Reusing Wine Industry Waste to Manufacture Biodegradable Plastic Clips
In a groundbreaking development, Crown research institute Scion has partnered with Villa Maria Wines to create a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic vine net clips. The new bioplastic vine net clip, made from grape marc and polylactic acid (PLA), is set to redefine the industry's approach to waste management and environmental sustainability.
The Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand report by the Office of the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor underscored the need for innovation to find alternatives to single-use plastics. Recognising this call, Scion's Biopolymers and Chemicals division has been at the forefront of formulating bioplastics for a wide range of applications, including replacements for single-use plastics.
The bioplastic vine net clip prototype, developed by Scion scientist Dr Stephanie Weal and her team, offers several advantages. Made from grape marc, a byproduct of winemaking, and PLA, this bioplastic formulation boasts the necessary mechanical strength for the application. The addition of marc to the bioplastic formulation accelerates the clip's degradation rate, making it more environmentally friendly.
While bioplastic clips generally have a higher production cost than conventional plastic clips due to raw material processing and bioplastic manufacturing complexities, using grape marc can reduce feedstock costs and add value through circular economy principles.
The clips, marketed as PolyDegradeTM Vine Clips, are designed to degrade faster than traditional plastic clips, which usually take decades to degrade. This faster degradation, combined with the clips' biodegradability under industrial composting conditions, makes them a promising solution for reducing plastic pollution and improving sustainability credentials in the wine industry.
The New Zealand Government's recent plan to phase out plastics that are difficult to recycle and launch a Plastics Innovation Fund further supports the development and adoption of sustainable alternatives like bioplastic vine net clips.
The search results did not yield relevant information on bioplastic vine net clips made from grape marc and PLA or their comparison to traditional plastic vine net clips in the New Zealand wine industry. However, it is clear that these innovative bioplastic clips offer a significant step forward in sustainability for the wine industry, with potential applications for vineyards prioritizing organic or biodynamic practices or those with strong environmental policies.
The article is adapted from the article by Rural Delivery researcher and director Kirsty Cooper. Other products developed using bioplastics include the biospife, a tool for eating kiwifruit, and a faster-degrading vine clip for use in vineyards using a waste product called biomass from the wine industry. The vine clip was developed in collaboration with Elastomer Products to help commercialise the product. The Science Learning Hub thanks Showdown Productions for the use of the article and accompanying video clip.
- The Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand report emphasized the importance of finding alternatives to single-use plastics, spurring innovation in the field of environmental science.
- Scion's Biopolymers and Chemicals division, with a focus on industry-specific applications, has been instrumental in formulating bioplastics for various uses, including replacing conventional plastic vine net clips.
- In the realm of finance and business, the adoption of bioplastic vine net clips, like the PolyDegradeTM Vine Clips, can potentially reduce feedstock costs and contribute to a circular economy.
- Technology plays a crucial role in the development of these bioplastic clips, as their faster degradation and biodegradability under industrial composting conditions make them a viable solution for reducing plastic pollution, improving environmental sustainability, and boosting the lifestyle sector's eco-friendliness.
- Education and self-development can benefit from the lessons learned and breakthroughs achieved in the creation of bioplastic vine net clips, as they offer potential solutions for industries targeting organic or biodynamic practices and strong environmental policies, such as the food-and-drink and home-and-garden sectors.
