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New green plastic produced with milk scraps from non-edible milk

Country of Origin: Italy
Reference Number: TOIT20190626001
Publication Date: 10 July 2019

Summary

An Italian University spin-off has developed and patented a method for the production of new 100% biodegradable and compostable plastic materials, based on natural polymers, made from milk scraps,from non-edible milk,  using an eco-sustainable synthesis. The company is looking for partners interested in producing and commercializing this kind of material under license agreement with technical assistance.

Description

An Italian University spin-off located in Rome has developed and patented green plastic produced with milk scraps. 

It has characteristics of high hardness and thermal stability in a wide range of temperatures, characteristics often lacking in the bioplastics currently on the market. It is compostable in just two months and dissolves in bacteriologically impure water. The produced plastic does not contain artificial plasticizers and the use of organic solvents in the reaction has also been carefully avoided.

This method allows the production of new 100% biodegradable and compostable plastic materials, based on natural polymers, made from milk scraps using an eco-sustainable synthesis.



The company is looking for an industrial partners interested in producing and commercializing this kind of material. The company will license the right of use of the patent and it will provide technical assistance to companies for the industrialization of milk bioplastic-made objects.

Advantages and Innovations

The main advantages of this bioplastic are:



•	It is obtained from waste material: the idea is to create the most sustainable synthesis possible by exploiting the part of the non-edible milk, but also the expired one, to transform a waste into a resource in a circular economy perspective;

•	compared to other bioplastics obtained from raw materials such as corn and potatoes, milk is not a seasonal product;

•	it does not provide for the exploitation of arable land and reduces a cost item in the production process, that of waste disposal. The cost of the waste material is extremely low and this consequently makes it possible to have products with relatively low costs.

Stage Of Development

Available for demonstration

Requested partner

Partners sought are agrofood companies, interested to offer an ecological and biodegradable packaging and reduce waste disposal costs.

They will also be able to take advantage of a real path of support that leads to the replacement of traditional plastic with bioplastics.