EcoSea: Turning Seaweed into Food Packaging for a Greener Indonesia
Description
CQUniversity researchers are partnering with an Indonesian agricultural company to develop a seaweed-based plastic alternative for food packaging.
Jointly funded by the Australian Governments KONESKI program and the Indonesian Government’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the project will use cutting-edge microwave-assisted green chemistry, to extract refined carrageenan from a red seaweed widely farmed in Indonesian waters – Euchema denticulatium - for use in the creation of bioplastic products.
The residual biomass and liquid waste will also be repurposed and recycled into additional high-value products including phenolics and proteins for cosmetic formulations and animal feed supplements, cellulose for reinforcing the strength and durability of the seaweed-based bioplastics and biostimulants for agricultural use.
Impact
Indonesia is the second largest global plastic polluter, generating 6.8 million metric tonnes of plastic waste each year, mostly from food packaging. It is also the world’s second largest seaweed producer.
This project supports the Indonesian government’s goal of achieving net-zero plastic pollution by 2040. With plastic pollution now a global crisis and seaweed cultivation projected to be nearly USD$34 billion industry by 2032, the potential to replace petroleum-based plastics with marine-derived, biodegradable alternatives has the potential for global impact.
The initiative also offers a new livelihood opportunity for Indonesia’s extensive network of smallholder seaweed farmers, elevating local communities from raw material suppliers to stakeholders in a high-value, future-proof industry.
Partners
Dr Manoj Kumar - Project Lead
Dr Manoj Kumar is a Senior Research Fellow at the Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) at CQUniversity. He has more than 15 years of experience in seaweed and seagrass aquaculture, ecophysiology, and molecular biology. Dr Kumar’s research activities are focused on the resilience of marine plants and algae including seaweeds, seagrasses and microalgae under global climate change. His recent research activities also include the development of sustainable tools for seaweed biomass processing for products including bioplastics, biofertilizers and biomaterials.
Sustainable Development Goals
At CQUniversity we are committed to embedding sustainable practice in our operations, interactions and relationships, underpinned by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainability is one of our strategic pillars within our Strategic Plan 2024-2028
This project aligns with the following SDG Goals:
- 9 – Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
- 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
- 13 – Climate Action
- 14 – Life Below Water
