Innovative Technology from Gdańsk Tech Has a Chance to Become a Component of Biodegradable Packaging
Gdańsk Tech has signed a license agreement with the company Bio Plast Pom Sp. z o.o., which intends to implement a biodegradable polymer composite developed at the Faculty of Chemistry at Gdańsk Tech, for the production of biodegradable and compostable packaging – previously manufactured from petroleum-based plastics.
Gdańsk Tech has signed a license agreement with the company Bio Plast Pom Sp. z o.o., which intends to implement a biodegradable polymer composite developed at the Faculty of Chemistry at Gdańsk Tech, for the production of biodegradable and compostable packaging – previously manufactured from petroleum-based plastics.
The subject of the agreement is innovative polymer biocomposites obtained using thermoplastic starch (TPS) derived from potato flour and polylactide (PLA), which, due to their composition and compostability, belong to the group of "zero waste" materials.
The invention was developed by a team of scientists from the Department of Polymer Technology at the Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk Tech, consisting of: Prof. DSc Eng. Helena Janik, PhD Eng. Maciej Sienkiewicz, DSc Eng. Justyna Kucińska-Lipka, Senior Technician Leszek Stelmasik, MSc Eng. Katarzyna Bożek, and MSc Eng. Aneta Lachowicz.
– The use of thermoplastic starch in the preparation of biocomposites shortens their composting/biodegradation time and expands the range of applications, while also beneficially reducing the material costs of manufacturing compostable practical products – explains PhD Eng. Maciej Sienkiewicz, who supervises the implementation work aimed at applying the invention in industrial practice on the side of the scientific team from Gdańsk Tech.
Representatives of the Bio Plast Pom company emphasized during the meeting that supporting Polish science is extremely important to them, and they have great hopes for the technology developed by the scientists at Gdańsk Tech.
– We are very pleased to be part of the elite group of companies supporting Polish science – comments Piotr Nadolski, one of the founders of Bio Plast Pom. – Working on the implementation of an innovative composite in the form of granulate for the production of biodegradable packaging dedicated to the food industry, we want to promote sustainable development and environmental care. We aim to convince manufacturers producing final products, current recipients, and producers of petroleum-derived packaging to implement ecological solutions and develop the habit of using products that are biodegradable and compostable. Currently, we have positive feedback from some of them already at the pre-production stage – he adds.
The licensed invention is protected by European patent number EP3064542 in Poland, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. This is the second licensing agreement concerning eco-plastics in the portfolio of this scientific team. It is also worth noting that, besides the mentioned technology, the creators have developed further variants of polymer biocomposites, including one without PLA.
A significant contribution to the commercialization process of the invention was made by Robert Bajko, an innovation broker at Gdańsk Tech from the Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer, who conducted negotiations with business partners. The preparation of the licensing agreement also involved legal advisor Jolanta Chwieduk from the Legal Advisors Department at Gdańsk Tech and patent attorney PhD Justyna Pawłowska from the Patent Attorneys Team at Gdańsk Tech.