Our project aims to develop a fully biodegradable bioplastic composite consisting of a PLA matrix reinforced with: 1) vegetal fibers obtained from a plant waste, namely island invasive plant species and 2) low-cost and environmentally-friendly antimicrobial glasses. The main project objectives are:
- To achieve sustainable bioplastic materials with suitable mechanical and antimicrobial properties thanks to the combination of PLA with natural fibers and inexpensive antimicrobial glasses.
- To demonstrate the antimicrobial effectiveness of the composite
- To surpass the mechanical properties of pure PLA polymeric materials.
- To maintain the environmental advantage of PLA polymers, particularly the compostability of the composite.