Project: Develop cost effective technology, to produce bio plastics from sugarcane biomass.

Site: Mauritius : Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute (MSIRI)

Rationale: Bioplastics (also called organic plastics) are a form of plastics derived from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable oil, corn starch or sugarcane, rather than fossil fuel plastics which are derived from petroleum.

As an example, polylactide acid (PLA) is a transparent plastic produced from cane sugar or corn starch. It not only resembles conventional petrochemical mass plastics (like PE or PP) in its characteristics, but it can also be processed easily on standard equipment that already exists for the production of conventional plastics. PLA and PLA-Blends generally come in the form of granulates with various properties and are used in the plastic processing industry for the production of foil, moulds, tins, cups, bottles and other packaging.

The production of Bio-plastic in the sugar industry can be the base of the diversification of the sugar industry in order to enhance profitability and to produce more environmentally friendly by-products.

Objectives: Establishment of the base of a future bio-plastic production facility that could be operational within 10 years. Identification and costing of various bio-plastic productions.

Assumptions/Risks: Assumptions/risks are as follows:

• Capital flow for investment in future plants will be available,
• The production of sugarcane based bio-plastics is proven to be as or more attractive in terms of cost and quality than fossil fuel based plastic.
• Chemical industries are interested in exploiting the technology.

Expected outputs: To set the basis for the installation of future bio-plastic production plant.

ACP countries concerned: All ACP countries looking for an alternative to sugar production (diversification).