University of Adelaide PhD candidate Mel Nguyen was awarded the university’s ‘Trending on VYT’ award, for her research into how to turn food waste into durable bioplastics.
Nguyen was awarded at this year’s international Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) competition, an international program that challenges graduate researchers to present their work in a 60-second audio-visual explainer.
Nguyen won the University of Adelaide VYT heat before representing the university at the international competition, where she received the Trending on VYT award.
Nguyen said she was inspired to find a solution to the dual issues of food waste and plastic pollution after seeing the problem in her daily life.
“Plastic food packaging is everywhere, from ready-meal boxes you buy at the supermarket to cling wrap used for fresh produce,” said Nguyen.
“The sheer volume of single-use plastic and its environmental impact made me question if there could be a more sustainable alternative.
“Combined with my passion for tackling food waste, I was inspired to explore bioplastics as a potential solution.”
As described in her VYT video , Nguyen discovered bioplastics can be developed for a range of purposes.
“Whether you need it to be highly permeable for vegetable packaging or very resistant to moisture for bakery products, the properties can be adjusted by altering the composition,” she said.
“This flexibility highlights the potential of bioplastics as a versatile, eco-friendly material.”
Nguyen’s research is supported through the University of Adelaide and the End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre. She said her next challenge is to find a path to commercialisation for her functional bioplastic made from food waste.
“Achieving commercialisation requires further refinement, scalability testing, and partnerships with industry stakeholders,” said Nguyen.
“With consistent progress and the right support, I hope to bring a viable product to market within the next few years.
“I hope this research will help consumers and industry continue the shift towards a circular economy where waste materials are repurposed into valuable resources.”
For more information, https://www.adelaide.edu.au/
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