The next steps in single-use plasticshttps://teyshatech.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/The-next-steps-in-single-use-plastics.jpg870580Industry AsiaIndustry Asiahttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Exploring alternatives to single-use plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds.
On October 1, 2020, the ban on the sale of single-use plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers came into effect in England. It forms a key part of Parliament’s strategy to eliminate plastic waste as part of its 25 Year Environment Plan. Here, Duncan Clark, head of business operations at natural biopolymer specialist Teysha Technologies, explores the available alternatives and the future role of earth-friendly plastics.
In England, approximately 4.7 billion plastic straws, 316 million stirrers and 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds are used every year. Many of these find their way into water systems, and eventually our oceans. To reduce plastic pollution, and prevent harm to marine life and the environment, England joined Scotland in banning the sale of these products.
In recent years, measures have been taken to reduce plastic usage, like banning the use of microbeads in cosmetics. The nationwide introduction of charges on single use shopping bags led to a 95 per cent reduction in plastic bag usage in supermarkets. However, more action is needed to meet global targets for reducing plastic pollution.
The latest ban leaves consumers seeking alternatives to traditional single-use plastic products. These include 100 per cent cotton swabs, wooden stirrers and metal or paper straws. These products reduce visible plastic pollution, but they have other costly impacts on the environment.
Manufacturers are attracted to plastic because it is cheap to produce. A study conducted by Denmark’s Ministry of Environment and Food found that production of metal, paper and cotton alternatives to plastic are pricier, but also create more harmful emissions. It concluded that paper bags must be used at least 43 times to have a more positive impact on the environment than single use plastic bags.
Alternatives to plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers help to tackle plastic in our water systems, but they need to have better carbon footprints to facilitate the comprehensive change the world needs. Furthermore, most plant-based bioplastics need industrial catalysts to break them down, but current recycling infrastructure does not accommodate this. Many are also manufactured using petrochemicals, albeit in smaller quantities, just like regular plastic.
While the ban is commendable, more action is needed to deliver sustainable change. A key problem is the cultural attachment we have built to plastic over decades. If plastic were invented today, it’s unlikely it would be approved as a product for single or short-term use. Therefore, we must consider biodegradable plastic alternatives to fill this need.
Following years of research, Teysha Technologies has achieved a landmark breakthrough second generation biopolymers creating a viable substitute for existing petroleum-based polycarbonates, or plastics.
Its technology uses a plug-and-play system that takes monomers and co-monomers, the natural building blocks that make up plastic, to create a polymer that works and functions in a very similar way to the plastic we’re used to. The difference is that the monomer feedstocks are derived from natural sources like starches and agricultural waste products, rather than hydrocarbon-based petrochemicals sourced from fossil fuels.
Teysha’s technology platform allows biopolymers to be physically, mechanically and chemically tuned to the needs of the product. This gives it a variety of uses in packaging, cosmetics and electrical appliances.
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Around 350 tonnes of plastic are produced every year, and more than half of this ends up in the ocean or in the landfill, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF). As well as plastic from bottles, packaging or bags, microparticles found in cosmetics, detergents and clothes also end up in the waterways. In the EU alone, 17 tonnes of microparticles are produced annually, the majority of which find their way into the ocean.
To find durable solutions to this imposing issue, many companies globally have committed to replacing plastic, in packaging, and sourcing alternative materials, such as paper. Efforts are being made worldwide to ban such prolific use of plastic, in particular single use plastics, or reduce it. To illustrate, Tesco, the UK’s biggest supermarket chain, has vowed to remove all plastic used in ready-meals trays, lids, straws and loose fruit bags for its own label products. This move alone aims to remove 1 billion pieces of plastic from its supply chain by the end of 2020 as the supermarket will switch to paper alternatives instead.
Paper is often lauded as a more sustainable alternative to plastic. Nevertheless, it’s not entirely sustainable. It is commonly believed that paper is more biodegradable and easily recycled. However, when it reaches landfill its degradation rate slows. Furthermore, paper pulp is often treated with chlorine, which adds pollution to the environment. Lastly, an increase in demand for paper packaging impacts further on deforestation, which in turn causes further damage to our ecosystems and lowers the quality of the air we breathe.
Plastic on the other hand benefits from being significantly lighter, a property which makes it more efficient for containing and packaging food and other non-perishable products. However, not all types of plastic are recyclable. When it reaches landfill, it remains for hundreds of years until it degrades. Experts at Teysha Technologies have developed a bioplastic alternative, which uses plants and other biological materials instead of petroleum as its base.
Teysha Technologies has developed a unique, sustainable and cost-efficient bio-polymer that can provide a cost effective and sustainable alternative to conventional plastics or paper packaging. Its manufacturing process is unique in the field of renewables, offering a fully degradable bioplastic, that is proven to degrade faster and more completely than other bioplastics. Teysha’s bioplastic simultaneously avoids the formation of microparticles too. Instead on using a single polymer system, Teysha’s ground-breaking technology incorporates a polycarbonate platform that enables the company to create a variety of polymers with differing tensile strength and protective properties. This opens up significant potential for Teysha’s material to be specifically tuned to create a variety of end products. The pellet can also be used in existing production lines so doesn’t require big capital investment in new infrastructure.
While reducing and recycling packaging is essential, we should also rethink our understanding of plastic and its potential. Teysha Technologies might have just the right answer when it comes to the plastic dilemma. Their innovative materials provide fully biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastic packaging or alternative materials such as paper. It is clear that the environmental disaster caused by plastic pollution cannot be reversed overnight. However, its consequences can be mitigated, and wiser strategies advanced to fully resolve the wrapping debate.
To find out more about Teysha’s efforts to produce fully degradable and sustainable bioplastic, check out their website here.
In August 2020, Teysha Technologies announced that it had entered into a new partnership with a leading skincare manufacturer, providing biodegradable lids composed of natural,waste-derived materials.
Teysha Technologies has earned an enviable reputation throughout the manufacturing industry as a pioneer of naturally derived, second generation bioplastics. The organisation is collaborating with the Kind Planet Company, supporting empowerment of women and marginalised minorities throughout underserved communities in Africa while simultaneously working to reduce plastic waste in the world’s oceans.
Following negotiations with several multination organisations regarding implementation of its new biodegradable plastic product across a range of applications, Teysha Technologies entered into the deal with the UK’s Kind Planet Company, pledging to provide natural waste-derived biodegradable lids for the company’s new range of organic skincare products.
Using innovative, patented technology, Teysha Technologies’ new line of lids are designed to break down after disposal without leaving behind micro materials or pollutants. The Kind Planet Company, which specializes in skincare products made from all-organic ingredients, has adopted the packaging for its new line, which is produced using fruits exclusively picked and processed by female workers in Ghana, West Africa.
This revolutionary new product was developed through financing from angel investors following talks led by Duncan Clark, Teysha Technologies’ Head of Business Operations. The injection of collateral facilitated the development of prototypes. Teysha Technologies seeks to implement a range of practical applications for this innovative, eco-friendly new plastic substitute.
With a board headed by Managing Director Matthew Stone, Teysha Technologies has developed a strong culture of female empowerment and gender diversity. Many of the company’s senior roles are held by women, including its Chief Technical Officer and Head of Research and Development.
Through its new product line, the Kind Planet Company hopes to inspire and empower women across West Africa, helping them to establish their own profitable businesses. The organisation has provided women from 43 farms across Ghana with all of the necessary training, raw materials, and equipment required to cultivate process, and pack the fruits used in its skincare products.
All around the world today, plastic pollution attracts concern from environmentalists and policymakers alike. In recent years, media coverage of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an accumulation of plastic spanning an area almost three times the size of France, has sparked global concern and condemnation. The Ocean Cleanup organisation estimates that up to 2.41 million tonnes of plastic enter the world’s oceans each year. More than 50% of this plastic is less dense than water. It is washed down rivers and tributaries, floating on the surface when it reaches the sea.
Plastic pollution takes a heavy toll on wildlife, killing thousands of creatures, from small birds to blue whales. In the North Pacific each year, up to 24,000 tonnes of plastic are ingested by fish, transferring up the food chain to bigger sea life, and eventually, humans. One recent study showed that 25% of fish sold at Californian markets contained plastic, mostly in the form of microfibers trapped within the gut.
It is hoped that projects such as the collaboration between the Kind Planet Company and Teysha Technologies could mark the start of a new age in plastic, spurring a market shift to biodegradable consumables. As Matthew Stone explained, consumers are making choices about the products they buy based on their sustainability credentials. Teysha Technologies not only strives to ensure that its ground-breaking packaging is composed of sustainable materials, but simultaneously seeks to empower women and communities in developing nations.
Teysha Technologies aims to move swiftly to product testing, before gearing up for full-scale production of this new range of biodegradable packaging in early 2021.
Agricultural waste into biopolymers?https://teyshatech.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TEY38-Waste-in-Asia.jpg365365Lanna CooperLanna Cooperhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Southeast Asian regions are some of the biggest worldwide agriculture producers, as well as the main areas responsible for biomass wastes, such as agricultural residues, wood biomass, animal waste and municipal solid waste, while also producing, millions of tonnes of single use plastics.
To tackle such waste head-on, Teysha Technologies has developed a patented chemistry platform that can be used to transform agriculture waste into a wide variety of sustainable packaging and construction materials.
In the southern Asiatic regions, including Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam, more than 38 million tonnes of rice husk and 34 million tonnes of bagasse are produced every year. Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are also responsible for producing more than 90% of global palm oil, which consequently causes 27 million tonnes of waste per annum from fruit bunches (EFBs), fibres, shells and liquid effluent.
Although Southern regions in Asia are major worldwide agriculture producers, farming practices are sometimes antiquated and often environmentally harmful. Every year, thousands of tonnes of biomasses, including stems, leaves and seed pods, are destroyed, waste from crops are commonly left in the field to decompose or – much worse – burned, causing approximately 13% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, according to a recent study in Science Direct.
This technique of burning agriculture waste is often referred to as slash-and-burn, which involves large fires and can greatly contribute to mass deforestation. This practice causes air pollution as many toxic gasses, such as methane, nitrogen oxide and ammonia are released in the atmosphere. Breathing these gases can in turn pose more health risks, such as the respiratory illness asthma, chronic bronchitis as well as eye and skin diseases.
In Indonesia, for example, agricultural businesses regularly use the slash and burn method to clear vegetation and waste from their land every year. Indonesia’s national disaster agency counted more than 328,724 hectares of land burnt from January to August 2019, which caused the closure of schools and offices as the haze reached very unhealthy levels on the Air Pollutants Index (API).
“Burning the agriculture waste destroys the quality of the soil. When crops are burnt, existing minerals and organic material are destroyed, such as the cellulose and the sugar from the trees, starch from tapioca, corn and wheat; and even coconut, palm, soy and rapeseed, all of which are potentially valuable natural resources” said Matthew Stone, Chairman at Teysha Technologies.
“Large multinational agricultural conglomerates often own and operate both upstream agricultural production and downstream manufacturing, packaging and distribution operations in Asia. Meaning, they are not only responsible for large scale agriculture waste, but also for the use of millions of tonnes of single use plastic every year in their product packaging, plastic which is polluting rivers and oceans at an unacceptable rate.
“In a 2015 report, the non-profit organisation Ocean Conservancy noted that 55-60% of plastic waste entering the world’s oceans comes from just five countries, including four in the region: China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The debris kills marine life and breaks down into microparticles that make their way into the food chain.
China alone is responsible for producing 8.8 million metric tonnes of plastic waste that goes directly into our oceans. At this rate, according to the World Economic Forum report, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050.
“Instead of using traditional petrochemical plastics in their production and distribution networks, large agriculture conglomerates could embrace new biopolymer technology and profit from their vast waste streams, while saving the planet from incessant pollution. Waste from common crops like sugar bagasse, tapioca, corn and wheat contain cellulose and starch, two natural raw materials that our chemical engineers can use to create a second generation of bioplastics and help reduce waste in a sustainable way.”
Teysha Technologies is an innovative UK company that has been making huge inroads into producing biopolymers from organic feedstocks. The versatile technology platform they have created is based on polymers derived entirely from natural feedstocks which can degrade in natural environments within a relatively short period of time. Most importantly, these polymers are a realistic substitute for existing petroleum-based polycarbonates.
“Teysha’s technology is a plug-and-play system that use monomers and co-monomers – also known as the natural building blocks that make up plastic – to create a polymer that works and functions like normal plastic,” explained Stone: “Instead of using hydrocarbon-based petrochemicals sourced from fossil fuels, Teysha uses natural sources such as starches and agricultural waste products.
“The positive aspect of this platform is that the physical, mechanical and chemical properties of the polymers can be tuned to make them usable in a wide variety of applications and materials.”
The strength, toughness, durability and longevity of Teysha Technologies’ polymers can suit multiple different uses. That means it’s possible to create either rigid or flexible materials, or even different polymers with different thermal properties. Most importantly, it is possible to control the biodegradation of the polymers, which means their breakdown can be effectively scheduled for within weeks or years. At the point of degradation, they will break down back to their basic natural building blocks, which is beneficial to the environment.
As the worldwide sustainably and plastic pollution policy changes rapidly, the Asian market needs new and effective strategies to make the best use of their abundant natural resources whilst protecting their rivers and oceans. Platforms like the ones created by Teysha can play a vital part in this sustainability mission.
The broken promises of plastic substituteshttps://teyshatech.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Teysha_sustainable_packaging_powerbalm-002.jpg1094810Packaging EuropePackaging Europehttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/?s=96&d=mm&r=g
The commercial shift to alternative packaging types isn’t working — so what will? Dr Ashlee Jahnke, research director of biodegradable bioplastics developer Teysha Technologies, explains why she believes polymer research holds the key.
From paper straws and cotton bags to paper composite drinks cartons and glass bottles, environmental concerns have driven several changes in the food and packaging industry, in recent years. Many of these shifts have emerged as a knee-jerk reaction to consumer anti-plastic sentiment, but these abrupt alterations are not as environmentally-sound as they might first appear.
“There’s a lot of pressure to move to alternatives [to plastics], which aren’t necessarily better from an environmental and climate impact point of view”. This comment was made by a supermarket representative interviewed in the recent Plastic Promises report, published by Green Alliance in January 2020.
Although spoken from a retail perspective, the comment summarises the challenge faced by packaging businesses around the world. The wider report also draws attention to the issues that surround substituting plastics, especially when there is consumer demand to accelerate the transition.
It goes without saying that planning, production design, packaging or manufacturing involving plastics should involve due consideration of their environmental impact, with engineering and scientific rigor. However, environmental decisions spurred on by public pressure — be they knee-jerk or well-meaning — have frequently led to sudden changes being made without sufficient consideration of their consequences or ramifications. For example, many beverage brands have used conventional plastics in their processes for many years. As awareness of the plastic pollution problem increases, these processes have been adapted to use more bio-based polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is recyclable but still majorly derived from petrochemical sources. Some manufacturers have moved further from plastics and adopted glass bottle packaging, which presents the first of several complications that arise when replacing plastics. Specifically, the carbon footprint.
The carbon footprint of packaging will vary depending on the manufacturing process, material, source and supply chain. As noted in a review published by the South African Journal of Industrial Engineering in 2016, the typical global warming potential (GWP) of producing one 500 ml PET bottle was approximately 2,858 grams of carbon dioxide emissions per hectolitre (gCO2e/hl). For 300 ml glass bottles, it was significantly higher at 22,249 gCO2e/hl. This would be only 14.2 g of CO2 emissions per 500 ml PET bottle, compared with 66.7 g per 300 ml glass bottle.
Of course, that is just one review and further studies may vary. However, the findings do highlight the importance of considering environmental implications of carbon footprint when selecting plastic substitutes. Similarly, choosing alternatives requires careful consideration of the available recycling infrastructure.
When the fast food retailer McDonald’s launched its paper straws, it later admitted that there may be challenges in recycling them, whereas the previous plastic ones had been readily recyclable. Likewise, for several years, many areas of the UK faced significant challenges in recycling Tetra Pak composite cartons. Although these cartons were sold as being environmentally-friendly, issues arose due to aluminium foil liners and polyethylene caps on the packaging.
Today, similar challenges are encountered by drink manufacturers that are swapping plastic bottles for composite cartons with coated interiors. This is commonly done by many supermarket-owned brands, in recent years, in an effort to cut back on plastics. Most brands assume these can be recycled, but that often depends on the available recycling infrastructure that is a pressing issue in many countries.
This is all without considering the consumer convenience aspect. Although many consumers are well-intentioned, plastic packaging and single-use applications rose to prevalence because they are convenient. A fragile, glass bottle does not offer the same levels of versatility, or convenience, as plastic. It also presents a direct and immediate health risk if disposed of improperly — after all, approximately, only 45 per cent of waste is recycled in the UK.
So, what’s the solution? Unsurprisingly, it’s not a simple question to answer. Many nuances must be considered in plastic substitutes, from their recyclability and global warming potential (GWP) to their versatility and suitability for applications. What we can say with some confidence, however, is that research into polymers is invaluable.
For example, at Teysha Technologies, we have spent years extensively researching biodegradable biopolymers. These polymers are derived from entirely natural feedstocks and, crucially, can degrade in natural environments within a relatively short period of time. One solution that we‘ve developed helps to overcome the challenges of versatility, which are traditionally faced by biodegradable and bio-based polymers.
This solution is a plug-and-play platform of sorts, where modified natural-product monomers and various co-monomers can be utilised. Additives can also be used to modify the properties of the polymer that’s being produced, which allows materials scientists to form materials that vary greatly in their thermal, mechanical and degradability properties.
In effect, these biodegradable biopolymers could be the ideal candidates to replace conventional plastics derived from petrochemical feedstocks. These polymers could be used without any sacrifice to the performance of a material in a given application, and without swapping to more carbon-intensive or non-recyclable alternatives.
One challenge that can’t be avoided is that these changes take time. However, if we can learn anything from the sudden plastic substitutions of recent years, it’s that transitioning to packaging materials that are truly more environmentally-friendly must be a process, rather than a leap. With true investment, in terms of engineering and materials science, there is no reason why environmental concerns cannot be tackled head-on by developments in polymer technologies.
Breakthrough packaging partnership puts women in rural Africa at the forefront of materials innovationhttps://teyshatech.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Teysha_sustainable_packaging_powerbalm-002-1.jpg1094810Women in PlasticsWomen in Plasticshttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Teysha Technologies has announced a packaging deal with an ethical skincare manufacturer that signals the start of an exciting new partnership.
The company, who has pioneered a naturally derived “second generation bioplastic”, has signed up to work with the Kind Planet Company in a move that supports the global empowerment of women and minorities in marginalised African communities and its desire to purge the oceans of plastic waste.
Teysha, currently in negotiations with several large multinationals about the implementation of its unique patented solution across a range of applications, has partnered with the Kind Planet Company in the UK to produce natural waste-derived biodegradable lids for its exclusive product line.
Using patented technology, the lids are designed to completely breakdown after use without leaving behind any pollutants or micro materials.
The Kind Planet Company produces a range of 100 per cent organic skincare products. The fruits used in their products are exclusively picked, processed and packaged by women in Ghana, West Africa.
The company teaches them the skills so they can ensure their farms are profitable businesses that provides a regular income to help their families.
Teysha will begin to develop a prototype for a range of biodegradable lids for the Kind Planet Company’s exclusive skincare ranges, with product testing commencing shortly and plans to move to full scale production in the new year.
“Teysha is on a mission to change the global packaging market and reduce the truly shocking eight million plastic items that find their way into our seas and waterways every single day,” explains Matthew Stone, Managing Director of Teysha Technologies.
“Thankfully, due to recent worldwide reporting and increased consumer awareness of the issue, people are making decisions about the brands and products they buy based more on ethical and sustainability credentials.
“Teysha is going all the way to the original source of raw materials to ensure the empowerment of women andcommunities in less economically developed regions. We take responsibility not just for the sustainable materials we use in our ground-breaking packaging technology, but additionally for the products within.
“We have strong female representation throughout Teysha from Professor Karen Wooley our CTO and the technology’s principle inventor through to our Director of Research and Development, Dr Ashlee Jahnke. Kind Planet Company’s values, therefore, really resonated with our own.”
Texas A&M Chemist Karen Wooley Elected To National Academy Of Scienceshttps://teyshatech.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Wooley_DP.jpg15061000Texas A&M TodayTexas A&M Todayhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Membership is widely considered one of the highest honors a scientist can receive.
By Shana K. Hutchins, Texas A&M University College of Science
Wooley, holder of the W.T. Doherty-Welch Chair in Chemistry and one of the world’s top chemists in the burgeoning field of materials and polymer chemistry and in creating new materials at the nanoscale level, is among the 120 new members and 26 foreign associates announced Monday, April 27)by the Academy on the final day of its 157th Annual Meeting in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Election to Academy membership is a widely accepted mark of excellence in science and is considered one of the highest honors that a scientist can receive.
The 2020 election brings the total number of active members to 2,403 and the total number of international members to 501. International members are nonvoting members of the Academy, with citizenship outside the United States.
“All of us at Texas A&M are delighted that Dr. Wooley has received this prestigious recognition,” said Texas A&M President Michael K. Young. “National Academy memberships not only attest to the impressive achievements of an individual researcher, they also elevate academic excellence across the institution. Her election to the Academy is a well-deserved credit to her groundbreaking work in the field of chemistry, as well as an honor to our entire university community.”
“Being elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences is a remarkable achievement and well-deserved recognition of Dr. Wooley’s tremendous impact in the field of chemistry,” said Texas A&M Provost and Executive Vice President Carol A. Fierke, a fellow professor of chemistry with a joint appointment in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
Wooley is the most recent faculty member to earn the prestigious accolade while at Texas A&M since fellow Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Dr. Marcetta Y. Darensbourg and Distinguished Professor of Mathematics Dr. Ronald A. DeVore were elected in 2017. Other Academy members among the current Texas A&M faculty include Dr. Leif Andersson (2012), Dr. Dudley R. Herschbach (1967), Dr. Roger E. Howe (1994), Dr. Robert C. Kennicutt Jr. (2006), Dr. David M. Lee (1991), Dr. Darwin Prockop (1991), Dr. Peter Rentzepis (1978), Dr. Ignacio Rodriguez-Iturbe (2010), Dr. Marlan O. Scully (2001), Dr. Patrick J. Stover (2016) and Dr. James E. Womack (1999), along with emeritus professors Dr. Perry Adkisson (1979) and Dr. Max D. Summers (1989). Of those Texas A&M 16, seven (Adkisson, Darensbourg, DeVore, Scully, Summers, Womack and Wooley) were elected during their time at Texas A&M.
“Karen Wooley is a brilliant scientist with all the skill sets required to achieve the level of recognition that is deserved,” Darensbourg said. “Chief in my mind is her extraordinary ability to organize. That is what science is, after all. In her research, she coaxes small organic molecules to organize into larger and larger composites that fold into intricate and useful shapes of soft materials. She has an exceptional ability to organize and inspire coworkers and collaborators into teams that are effective in tackling complex problems. As a co-editor of the prestigious Journal of the American Chemical Society, handling hundreds of submissions per year, she maintains the standard of excellence for which the journal is so well known. Her energy unabated, she also teaches and serves the College of Science and Texas A&M University, most recently as an overseer of the seven-year external review of the Department of Chemistry.
“Congratulations, Karen. We are so fortunate to have you as a colleague.”
Wooley holds a Texas-shaped sample of her team’s biodegradable natural polymer that could prove to be a game-changer for the world’s plastics pollution problem, currently estimated in excess of 10 million metric tons and growing.
Texas A&M College of Science
Wooley’s groundbreaking work in organic nanomaterials-based chemistry spans the gamut of basic and applied research that affects a host of biomedical, environmental and engineering-related areas and industries. Her research interests include degradable polymers derived from natural products, unique macromolecular architectures and complex polymer assemblies, and the design and development of well-defined nanostructured materials. Current projects focus on the development of novel synthetic strategies, fundamental study of the materials’ properties and exploration of their functional performance in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, as non-toxic anti-biofouling or anti-icing coatings for the marine environment, as materials for microelectronics device applications, and as pollutant remediation systems.
“My laboratory has always had a balance of fundamental basic science investigations that have allowed us to create materials that have never been created before and then to study their properties,” Wooley said. “The process we use is going from an idea to a hypothesis to a design of a material that logically would meet that hypothesis. Once we understand how the materials behave and how their composition and structure relates to their properties, then we can define potential applications for those materials.”
Recent achievements made possible by Wooley and her research group include a sustainable plastic that degrades in water; a wound dressing that the body absorbs; a non-toxic polymer coating that can prevent marine animals from sticking to a ship’s hull; and nanoparticles that can absorb 10 times their weight in spilled crude oil.
“Election to the National Academy of Sciences is a tremendous honor, and I think Dr. Wooley’s contributions to environmental sustainability make her election even more noteworthy,” said Dr. Valen E. Johnson, dean of the College of Science. “The College of Science is thrilled with her selection.”
In addition, Wooley served for more than 10 years as the director of a $33 million Program of Excellence in Nanotechnology (PEN) funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in support of nanoparticle-focused research expected to dramatically alter the future of medical practice with regard to detection, diagnosis and treatment of lung and cardiovascular diseases. Her research, education and outreach activities have been continuously supported for nearly 30 years by the National Science Foundation, along with a host of additional federal and state agencies, corporate and industry partners and private foundations.
“Karen is one of the most influential and innovative organic polymer chemists today,” said Dr. Simon W. North, professor and head of Texas A&M Chemistry. “The breadth of her scientific accomplishments and the boundless energy she demonstrates in tackling challenges is absolutely awe-inspiring. It is a joy to celebrate in the well-deserved recognition of a colleague who continues to be a tremendous departmental leader, mentor, educator and role model for us all.”
Wooley is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2014), American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2015), National Academy of Inventors (2019) and American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (2020). Her major career awards to date include the Royal Society of Chemistry’s 2014 Centenary Prize and the American Chemical Society’s 2015 Oesper Award. No stranger to trailblazing accomplishment, she previously made history in 2014 as the first woman to receive the ACS Award in Polymer Chemistry, a prestigious accolade honoring outstanding fundamental contributions and achievements toward addressing global needs for advanced polymer systems and materials.
“Honestly, it is neither possible to describe the magnitude of this honor nor to sufficiently express the immense gratitude I feel for the contributions that have been made by many talented students, collaborators, mentors, supporters, family and friends,” Wooley said with regard to her most recent career accolade. “I feel exceptionally fortunate to have professional and personal opportunities to pursue my scientific passions and translate academic research into materials that are designed to address global challenges while educating and training dynamic next-generation scientists.”
Wooley earned her Ph.D. in polymer/organic chemistry from Cornell University in 1993 and began her independent academic career that same year as an assistant professor of chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis. She was promoted to professor with tenure in 1999 and named a James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor in Arts & Sciences in 2006 prior to receiving a joint appointment in the School of Medicine, Department of Radiology in 2007.
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Do people still want plastic bottles? Coca-Cola claims customers still want plastic bottles. But is there an alternative? Dr Ashlee Jahnke reports
Drinks goliath Coca-Cola stunned world leaders at January’s World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, when it stood by its decision to continue supplying single-use plastic bottles.
Given the event’s theme, Stakeholders for a cohesive and sustainable world, the statement understandably left many jaws ajar.
Each year, Coca-Cola is said to produce around three million tonnes of plastic packaging, the equivalent to 200,000 bottles per minute.
With such alarming figures, why would Coca-Cola make such an audacious statement? The reason, it says, is because of its customers.
In an interview with the BBC, Coca-Cola’s head of sustainability, Bea Perez explained: “Businesses won’t be in business if we don’t accommodate consumers.” She believes that Coca-Cola’s customers still want resealable, lightweight plastic, hence the company having no immediate plans to shift away from conventional plastic bottles.
But, while the drinks giant apparently won’t reduce the number of bottles it produces, it has pledged to recycle as many as it uses by 2030.
Furthermore, at least 50 per cent recycled material goes into Coke bottles. These may seem like steps in the right direction, but they won’t stop tonnes of plastic from filling our rivers, lakes and seas, destroying habitats and the environment. So, is there an alternative?
The bioplastic response
Bioplastics have been popular for a number of years and are often found in single-use, disposable products such as plastic cutlery and packaging. There are two main types of bioplastic.
The first is polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable, bioactive thermoplastic aliphatic polyester that is derived from renewable sources such as corn starch, cassava roots or sugar cane.
The second is polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a polyester that is synthesised naturally by microorganisms in nutrient-deficient conditions, including through bacterial fermentation of sugars or lipids.
Bioplastics are a more eco-friendly alternative to the plastics used by Coca-Cola. However, the ultimate impact of bioplastics on the environment is subject to ongoing debate as they require specific disposal conditions in order to degrade.
At Teysha Technologies, we are working to solve this problem by developing what we call a ‘platform’ technology, rather than a single polymer system. Our system uses sustainable feedstocks, in the form of various modified natural-product monomers and co-monomers, to generate polycarbonate materials.
By controlling chemistry, formulation and polymerisation conditions using the platform, we can tune a material’s physical, mechanical and chemical properties. That also includes its degradation rate and the mechanism used to trigger it. We have developed a system in which the material can break down in any environment containing sufficient moisture, rather than needing specific industrial composting conditions or chemicals.
Coca-Cola’s decision to improve the recyclability of its bottles isn’t going to prevent our oceans from being laden with plastic.
The only way this can be achieved is to actually reduce the number of bottles, which the drinks giant has said categorically will not happen. Instead, the use of a platform technology to create materials where we can adjust the degradation rate could be the solution that the world needs.
Dr Ashlee Jahnke is head of research biopolymer research company Teysha Technologies.
A sea of plastic: Shocking images show how bottles, bags and rubbish are choking our oceanshttps://teyshatech.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/458406AB00000578-5002084-image-a-26_1508527009573.jpg962722developerdeveloperhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/?s=96&d=mm&r=g
One image taken near Roatan, an island off Honduras, shows diver grimace as he prepares to enter the water
Rubbish was probably washed into sea from nearby Guatemala, carried on rivers swollen by rainy season flowing through towns and villages
One ocean protection campaigner said it was the worst example of plastic pollution he has seen
These pictures are unlikely to make it into the glossy tourist brochures that sell the Caribbean as a paradise destination.
For they show the much grimmer reality of clear blue seas increasingly choked by a tide of discarded plastic.
In one photograph taken near Roatan, an island off the coast of Honduras, a diver grimaces as he prepares to enter the water almost completely covered by waste.
Another, taken from below the waterline, shows plastic bottles, bags and other rubbish on the surface blocking out sunlight.
Meanwhile, a close-up image of the ocean reveals dozens of disposable knives and forks floating among seaweed.
It is thought the rubbish was washed into the sea from nearby Guatemala, carried on rivers swollen by the recent rainy season flowing through towns and villages.
The sight disgusted photographer Caroline Power, who shared the images online to raise awareness of the problem. She wrote: ‘This has to stop – think about [the plastic you use in] your daily lives.’
John Hourston, of the Blue Planet Society, which campaigns to protect the oceans, said it was the worst example of plastic pollution he has seen.
He pointed out that plastic gets broken down into microscopic particles that enter the food chain when plankton and fish eat them.
He added: ‘It is thought that 90 per cent of sea birds have ingested some sort of plastic, and there are many examples of turtles and whales mistaking plastic for food.
‘We all have a part to play in reducing plastic waste but manufacturers and government need to take the lead. It’s a global problem which needs a global solution.’
The Daily Mail has long campaigned to end the scourge of dumped plastic.
The ‘Banish the Bags’ campaign led to a huge reduction in single-use plastic bags at supermarkets, and now we are calling for a deposit scheme on plastic bottles.
‘In a major victory for our ‘Ban The Beads’ campaign, last year ministers pledged to outlaw toxic microbeads which are poisoning our seas.
