MATERIAL: Turning food waste into biodegradable plastics.

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PHA has equivalent properties to traditional oil-based plastics, without the polluting nature. (Credit: Materialdistrict.com)

According to an article on Materialdisrtict.com, the type of plastic Genecis produces is polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). This is produced in nature by numerous microorganisms, like through bacterial fermentation of sugars. Genecis specifically produces PHBV (poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), a type of PHA that is less stiff and tougher. It is made of food waste and said to be the first cost-competitive PHA plastic available.

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