A new process with zero emissions for truly biodegradable plastics

The widespread use of petrol-based plastics has led to an environmental problem, as these materials are prone to abandonment, breaking down into microplastics and nanoplastics that harm living organisms. While biodegradable plastics are seen as a solution, their global production still remains modest at 1.3 million tons in 2022 (vs. 400 million tons of petrol-based plastics). Moreover, many such plastics fail to biodegrade efficiently under all environmental conditions (marine, soil, rivers, etc.). Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are a type of bioplastics naturally produced by microorganisms. They are a promising alternative because they degrade completely in soil, water, and marine environments. However, their industrial production is still limited and needs further research and investment to scale up. Commercially produced PHA is nowadays highly energy-intensive and relies heavily on organic raw materials and clean water, which conflicts with the EU’s goals for a circular, sustainable economy. The current production process is far away from the zero emissions neutral carbon strategy. The EU Horizon 2020 PROMICON project has developed an innovative method that uses photosynthetic microorganisms (cyanobacteria) to produce PHA efficiently. This process uses sunlight, absorbs CO2, and requires minimal organic resources, aligning perfectly with EU bioeconomy goals.