New Bioplastic Innovations Unveiled In Malta For Land And Sea
The recent completion of the event titled “Biobased Plastics for Marine and Terrestrial Applications: Exhibition, Knowledge Transfer & Workshop” marks a successful milestone under the EU-funded “SEALIVE” project.
Held at Luzzu Restaurant in St Paul’s Bay, the gathering witnessed the active participation of 46 attendees, representing various areas such as Government, Private Industry, and Academics.
Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to our oceans, causing harm to marine life and ecosystems. This, in turn, has direct repercussions on humans through disruptions in the food chain and ecosystem degradation. The SEALIVE project addresses this challenge by developing eight innovative biobased products designed to reduce dependence on fossil-based feedstocks.
These products include fishing nets, fishing crates, oyster mesh bags, mulching film, rigid food packaging, flexible food packaging, deep frozen food film, and cutlery. Through pioneering end-of-life solutions, SEALIVE aims to combat plastic pollution both on land and at sea.
The final event in a series of five organised across Europe, the primary objective of this gathering was to introduce the SEALIVE project and its eight biobased products to key stakeholders.
It aimed to facilitate knowledge exchange related to the project and foster potential synergies and collaborations among participants. The event was implemented by the NGO AKTI Project and Research Centre and the environmental SME ISOTECH Ltd, Cypriot partners of the SEALIVE project. Local support in organising the event was provided by Zibel from Malta.
The participatory workshop, a pivotal component of the event, actively engaged attendees, exploring their insights into challenges and opportunities surrounding bioplastic use and management.
Participants identified key issues in waste management within their sectors, highlighting concerns such as a lack of creativity, expertise, involvement of authorities, and public participation.
Additionally, discussions centred on concerns about bioplastics, with participants focusing on product cost, durability, and performance. Solutions were collaboratively devised, emphasising the need for cost-effective bioplastics and increased information dissemination based on pilot study results.
The event concluded with an exhibition, allowing participants to explore SEALIVE products, pose questions, and network, fostering a collaborative and informed community dedicated to addressing plastic pollution challenges.
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