Plastic that starts as food waste.
This project develops eco-friendly bioplastics from starch extracted from food waste — potato peels, overripe bananas, bread waste — as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, with a focus on both the preparation process and thorough characterization of the results.
Everyday scraps, reimagined as material
Food waste is rich in starch — the natural building block this project uses to make biodegradable plastics.
Potato peels
A common kitchen and processing residue that is naturally high in starch.
Overripe bananas
Fruit that would otherwise be discarded becomes a useful starch source.
Bread waste
Surplus and stale bread adds another abundant, starch-rich input stream.
From scraps to sustainable plastic
Two intertwined goals: a sound preparation process, and a comprehensive understanding of the material.
Extract starch
Recover starch from food-waste sources such as potato peels, overripe bananas, and bread waste.
Prepare bioplastic
Process the starch into eco-friendly bioplastic as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics.
Characterize thoroughly
Study the resulting bioplastic’s physical, chemical, and mechanical properties in depth.
Understanding the material, thoroughly
A comprehensive characterization examines the bioplastic across three dimensions.
Physical properties
Characteristics such as appearance, structure, and other physical behavior of the bioplastic.
Chemical properties
The chemical make-up and behavior of the starch-based material under study.
Mechanical properties
How the bioplastic performs under stress — strength, flexibility, and durability.
د. شادي صوالحة
Dr. Shadi Sawalha leads this project developing eco-friendly bioplastics from starch extracted from food waste — such as potato peels, overripe bananas, and bread waste — as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics. The work focuses on both the preparation process and the comprehensive characterization of the resulting bioplastics across their physical, chemical, and mechanical properties.
Rethinking plastic, from the ground up
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