The world is facing a plastic pollution crisis, with plastic waste harming soil, water, and biodiversity. Biobased and biodegradable plastics (BBpPs) are emerging as a solution, but their safe and sustainable deployment requires addressing several challenges. These include ensuring lifecycle alignment with circular economy principles, designing for end-of-life routes and biodegradation, and establishing reproducible and comprehensive biodegradation assessment standards. The ANIPH project aims to develop a range of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) with programmed biodegradation, for use in wound dressings and recyclable packaging. The project prioritizes circularity, ecodesign, and manufacturing, and employs AI-powered tools to predict biodegradation and material properties. ANIPH’s goal is to create a safe and sustainable PHAs-based value chain, from production to end-of-life, and to establish new industry standards and certification schemes. The project has the potential to significantly reduce plastic pollution and promote a circular economy, and is expected to achieve Technology Readiness Level 4-5 within 48 months.
Minimizing the effects of plastic use in crisis situations
