Reciplasa, UJI, CEBIMAT and AIMPLAS are to study how to improve the biodegradation of bioplastic materials during composting, with the support of the Valencian Innovation Agency



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## Reciplasa, UJI, CEBIMAT and AIMPLAS are to study how to improve the biodegradation of bioplastic materials during composting, with the support of the Valencian Innovation Agency

06/05/2024 |
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The public company for the treatment and management of urban waste in the province of Castelló, Reciplasa; the research group [PIMA – Polymers and Advanced Materials](https://www.uji.es/serveis/ocit/base/grupsinvestigacio/detall?codi=239) from the Universitat Jaume I in Castelló; the start-up CEBIMAT; and the Plastics Technology Institute (AIMPLAS) have begun a study, funded by the Valencian Innovation Agency with more than 500,000 euros, that aims to improve the biodegradation of bioplastic materials during the composting process.

One of the priorities of the new European circular economy model and its plastics strategy is to increase the recycling of plastic packaging waste to levels comparable to those of other packaging materials. There is, therefore, an urgent need in Europe to expand recycling rates and to create viable markets for recycled plastics in the face of international developments in this area, such as China's restrictions on the importation of certain types of plastic waste.

The project “Study of the recovery of bioplastic waste with new composting processes (COMBOOST)” will look at new composting methods and procedures for both plastics considered biodegradable and those classed as non-biodegradable through the addition of microorganisms capable of speeding up the breakdown of these materials. Specifically, the experiment will focus on plastics derived from starch (PLA) and biodegradable plastics (PHA) and their derivatives.

In line with the circular economy strategy for plastic, the COMBOOST project will address some of the barriers to recycling plastic packaging through composting and will create new solutions for eliminating microplastics in the compost generated. This will prevent them from ending up in the natural or agricultural environment and, therefore, in the food chain.

Plastics will break down faster in the composting process and waste that cannot be mechanically recycled will be avoided. In addition, the high-quality compost produced could be used to regenerate or improve the quality of soils in the agricultural or horticultural sector without associated toxicology or pollution problems after its innocuousness has been investigated in standardised ecotoxicity bioassays.

The reasons for promoting the recycling of plastics through composting include its economic and environmental benefits. It should be noted that the tertiary recycling of plastics can also offer competitive advantages to companies, such as improving their corporate image, green marketing, promoting eco-innovation and anticipating future legislative changes (such as those already foreseen in the circular economy strategy for plastic).

In the project, the research staff at the Universitat Jaume I will work on searching for the additive to improve the composting process. The task begins with the identification of microorganisms that have a high capacity to break down compostable polymers. These microorganisms are then combined and cultivated in order to obtain the maximum degrading capacity, which will also have a significant impact on the process of biodegradation of compostable plastics.

The research activity of the PIMA group comes within materials science and engineering, with areas of study such as polymers for the packaging industry and the biodegradation of materials, as well as developing and processing new materials made from biodegradable polymers. The two researchers leading the study are Luis Cabedo Mas and José Gámez Pérez, who have been researching polymers for more than 20 years.

Research lines related to the circular economy and plastic waste management, as well as complementary methodologies such as tertiary and biological recycling, are being developed by AIMPLAS. Meanwhile, the UJI spin-off CEBIMAT is leading the plastic materials biodegradation tests, while Reciplasa is contributing its experience in the treatment and recovery of urban solid waste.

COMBOOST forms part of two of the three pillars of the Valencian region’s Smart Specialisation Strategy, S3, coordinated by the Department of Innovation, Industry, Commerce and Tourism: the drive towards the sustainable green transition and digital transformation. The initiative also has funding from the European Union as part of the Valencian region’s ERDF 2021-2027 programme.

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