Innovative Approaches to Handle Plastic Waste and Foster Bio-based Plastics Production

This book provides a platform for the dissemination of information on the latest initiatives, paving the way for technology transfer and networking. Addressing the global challenge of plastic waste requires innovative approaches, both in managing existing waste and in developing sustainable materials. The strategies can be broadly categorised into two main areas: a) handling plastic waste and b) fostering bio-based plastics production. Both are equally important.

There is a perceived need for publications which document and showcase innovative approaches and strategies to tackle the plastic waste challenge.

Against this backdrop and in order to facilitate a broad discussion on the contribution of innovative approaches to handle plastic and foster bioplastics use, that this book is being produced. Produced as an output of the Horizon 2020 project "BIO-PLASTICS EUROPE".

The book gathers inputs from universities and research organisations working on matters related to plastic waste management and bioplastic production, in a variety of contexts. Furthermore, the book intends to provide a fertile basis upon which universities, research centres, and practitioners may cooperate more closely in this key area. Last but not least, a further aim of the book is to present methodological approaches and experiences deriving from case studies and projects, which aim to show how research to handle plastic-based pollution and many related problems may be implementing across a range of disciplines. Thanks to its scope and interdisciplinarity, this books makes an excellent reading to everyone interested on handling the many challenges posed by plastics in our modern society.

Walter Leal Filho

Prof. Dr.Walter Leal Filho is Senior Professor and Head of the Research and Transfer Centre "Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management” at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany and Chair of Environment and Technology at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. He is initiator of the Word Sustainable Development Symposia (WSSD-U) series and chairs the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme. Professor Leal Filho has written, co-written, edited, or co-edited more than 700 publications, including books, book chapters, and papers in refereed journals.

Jelena Barbir

Dr. Jelena Barbir (Ph.D., M.Sc., M.Sc., B.Sc.) has a degree in biology and two master degrees (MSc in Environmental Studies and MSc in Sustainable Agriculture). In 2014, she has obtained international cum laude doctoral degree in sustainable agriculture at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). Since 2019, she has joined the Research and Transfer Center “Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management” (FTZ-NK) at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany. With 10 years of experience in project management and project proposals development, she now leads and coordinates several international projects: BALTIPLAST (InterregBaltic), CheMatSustain (HE), BIO-PLASTICS EUROPE (H2020). Since 2023 she has been acting as Deputy Director of the FTZ-NK, and since 2024, she has become Director of Environmental Management and Circular Economy Division (FTZ-NK). In addition, Dr. Jelena Barbir is Director of the international network Bio4Circularity, joining over 1000 experts in the field of bio-based materials and circularity. She has a strong background in sustainable development, conservation of biodiversity and environmental sciences. Her current research focus stands on environmental sustainability, mindfulness and circular economy. She has nearly 40 scientific publications in high impact journals.

Nhan Nguyen

Mr. Nhan Nguyen is Environment Activist who has been championing environmental awareness in Vietnam since 2006. In 2008 he co-organised the country’s first Earth Day event. Since that time, he has started or been involved in numerous environment-related projects. He is Co-Founder of Vietnam Clean & Green (www.vietnamsachvaxanh.org), an organisation that is dedicated to raising awareness about the negative impacts of littering in Vietnam, and Core Member of the Vietnam Zero Waste Alliance (www.zerowastevietnam.org), a grassroots group of organisations actively promoting the practice of zero waste in Vietnam which has grown from 5 core members to over 20 members. He was Founder of Refill an innovative product delivery concept that beat out 159 teams to win the UNDP’s Ending Plastic Pollution Innovation Challenge (EPPIC) competition in January 2021. His most recent project is the Green Turtle Hero anti-littering campaign (www.anhhungruaxanh.org).

Reinhard Saborowski

Dr. Reinhard Saborowski (Dipl. Biol.) studied botany, zoology, marine biology, and biochemistry at the Universities of Göttingen and Kiel (Germany). In 1996, he received his doctoral degree (Dr. rer. nat.) from the University of Hamburg (Germany). In his thesis, he explored detoxification processes in fishes and the natural variability of biochemical toxification biomarkers. Since 1996, he worked as Researcher at the Marine Station Helgoland (Germany) and since 2009 at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven (Germany). His scientific expertise is the enzymatic food utilisation and metabolic energy production of marine organisms, trophodynamic interactions between organisms, and the ecological implications in terms of nutrient turnover. The latest work also included the enzymatic degradation of conventional plastics and bioplastics by marine organisms. His scientific record comprises over 100 peer-reviewed publications and numerous conference contribution.