POLìPO is the first chemical route (not using bacterial fermentation) to produce Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from vegetable oils derived from non-food industry, presently used for biodiesel production or for thermal recovery (including waste of food production and exhaust oils). The production of the polymer takes place through three successive process steps that were analyzed to evaluate the feasibility of the scale up and the cost of the plant, the yields achievable and the costs of the process. PHA family are biodegradable, i.e. not just compostable in industrial equipment at specific temperatures and humidity conditions, but also degradable to natural components in the soil or in freshwater and seawater. The only other plastics family with those properties are starch blend plastics. The main characteristics of PHA which can make the difference with respect to existing biodegradable plastics are: insolubility in water, resistance to temperature and to hydrolytic degradation, high resistance to oil and fats, high resistance to UV. The market analysis and the feasibility indicated that the entry market for POLìPO's PHA could be the plastic films used in agriculture. Plastic films generate about 80% of the agricultural plastic waste. In particular, for mulching films the plastic waste collection is difficult and the contamination in terms of weight can reach up to 60-80 % of the total amount sold, making the mechanical recycling economically unviable. The ongoing debate on Single Use Plastic (SUP) and their presence in marine environment can be a relevant driver for biodegradable plastics. This application was evaluated and the business model and the business plan for future implementation of Polipo in industrial arena was evaluated. Further contacts with investor and clients need to be established before proceeding with this phase.
