduce
bioplastic life cycle is
specific bio-economy
environmentally convincing
carbon foot prints
Positive indicators for investments
Waste reduction
Reduced land fills and land fill management costs
Increased resource cycling
Job creation
Sustenance of oil
sectors
Issues to consider anyway
May promote
Possibility to
May not be household the Compostable
encroach and
suitable for food insecurity but can lead
reduce on land
through a to production
some range of
and water
applications resource use of green
negative house gases
efficiencies
impacts
Difficult to
market Highly affected May carry
amidst a by the weather poor sensory
skewed hence affecting properties for
re-use users such as
market feel and style
segment
Projected bioplastic demands
Potential of bioplastics in Uganda
Can contribute Increased economic
immensely to the bio- output for SME
economy
Reverse the depletion
Job creation and job
and deterioration of
diversification
natural capital
Drivers of research Promote resource use
and innovation efficiency especially
for biomass
Source of bio-plastics • Renewable biomass including – Starch crops such as cassava – Cellulose based biomass sources – Sea weed based micro fibers – Agricultural waste – Municipal waste • However there is need to source for these feed stocks
Our Ugandan bioplastic innovation
concepts
Utilization of residual starch Production of cellulose
from peels and waste from microfibers derived from
starch derived processes cassava for bioplastic
supplementation
Augmentation of cellulose Improved thermo-lability
based paper sheets and and water resistant
packaging materials as bioplastic technologies
fluid/oil barriersProperties of innovated plastics • Improved tolerance to thermo-liability • Improved fluid and oil barriers • Possible to integrate with other biodegradables surfaces for improved application • High mechanical strength and ability to carry up to 50 kgs • Consistent physical properties with improved appearance towards the known conventional plastics
Application of the bioplastic
bio-based
packaging surface
coating for Key entry product for
and bio- example pre- novel foods
packaging cooked bean
products
Hybrid bags
Key entry product for company
Bio-bags for marketing
for municipal waste
and company
handling
waste handling advertising
(gift bags
Modified
application Tissue culture Entry product for
plantlet environmental
depending handling sustainability and
on the containers nutrient cycling
needEnvironmental benefit • Reduction in litter coupled to improved compostability • Better printing for industry and marking (branding) • Does not impact an inorganic taste to the product • Improved resource use efficiency and sustainability • Highly renewable and dependable • Reduced dependence on foreign raw materials and improving local raw material sourcing • Non toxic to food packaging and Easy to recycle
Spill over benefits • Important in allowing organizations to meet their environmental targets • Technology is simple and applicable even at cottage level • Allows for effective utilization of biomass and links different sectors
Ability of bioplastics to replace normal
•
plastics
It is possible for bioplastics to replace 90% of current recyclable
plastic use in Uganda
• Up to 30% of all plastics can be replaced
• Can be converted to up to 55-75% cost reduction in management
of municipal waste
• Most of the plastics used in food and health sectors can be
completely replaced
• Need to change consumer behavior
• Need to highlight the effects of plastic pollution and other forms
of pollutionWhat is needed
Resulting benefit would • Conducive
An enabling economic
be up to 83-87% re-
policy environments for
application of the
environment private investors
waste.
Sustainable • Environmentally sensitive
societal societies e.g. teach
mindset sustainability options as a
projected increase in subject right from primary
Competitive
raw material supply chains school
requirements at 172- with the same
180% resulting into potential as
40% increment for conventional
raw material plastics
producersIssues at hand-all with solutions • Food insecurity related queries along biomass application industries • Investment environment in Uganda currently not conducive • Available policy not as favorable especially for small scale producers • Mindset change • Product diversification is still low hence few sectors can benefit • Low research and development input on side of government and regulators
Thank you
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