With this biodegradable, compostable, and natural substance, valuable resources like scraps can also be reused
Imagine using daily plastic objects made from … milk. This is not an absurd idea, but something that is already a reality that has been presented in their project sPlastica, a product designed and realized by a team of researchers from the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
The basic idea is the noble principle of turning waste into a resource. Starting from this concept, and becoming aware of the growing problem of plastic pollution, sPlastica produces new materials that are 100% biodegradable, compostable and based on natural polymers. To do this, we start with food waste and expired food. Among these, there is also milk. Through an eco-sustainable synthesis and various specific procedures, milk is transformed into SP-Milk, which is an ecological material that is quite similar to plastic material.
The advantages of this innovation are unquestionable. Just think, for example, that to produce SP-Milk, no land or terrain is exploited and costs are significantly reduced, as production starts with waste or expired food materials.
Unlike other bioplastics on the market, SP-Milk maintains its hardness and thermal stability almost unchanged over time. Furthermore, its production is implemented very carefully so as not to have a negative impact on the surrounding environment and therefore, without using organic solvents, toxic reagents or artificial plasticizers.
The immediate, concrete and practical uses of the material designed by sPlastica have already involved several food companies that are interested in introducing this “milk plastic” into their production cycles. All that remains is to hope to see more and more milk cartons – and not only – products with sPlastica on supermarket shelves!
sPlastica will be present, along with many other innovative projects devoted to recycling and sustainability, at the Maker Faire Rome – the European Edition 2019, the world-famous innovative technology fair that will take place from 18 to 20 October at Fiera di Roma.