Development of novel bio-polymers derived from poultry waste streams

This has major implications for the polymer industry, which relies heavily on oil usage to produce plastics, despite issues with high energy usage, CO2 emissions and end of life pollution. Engineers have now started to review alternative methods such as using fillers or functional additives to replace high amounts of plastic feedstock or generation of biopolymers for complete elimination.

Focus has been given to use waste materials, mainly from agricultural industries, for these applications. Poultry production has become one such industry which yields a range of waste materials, such as feathers, eggshell and bone, with elements and compounds potentially suitable for polymer research. The work carried out has investigated their potential.