New technique reduces waste and improves strength and durability

By taking a proactive approach, the impact of laboratory waste can be considerably reduced.

"Packaging represents about half of all plastics produced, and single-use plastic items make up the majority of what is found on beaches," professor says

Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), which account for two-thirds of the world’s plastics, have different chemical structures and thus cannot be repurposed together

Both institutions were looking for ways to reduce their solid waste streams and enhance their sustainability efforts

Problem: Laboratories and research organizations generate millions of nonhazardous lab disposables per year.

Some scientists have been exploring sugar alcohols as a possible material for making thermal storage work, but this direction has some limitations

The major advantage over commercial fertilizers? Sustainable re-use of essential and finite phosphorus resources

The research could help automakers meet automotive recycling regulations that have been adopted in Europe and could be on the way to the United States

Team is always on the lookout for abundant and sustainable materials that can be converted into value-added products