Key Points
- Shift from single-use plastics to bio-derived materials, with circular design as the default brief.
- Startups push seaweed, bacterial cellulose, and food-waste streams into viable packaging and care products.
- Shorter shelf life and scale-up speed are the main trade-offs; customer education is part of the product.
- Designers work “with” the material—testing ageing, end-of-life, and reuse before form or branding.
- Regulation and retailer demand are accelerating adoption; pilot lines must prove throughput, not just promise.
Full interview with Tahiya Hossain
How would you define 'biomaterials' and 'biotech’, and what role do these materials and technologies play in achieving a circular regenerative future?
Biomaterials are materials usually derived from natural resources and natural additives to create the materials through a chemical reaction, eliminating any toxic waste or harmful chemicals from production.
The term biotech falls into this field remotely because it’s a multidisciplinary field with material engineers, chemists/scientists, extrusion engineers, designers, and other intellectuals playing within this bio space to create material technology out of natural resources for an alternative solution to plastics and other environmentally unfriendly material.
These newly developing biomaterials or tech are completely reshaping the system to introduce a circular economy. These innovative materials are introducing an ecosystem to how we treat our bioplastic packaging, vegan leather, etc. that are now able to completely biodegrade and return back to our planet without harming our habitat.
What are the prevailing practices in the development of plastics or packaging in general? Why do these practices may be falling short?
Plastic debris in the ocean started to become an environmental problem in the 1960s. It’s no secret that the rise of plastic waste piling and flowing into our ocean is killing our sea animals, and microplastics climbing into our food system now is a large issue. However, the shift that I’ve noticed in the past few years is that the market and new startup companies developing such innovative materials to replace plastic are finally challenging the system.
The practice of using or seeing plastic packaging for your takeaway food, clothing packaging, cosmetics, and any other consumer goods to protect the product is far too normal within consumer culture. The use of plastic for consumers started mainly after World War II, so it nearly took us 8 decades to see what an environmental mess the constant production of plastic has created and how much we have to do to fix this issue.
I think the use of plastic is now falling short because of how governmental laws or state laws have regulated the use of plastic. For example, charging consumers for a plastic bag to encourage them to bring their own reusable bag eliminates plastic waste. Learning how to reuse your household plastic bags or using an alternative sustainable bag that doesn’t create waste creates a healthy consumer habit. Shopping sustainably has increased within consumer culture where consumers are becoming more conscious of what they are buying and who they are buying it from, which allows brands to take notice and provide sustainable alternatives.
Simply, I believe we all care about our planet, and when that planet is in danger because of our own doing, people will take notice and action to fix the issue. Plastic is just one of them.
How do biomaterials and biotech redefine or influence the development and progression of new products or technologies?
Biomaterials produced by companies such as Notpla, a seaweed-based plastic packaging company, are a great example of what a plastic alternative shift looks like in the market. One that is innovative, provides a circular solution, and eliminates waste. There is also Haeckels, a seaweed-based skincare brand. Biomaterials derived from seaweed are becoming popular in the market.
The success of these brands has shown that brands coming up with plastic alternative solutions with bio-innovative materials are changing consumers' mindsets collectively. There are many alternative sustainable options now that I don’t necessarily feel the urge to go towards plastic anymore.
Can you share a specific initiative or project creating viable plastic alternatives?
I’ve been working with startup companies that are creating bioplastics, natural dyes to eliminate chemical dye waste, and other exciting things that are soon going to hit the market. This contributes to the broader goal for politicians and governmental officials to take notice and take a stance on the usage of plastics.
There are a lot of countries that are still struggling with harmful toxins that are being created from waste, but the production of plastic hasn’t stopped due to demand. These new emerging bioplastic companies are truly part of a bigger solution, and it's more than just a market opportunity for them; it's a way to voice a solution to an ongoing environmental issue.
How do you address any trade-offs or challenges for brands who want to adopt plastic alternatives?
I think, considering the properties of the materials, brands would now have to think about adopting a circular mindset. These new alternative materials will have a smaller shelf life. Most bioplastic materials should be able to biodegrade within 3-6 months but can be left on the shelf untouched for up to a year.
The challenge would be to convince bigger brands or markets to invest in these alternative options for packaging for the right product use and consider taking that extra step to educate their consumers on how to use these new plastic alternatives and why letting them biodegrade is important.
I also think any new emerging bioplastic companies will have the big challenge of meeting the mass market production timeline. How fast can you make this bioplastic film? How many can be made within a minute?
The industry and new emerging biotech companies will have the challenge of coming up with a production timeline that works for both realistically.
What are some of the primary challenges or obstacles you have encountered?
I think the challenge I’ve personally encountered as a designer is to think about the end life cycle primarily about the product when using these biomaterials to design. I try not to limit myself because, at the moment, it’s been all about experimenting for me and trying new things. I’m truly grateful that I get to do that.
However, I’ve had to almost listen to the biomaterials as if they were talking to me to design with them. New emerging biomaterials will have different effects, abilities, and material texture that designers won’t be used to. So, it’s important for me to unlearn and learn new habits by working with these biomaterials to design the best products I can.
How do you think brands can integrate biomaterials and biotech into their operations while ensuring scalability and commercial feasibility in the long term? Can you discuss any models or frameworks that have particularly effectively supported this integration and scaling-up efforts?"
I think this will be one of the biggest challenges for sure, as mentioned in one of the above questions.
I think the success of Notpla and Haeckels is definitely one to watch for markets because these brands are paving the path for new emerging biotechnologies. They have proven that their framework and scaling-up abilities fit just right within the market in their own way.
Looking forward, what are some emerging trends in biomaterials and biotech for plastic alternatives that you find promising?
I’ve been working with mainly seaweed-derived bioplastics and plant-based bioplastics so far. I’m sure there are brilliant people who are probably coming up with amazing solutions to plastic alternatives.
However, as the market is emerging, the bioplastics I’m experienced with are probably what I’ve found the most promising. Due to shelf life, end-to-end usage system, circularity, quality of products, and for me personally, the convenience of designing with them.
