Swiss fluid engineering company Sulzer has partnered with circular chemistry specialist TripleW to launch a polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic made entirely from food waste.
The new process meant PLA bioplastics could be made from PLA derived entirely from food waste, reducing reliance on fossil-based feedstocks and helping to combat food waste, Sulzer said on 9 September.
The new PLA was produced from food industry side streams, including bakery rejects and expired goods, the company said.
Using Sulzer’s technology, lactic acid is processed into PLA bioplastic at scale.
“This launch is a critical step towards increased bioplastic adoption in consumer branded products,” said TripleW CEO Tal Shapira.
The initiative has been supported by the CIRCLE consortium – funded by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) – which aims to establish a fully integrated value chain for bio-based materials sourced from food waste by bringing industry partners together.
The PLA made from food waste was now being used to produce fabrics, beauty tools and cosmetics packaging by the consortium partners and global companies, TripleW said on 2 September.
