Our Centre closed out the year with an inspiring session showcasing some of the most exciting developments in bioplastics and biocomposites research. The Bioplastics Research Highlights 2025 event followed a full day of collaboration with industry partners and Centre members, and featured four presentations from our researchers on innovative applications driving a sustainable plastics future.
Watch the Session
Missed the event? You can watch the full recording or individual talks here: https://vimeo.com/1143353242
Speakers
Starch-Based Food Packaging – Dr Emilie Gauthier
Dr Emilie Gauthier shared her work on developing high-performance starch-based films for food packaging. Starch offers excellent oxygen barrier properties and biodegradability, making it an attractive alternative to conventional plastics. Emilie’s research focuses on improving water resistance and processability for industrial-scale applications, comparing extrusion and solution coating techniques to optimise barrier performance while maintaining mechanical strength.
Biocomposites Development – The Scale-Up Journey – Dr Clement Chan
Dr Clement Chan presented the Centre’s journey from lab-scale biocomposite development to real-world applications. Using PHA reinforced with wood flour, Clement’s team has achieved significant cost reductions and improved toughness. The highlight was a pilot trial of 2,500 medication trays at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, demonstrating strong end-user acceptance and sustainability benefits. Future work will address cost optimisation and compatibility with industrial composting systems.
Thin, Tough and Biodegradable: Blown Films from PHAs – Dr Sam Lawless
Dr Sam Lawless tackled one of the biggest challenges in bioplastics: producing thin, strong, and biodegradable films. His research focuses on PHAs, which are fully biodegradable under ambient conditions. Through chemical modification and reactive extrusion, Sam has enabled PHA film blowing—a key process for packaging and agricultural mulch films. The result: tough, flexible films comparable to conventional plastics, with ongoing studies into barrier properties and biodegradability.
Controlled Release Fertiliser: Biodegradable Coatings – Dr Ian Levett
Dr Ian Levett introduced a novel approach to reducing nutrient pollution in agriculture: biodegradable polymer coatings for controlled-release fertilisers. Current coatings often use non-degradable plastics, creating waste issues. Ian’s work with PHA-based coatings aims to match nutrient release to crop demand while ensuring environmental safety. Early trials show promising results, with extended release times and strong potential for large-scale adoption.
Looking Ahead
This session highlighted the breadth of innovation within our Centre—from packaging and agriculture to healthcare applications. We thank our collaborators and stakeholders for their support throughout 2025 and look forward to continuing this journey in 2026.
