Bioplastic Kit: Reuse Food Waste™

Break the cycle of wastefulness and recycle food scraps into new materials with the Bioplastic Kit: Reuse Food Waste™ experiment.

In this easy 40-minute activity, you/your students will learn to create sustainable bioplastics by reusing food waste. This kit includes one agricultural waste product called chitosan, which comes from the shells of seafood and shellfish. The second waste product will be provided by you/your students: coffee grounds, dried fruit peels, eggshells, anything goes! 

By experimenting with various agricultural and food waste in the bioplastic recipes, you/your students will be able to observe its effects on material properties, just like they do in industry. No prior knowledge necessary.

The Bioplastic Kit series teaches educational, renewable solutions to reduce plastic waste and fight climate change. Learn the science that empowers you to be part of the solution and change the world with the Bioplastic Kits™.

What are bioplastics?

Have you heard of "Bioplastics"- plastic-like materials made from non-petroleum sources, like plants and animal matter? Ever wonder how they are made and if they can replace traditional plastics? With our Bioplastics Kit™ series, you'll get all the info and practice you need to comprehend the possibilities and limits of these new materials-- in a responsible and enjoyable way! There's still so much to be discovered in bioplastics; what will you uncover?

With this kit, you will

• develop some basic skills for making bioplastics including mixing and adding waste products to liquid plastics,

• become familiar with common bioplastic ingredients—their names, the sources from which they derive, and their purpose in the creation of bioplastics,

• be able to evaluate the properties each ingredient creates using a material properties table.

• Biodegrade your bioplastic creations (using our optional extension activity).

The Bioplastic Kit comes in individual and group sizes suitable for the classroom:

• The individual-size kit includes all the ingredients and measuring tools needed to make two food waste bioplastics (called biocomposites).

• The group-size kit includes all the ingredients and measuring tools needed to make 16 food waste bioplastics (called biocomposites), 2 per group. This means 8 lab groups can complete the experiment using one kit.

• This experiment kit includes an instruction manual with easy-to-understand vocabulary and step-by-step instructions. See the Resources tab for links.

To complete this experiment, you will also need:

• access to a microwave or kettle to boil some water,
• water (distilled or tap water is fine),
• a mixing tool (like a spoon)
• ~5-10 grams of food waste like used coffee grounds, dried eggshells, dried fruit peels.

Cleaning and safety supplies are not included in the kit. Cleaning supplies you will need include paper towels and a spray cleaner you have that's suitable for your surfaces. None of the components included in this kit require any special cleaning methods.

For this kit which doesn't include living organisms gloves can be worn but are not required. Wearing gloves is a great scientific habit to take, and can be fun to do but there is no issue with not wearing any.

If you want gloves, you can add a Mini Safety Set to your kit which includes gloves and a reusable plastic apron to protect your clothes.

For more information about safety, set up and clean up, you can have a look at the instruction manual for the experiment linked in the Ressources section below.

Shipping Times

Experiment kits are shipped 1-10 working days after you place your order. If you require yours for a specific date or event, please contact us before or with your order # so that we can try to make it happen for you! ☺︎ 

Storage

This experiment kit can be stored at room temperature (out of direct sunlight).

For any questions, don't hesistate to reach out to us - contact us