Wad van Waarde

We at Ecoras stand for being more conscious and careful with resources. We work on sustainable projects that contribute to a liveable planet in the future. In the project of Wad van Waarde: “From plastic soup to vegetable soup” we think along in developing alternatives for the big plastic polluters of the Wadden Sea. For example, fishing gloves, boat accessories and food storage containers are made from a bioplastic called Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and other natural materials.

Replacing plastic products with those that are biodegradable will significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste released by their use in the area (either on purpose or by accident).

Why are PHAs good substitutes?

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are bioplastics made by fermenting raw organic matter, such as starch-containing water from potato processing. These bioplastics are thermoplastic, which means in that they can be formed and reformed using heat. Their properties can be manipulated and refined during the production process to optimize them for the desired application, and they are fully biodegradable. Full biodegradability means that PHAs are broken down at the molecular level by microorganisms in the environment, preventing plastic/microplastics from accumulating in the environment.

Curious about our lunchtime lecture on PHA? Check: ‘Een echt kip-en-ei verhaal ‘ – Wad van waarde. Or read more about PHAs on our website: PolyHydroxyAlanoate (PHA): The time is ripe for a turning point in plastic history – Ecoras

PHA production stages (left to right): PHA in bacterial biomass – Extracted PHA – Bacterial biomass after extraction – PHA granulate ready for use

Who are involved?

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