To display my reflection and analysis of this paper discussing “Food Waste-Derived Biomaterials Enriched by Biostimulant Agents for Sustainable Horticultural Practices: A Possible Circular Solution”, I’ve noted in terms of bullet points to show the critical areas as these areas stand out to me and summarise the paper to give perspective to my reflection. To start, the beginning references using organic waste to produce biodegradable materials. I was initially inspired to use food waste due to my exposure to the hospitality industry, but organic waste also contributes to direct biodegradable materials. Through the discussion of this the idea of a plant nursey was referenced i have been viewing hospitality venues and a nurse of organic waste to combat the issue of food waste and the potential of exploring wastage through biomicry. The final end of symbiosis would be to produce a composting service to provide a responsible nursey for the end product of the leather, as if not, disposal services will not act responsibly in relevance to composting and recycling materials. Our leathers provide bio fertilisers to the natural world; promoting this can display how our natural fertiliser can transition the decrease of pesticides used in the agricultural world. This study also talks about the use of biodegradable plant pots; even though I couldn’t wholly transition my product into biodegradable pots, this innovation to provide natural fertiliser is inspiring.
This study has given me insight into the landscape of using organic materials relevant to biodegradable materials. With my bioleathers, I needed to consider the environmental impact and the product lifecycle when innovating materials. Biodegradability was an essential factor in my innovation. This paper has provided insight into scientific terms of organic waste used in a biodegradable context, preparing me for future exploration.
Use of organic waste for the production of biodegradable materials
- Organic waste from the fresh-cut and ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables sector generates significant amounts of waste
- This waste can be used as raw biomass for the generation of functionalized biodegradable materials
- One potential application is the fabrication of plant nursery plugs made of biodegradable materials
- This could create a virtuous circular loop in the plant nursery industry, which currently relies on plastic plugs made of non-renewable oil-based raw materials
Advantages of bio-based and biodegradable plant nursery plugs
- They can help manage fruit and vegetable waste material in the agri-food industry
- They can provide new green materials for the bio-based industry and new job opportunities
- They can improve plantlet yield and productivity, decrease planting labor, and reduce costs related to plastic plug disposal in the horticulture industry
- They can decrease the use of fossil-derived plastics and chemicals in society
Disciplines involved in the development of bio-based and biodegradable plant nursery plugs
- Material science plays a pivotal role in selecting the best agri-food wastes and obtaining the biopolymers to design the plugs
- Microbiology and agronomy can contribute to functionalizing the innovative product by adding biofertilizers and biostimulants and assessing their efficacy in the field
- Economic and life cycle assessment aspects are fundamental to demonstrating the sustainability of the product and its production process
Advantages of biodegradable bio-based plugs over conventional plastic ones
- Biodegradable bio-based plugs can mitigate plantlet transplant stress, which can contribute to increasing the efficiency of plant food production and more efficient resource use
Use of bio-based pots in pepper plant cultivation
- Bio-based pots made from sodium alginate and tomato wastes/hemp fibers were used in pepper plant cultivation
- These bio-pots yielded a smooth development of plant roots and a good branching structure, promoting water and nutrients uptake
- The bio-pots degraded within 16 days of transplanting, with roots spreading in a radial mode from the containers to the surrounding soil
- Bio-pots with tomato skin/seed alone had a faster biodegradation rate than those with hemp fibers
Comparison of different biodegradable pots
- Fuentes et al. (2021) assessed the fertilization ability of biodegradable pots made from different materials and fillers
- Wheat waste flour-based containers with sunflower seed husks showed the best performance, preventing leaf damages during plant development
- Rice husks-derived pots had poor performance due to the large size of the rice husks particles
Injection molding of biodegradable pots
- Santos et al. (2017) developed 0.5 mm thin-walled containers made of Bioplast GS 2189 via injection molding technology
- The study highlighted the importance of mold design, manufacture, and injection parameters for process effectiveness and competitiveness
- The intense shear forces and thermal variations experienced during the process may cause an incipient degradation effect on the materials
Optimization of bio-container composition
- Iriany et al. (2020) executed a successful optimization study of bio-container composition to improve the quality and growth of chili plants throughout the nursery stage
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Composition of Extracts
- Extracts have a variable composition with different concentration of active compounds like minerals, amino acids, sugars, vitamins, antioxidants (polyphenols), and plant hormones
- Plant residuals, such as leaves or flowers of fresh-cut industrial waste, are commonly used as source of bioactive compounds
Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms (PGPMs)
- PGPMs can enhance nutrient bioavailability, promote seed germination and root development through hormone regulation, and protect plants against pathogens and abiotic stresses
- They exert a beneficial effect on plant growth, health and production and different commercial formulations are available
- A bottleneck reducing their effectiveness in the field is the delivery method, which can be overcome by using PGPMs enriched biomaterials
Bio-Based Multifunctional Materials for Sustainable Circular Practices in Horticulture
- Research activities aimed at developing bio-based multifunctional materials are crucial to deal with societal challenges and achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda
- These materials will be obtained recycling organic waste and by-products generated from the food industry, promoting the transition toward a circular economy
- The obtainment of biodegradable plugs would be strategic for the horticulture sector, considering that the current plugs are largely made of fossil-derived plastic polymers
Potential Impact
- The use of bio-based multifunctional materials can help solve the problem of food waste, which reached around 1.3 billion tons annually, with a cost of more than 1,000 billion dollars per year and estimates pointed-out that 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions were associated with food that is not consumed
- The use of these materials can help reduce the economic, environmental and ethical problem of food waste by adopting circular economy models
Benefits of bio-based materials from food waste
- Bio-based materials derived from food waste are fossil resource-independent
- They do not compete for resources and land with food production
- They do not foresee raw material costs
Benefits of substituting plastic pots with bio-based materials
- Environmental benefits related to reduction of plastic consumption and elimination of disposal
- Potential to improve plantlet growth and agronomic performance since the nursery stage
- Limiting physiological stresses related to transplant
Market potential for bio-based materials
- European Bioplastic association estimates an increase in production from 4.7 million tons in 2022 to 7.59 million tons in 2026
- The highest growth rate expected for biodegradable bioplastic compared to bio-based, non-biodegradable products
- The main market driver is the evolution of consumers’ demand for sustainable products
Consumer preferences and environmental concerns
- Nielsen (2018) report states that environmentally friendly and recycled packaging are the sustainability attributes that consumers prioritize in their purchasing behaviours
- Eurobarometer report (2021) revealed that 78% of respondents feel that environmental issues have an impact on their daily life and health, and almost 90% are worried about the effects of plastic products in the environment
Funding and conflict of interest
- Research was funded by the Cariplo Foundation Project Circular Agri-food Systems: development of biodegradable and biostimulant plant multiplication plugs from fruit and vegetable wastes—BBPlug (Grant No. 2021-0742)
- Authors declare no commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest