Bioplastic Degradation

The biodegradability of bioplastic materials and the ability of organisms to metabolize them are only useful in minimizing pollution if we create the conditions for the two to come together. Plastic that enters the ocean is transformed into microplastic particles by wave friction and radiation, making the degradation process difficult because the particles are too small to allow attachment by bacterial cultures or algae. Additionally, our waste system is not designed to biodegrade biodegradable plastic, but instead, it is incinerated like conventional plastic¹. Fungi have over the process of evolution developed enzymes with the ability to degrade recalcitrant natural substances (e.g. lignin). Those enzymes are of high interest for the degradation of recalcitrant anthropogenic substances with a similar structure. Evidence of this has been seen in the ability of Pleurotus ostreatus to decompose green polyethylene².


The basis of this project is formed by the consideration of how it can be possible to give meaning to the invention and production of biodegradable plastic materials by making it truly biodegradable and allowing all people at home to dispose of used bioplastic without being dependent on the poor disposal system. This gave rise to the idea of designing a sustainable cycle of bioplastic. 

Oyster mushrooms have proven to be a suitable species for initial trials of a sustainable plastic degradation system at home. Especially since, unlike bacteria, they do not become a potential health risk when cultivated. However, there are also difficulties in the cultivation of oyster mushrooms. For example, contamination with mold has been found to be a problem that interferes with the oyster mushroom's ability to metabolize the plastic material. Contamination could be circumvented by designing a sterile grow box.

Crafting applicable plastic is difficult. The materials created represent initial experiments, but they cannot yet be utilized in this form. It seems important to examine the properties of the fruiting bodies and the mycelium and to incorporate the knowledge of their properties into the process of material production. Each fungus has different properties, which also offer a diverse range of materials. It would be interesting to investigate the properties of other known plastic-decomposing fungi, such as Pestalotiopsis microspora³.

For the future, I could imagine working on a bioreactor where a combination of fungi, algae and bacteria work together to recover CO₂ from plastic materials and convert it to oxygen and then use those actors to create a new bioplastic material. For me, these processes are still interconnected because I believe in creating a circular system in order to meet the sustainability that the world needs at this moment rather than merely making a product.