Dive Summary:
- USDA and university scientists have developed a method for turning sugar beet pulp into a plastic type materiel that can biodegrade.
- Sugar beet pulp is an incredibly abundant byproduct of the sugar industry that, when combined with a biodegradable polymer that stabilizes its structure, becomes an excellent plastic like material.
- While not a suitable alternative for hard plastics, this new material could take the place of Styrofoam and other soft plastics used everyday by millions of people world-wide.
From the article:
To make the plastic, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists incorporated biodegradable sugar beet pulp, which is the leftover residue from sugar extraction, with a biodegradable polymer. The result is thermoplastic composites that retain mechanical properties similar to polystyrene and polypropylene, the compounds used to make white, spongy food packages.