From peeped to plastic: Startup turns fallen leaves into polymer
In Delaware, a company called Perennial Polymers has developed a process to extract the lignin and cellulose from fallen leaves collected by nearby cities to create a biodegradable plastic. Perennial Polymers sidesteps two key cost barriers in bioplastics, founder Nathan Noyes told Fast Company: reliance on food-grade agricultural feedstocks and expensive fermentation processes.
Urban leaves don’t require land and there is infrastructure already in place to collect them. And by extracting and modifying cellulose and lignin—both natural polymers—the company bypasses costly and variable fermentation processes.
The company is currently testing an agricultural application, replacing plastic sheets that are used to manage weeds and erosion. While effective, these sheets can leave behind microplastics. “In very early testing in thin films, it looks like our material degrades in contact with soil over about two to three months,” says Noyes. Perennial Polymers hopes to reach commercialization next year.
Category: Chemicals & Materials
