BioLaMer project partners, Ana Rita Farias, Ana Loureiro, Silvia Luis, Samuel Domingos, Catarina Possidonio, Bernardo Cruz and Eliana Portugal, from the HEI-Lab Human Environment Interaction Lab of Lusofona University, Lisbon has organized the workshop titled “Bioplastics in a Sustainable world”. This event served as an excellent platform for producers, marketers, researchers, stakeholders and bioplastics enthusiasts to assemble and exchange their valuable insights and experience. This event accommodated both offline and online participants, allowing for flexible and convenient engagement.
Sustainability Trends in Bioplastics:
Bioplastics derived from renewable biological sources, are increasingly recognized as viable alternatives to conventional plastics made from fossil fuels. These materials can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of plastic products, offering more sustainable options for various applications.
Overview of the Workshop:
The workshop delved into the latest sustainability trends and the transition towards bioplastics, identifying critical challenges in production and commercialization. The barriers for commercialization of bioplastics include the production cost, feedstock selection and equipment availability, management of bioplastic waste fostering towards circular economy, miscommunication between bio-based polymers and bioplastics, etc.
The workshop kicked off with the welcoming address, followed by a keynote presentation by Dr Ana Penha, Specialist on Circular Economy at ADENE- Portuguese Agency for Energy, which stimulated the in-depth discussion about the circular economy principles.
Next, Catarina Possidonio and Samuel Domingos presented the key findings on the Supply-side and Demand-side barriers to commercialization of bioplastic products. Finally, the workshop stepped towards collaborative fruitful discussions and exchanged innovative ideas to overcome the identified barriers.
