Bags developed from

Type of practice Recycle

Name of practice Bags developed from

Name of main actor University Sains Malaysia

Type of actor(s) Research institution

Location Malaysia

Stage of implementation End-of-life

Year of implementation 2010

What was/is being done? Researchers at University Sains Malaysia (USM) convert tropical fruit waste into flour, which they fabricate into biodegradable plastic film, FruitPlast .

Outcomes and impacts FruitPlast stands up in both tensile strength and “elongation at break” level, compared with normal plastic wraps. Bags made from the film naturally degrade in three to six months when exposed to elements, but will last one to two years on the shelf. They cost 10 percent less than the current commercially used non-biodegradable plastic bags. This technique has the double environmental advantage of making functional use of waste and reducing the production of packaging.