(98d) Circular Economy: A Path Towards Innovation and Commercialization of Biocomposites for Sustainable Manufacturing

“Circular economy” is an emerging concept that targets waste minimizations through a closed loop economy system, unlike the traditional linear model (“make and dispose” type economy), and therefore supports sustainable development. The underlying principle of this emerging economy is “Nothing is waste; waste is a co-product waiting for another opportunity”. In this system, the byproducts and co-products of one industry can find commercially viable applications in another industry, with appropriate design and engineering. There is a significant potential for utilization of biobased coproducts from agro and forest industries, food and beverage industry as well as biofuel and biomass-based pyrolysis industries. Our focus is on biocomposite applications that utilize these materials as reinforcing and filler materials for plastics, including biobased and biodegradable plastics. The developed eco-friendly biocomposites are suitable for use in consumer products, light-weight auto-parts and 100% compostable packaging.

 

Acknowledgements: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Competitive Green Technologies (CGtech) through AgriInnovation Program (Project #052882 and 051910); the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs - University of Guelph Bioeconomy Industrial uses Research Program (Project # 200425); Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada for the Discovery Grants (Project #401111); and the Ontario Research Fund, Research Excellence Program; Round-7 (ORF-RE07) from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI), currently known as the Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science (MRIS) (Project # 052665 and #052644).