Future Plastics - creating biodegradable alternatives to plastic
CWSF · 2026 Environment & Climate Change Silver Medal
Overview
I am working to create a biodegradable alternative that could help replace plastic because I am worried about the effects of plastics, particularly microplastics on animals, human health, and the environment. I made sodium alginate bioplastics, cross-linked with calcium chloride using 6 different plasticizers. Then I experimented with how these plasticizers affected the strength and flexibility of the samples through a series of tests. I concluded that sorbitol was the best addition because it had the most reliable results and made the bioplastic stronger and more flexible. My plastics are not near perfection, but after more time perfecting my recipe, this could help our plastic pollution problem. This project is important because plastic waste is a big problem in our world. We have become dependent on it in our daily lives so it would be a huge benefit to have an eco-friendly substitute that meets consumer needs.
Awards (2)
- Silver Medal
- Selected for CWSF 2026
Competition history
- CWSF 2026
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