A Circular System for Bioplastics Production and Consumption

Biodegradable plastics offer a new end-of-life management option - depolymerizing into monomeric building blocks for re-synthesis into new material. This will introduce bioplastics into the circular system of produce-use-recycle. While significant effort is being invested into developing new bioplastics material, there is a research gap and market opportunity in the end-of-life management of biodegradable plastics. The goal of this project is to develop a biological recycling system for aliphatic polyesters, polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). Specifically, this project will identify and engineer enzymes for industrial depolymerization of PLA and PHA into monomeric building blocks suitable for re-synthesis.