Biotransformation Technology

In News

• A UK-based startup claims to have developed a Biotransformation Technology that could alter the state of plastics and make them biodegradable without leaving behind any microplastics

About Biotransformation Technology

• It is a novel approach to ensure plastics that escape refuse streams are processed efficiently and broken down. 
• It was co-developed by the Imperial College in London, UK, and a Britain-based startup, Polymateria.
• The technology would digest the plastics packaging waste naturally with the help of microbes and biodegrade the waste without leaving behind any microplastics.
• This biotransformation technology is the world’s first that ensures polyolefins fully biodegrade in an open environment causing no microplastics.

 How it works

Image Courtesy: polymateria

• Plastics made using this technology are given a pre-programmed time during which the manufactured material looks and feels like conventional plastics without compromising on quality. 
• Once the product expires and is exposed to the external environment, it self-destructs and biotransforms into bioavailable wax. 
• This wax is then consumed by microorganisms, converting waste into water, CO2, and biomass.

Applications 

• Food packaging and healthcare industries are the two prime sectors that could use this technology to reduce waste. 
• The increase in cost is relatively small compared to conventional plastic that does not contain” this technology.

Usage in India

• Some well-known Indian firms in the food and packaging industries deploy such technologies. 
• Within the healthcare and pharma industries, this technology provides biodegradable solutions for non-woven hygiene products like diapers, sanitary napkins, facial pads, etc.

Other initiatives of India 

• Government introduced a plastic waste management gazette to help tackle the ever-growing plastic pollution caused by single-use plastics.
• In 2022, the Indian government imposed a ban on single-use plastics to bring a stop to their use in the country.
• The National Dashboard on Elimination of Single-Use Plastic and Plastic Waste Management brings all stakeholders together to track the progress made in eliminating single-use plastic and effectively managing such waste.
• An Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal helps in improving accountability traceability and facilitating ease of compliance reporting in relation to EPR obligations of the producers, importers, and brand-owners.
• India has also developed a mobile app to report single-use plastics grievances to check the sale, usage or manufacturing of single-use plastics in their area.

Other alternatives to reducing plastic waste

• A switch to jute or paper-based packaging could potentially cut down plastic waste. This could also build sustainability within the paper industry, and save on the import bill for ethylene solutions. 
• Wooden packaging is yet another alternative, but that will make the packaging bulkier and increase the cost.