Recipient Organization
GROW PLASTICS LLC
7734 15TH AVE NE
SEATTLE,WA 98115
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Grow Plastics has a technology that has been demonstrated to generate sandwich core structures in thermoplastic products. This efficient structure allows the generation of plastic products which are equivalent in strength to solid products, yet use 1/3 of the material. This substantial material reduction allows the production of parts that are lower environmental impact (due to source reduction) and lower cost (due to material price savings) when compared to solid products.Biopolymers are plastics made from agricultural materials, and many of them are compostable. The major benefits of biopolymers are lower energy and CO2 produced during manufacture, and lack of harmful chemicals leaching into foods when used for packaging. Their market adoption has been limited due to performance issues, and a slight price premium over petroleum based plastics. Grow Plastics' source reduction and unique structure solves these problems, which should lead to greater adoption of biopolymers. This will result in increased demand for agricultural products. Grow Plastics is focusing on additive-free compostable biopolymers; replacing conventional polymer products with these products will result in products that can be recycled, composted, or incinerated cleanly.Grow Plastics has partnered with the USDA ARS in Albany, CA and CSU Chico in order to demonstrate the technology on a consumer product, using biopolymers. Grow Plastics has produced rough prototypes demonstrating viability of the concept, and produced cost models showing that these biopolymer products will be less expensive than alternatives. The ARS and CSU Chico will help Grow Plastics in developing new materials for these products, and generating tooling to make finished goods for customer evaluation.The near term goals for the project are to:* Generate prototypes that meet customer satisfaction* Demonstrate feasability of manufacturing by producing sample parts on pilot scale equipment, and refining a cost model demonstrating low price* Engage with a manufacturing partner and distribution partner in order to provide a fast, smooth path to marketThe long term goals of the technology are to:* Increase demand for agricultral products* Reduce plastic waste by displacing it with reduced amounts of compostable biopolymer* Generate jobs in rural America by manufacturing in rural locations* Reduced human exposure to plasticizers such as BPA, and suspected carcinogens such as styrene
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
50%
Developmental
50%
Goals / Objectives
Grow Plastics has a technology that has been demonstrated to generate sandwich core structures in thermoplastic products. This efficient structure allows the generation of plastic products which are equivalent in strength to solid products, yet use 1/3 of the material. This substantial material reduction allows the production of parts that are lower environmental impact (due to source reduction) and lower cost (due to material price savings) when compared to solid products.Biopolymers are plastics made from agricultural materials, and many of them are compostable. The major benefits of biopolymers are lower energy and CO2 produced during manufacture, and lack of harmful chemicals leaching into foods when used for packaging. Their market adoption has been limited due to performance issues, and a slight price premium over petroleum based plastics. Grow Plastics' source reduction and unique structure solves these problems, which should lead to greater adoption of biopolymers. This will result in increased demand for agricultural products. Grow Plastics is focusing on additive-free compostable biopolymers; replacing conventional polymer products with these products will result in products that can be recycled, composted, or incinerated cleanly.Grow Plastics has partnered with the USDA ARS in Albany, CA and CSU Chico in order to demonstrate the technology on a consumer product, using biopolymers. Grow Plastics has produced rough prototypes demonstrating viability of the concept, and produced cost models showing that these biopolymer products will be less expensive than alternatives. The ARS and CSU Chico will help Grow Plastics in developing new materials for these products, and generating tooling to make finished goods for customer evaluation.The near term goals for the project are to:* Generate prototypes that meet customer satisfaction* Demonstrate feasability of manufacturing by producing sample parts on pilot scale equipment, and refining a cost model demonstrating low price* Engage with a manufacturing partner and distribution partner in order to provide a fast, smooth path to marketThe long term goals of the technology are to:* Increase demand for agricultral products* Reduce plastic waste by displacing it with reduced amounts of compostable biopolymer* Generate jobs in rural America by manufacturing in rural locations* Reduced human exposure to plasticizers such as BPA, and suspected carcinogens such as styrene
Project Methods
Efforts:Material production:Grow Plastics will work with the USDA ARS and CSU Chico to develop polymer blends for prototyping.Expansion:Grow Plastics will use proprietary equipment and processing methods to expand the materials developed by the above partnersProduct shapingGrow Plastics and the USDA ARS will work to produce end products by shaping the results of the above materialsEvaluation:Coupon samples will be evaluated using DSC, TMA, and XRD to evaluate crystallinity and thermal stability. Tensile strength will be evaluated through a tensile tester.Products will be evaluted by producing products, and comparing their performance to existing products. Performance criteria are thermal stability, mechanical strength, ductility (resistance to cracking while bending), and aesthetics (surface finish).Market feasability will be evaluated by providing samples to customers for acceptance/rejection/change recommendations, getting feedback from manufacturers on the manufacturing process, and generating a cost model and comparing it to pricing for existing products.