Bioplastic Kit: Reuse Food Waste™

Turn food scraps into sustainable bioplastics.

This hands-on kit makes it easy to explore sustainability by repurposing agricultural and kitchen waste into plastic-like materials. In just 40 minutes, experiment with food scraps and chitosan (a natural ingredient derived from seafood shells) to create custom biocomposites, real-world examples of how waste can be transformed into new, usable materials.

Ideal for classrooms, home learners, workshops, and makerspaces, this kit introduces bioplastic-making techniques and the science of biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.

Part of the Bioplastic Kit™ series: explore real science with renewable materials.

🌱 Why Bioplastics?

Bioplastics are plastic-like materials made from renewable sources like plants or food waste, rather than fossil fuels. In this kit, students don’t just learn the science, they create with it. They’ll explore how these materials are made and understand the role they could play in reducing plastic waste and fighting climate change.

Hands-On Bioplastic Skills
• How to reuse food waste in bioplastic formulations
• How to combine natural fillers (like coffee grounds or fruit peels) with bioplastic binders
• How to observe and evaluate the impact of additives on texture, strength, and flexibility
• How to prepare and cast biocomposites (plastic-like materials reinforced with natural waste)

🌱 Bioplastics & Sustainability
• Understand how bioplastics can reduce waste and pollution
• Learn about chitosan, a biopolymer made from seafood shells
• Discover the role of biocomposites in material science and green innovation
• Compare the performance of bioplastics made with different food waste types

• Each kit includes Chitosan to create food waste bioplastics.

• Individual-size kit includes enough materials to make 2 biocomposites using your own food waste
• Group-size kit includes materials for 8 lab groups to make a total of 16 biocomposites
• Instruction manual with step-by-step guidance and beginner-friendly vocabulary

Teaching & Learning Resources
• Presentation slides (Google Slides format):
• Lesson Guide with student activities and an answer key (Google Docs format)
• Designed for classroom or independent learning — no specialized lab equipment required

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