According to the American Plastics Council over two million tons of HDPE plastic per year is used for blow molded bottles, containers and other products, and are major components of the traditional petroleum-based plastics manufacturing industry. “These products are suitable for replacement by biobased, biodegradable materials,” said Oliver Peoples, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Metabolix. “This USDA award will fund a program designed to produce advanced formulations of bioplastic for use on commercial scale equipment running at manufacturing speed.”
Advances in PHA formulation and processing technology developed in an earlier phase of this project demonstrated the feasibility of blow molding Mirel bioplastics at laboratory scale. This program seeks to improve Mirel formulations with the necessary physical properties required for blow molded parts at industrial scale.
Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, CSREES focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people’s daily lives and the nation’s future.
Telles is the Metabolix and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) joint venture.
Metabolix is a US-based bioscience company.
