LEAF research project aims to enable the production of plastic components with controllable compostability
The launch of the LEAF research project marks the start of an innovative path in the development of sustainable plastic components. The aim of the project is to develop bio-based materials that can not only be processed efficiently in the injection molding process, but whose composting time can also be controlled in a targeted manner.
Biodegradable plastics offer a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), which are associated with significant environmental problems as they take hundreds to thousands of years to decompose. Their long decomposition time leads to the formation of microparticles that accumulate in water, soil and the food chain. These microparticles can bioaccumulate and develop toxic effects. Biodegradable plastics such as polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene succinate (PBS) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are considered promising alternatives to conventional plastics. However, in many cases their decomposition is only possible under industrial conditions. This is precisely where the LEAF project, led by the Plastics Center in cooperation with partners Dressel GmbH and Boßler Werkzeug & und Formenbau GmbH, comes in: By integrating granular leaf materials into biopolymer compounds, new materials are to be created that are both environmentally friendly and industrially practicable.
“Our innovative approach is the use of granular leaf materials that are processed in bioreactors. These materials are suitable as a reinforcing phase, for improving flowability and for targeted control of the composting time,” explains Christian Schlör, scientist at the SKZ.
The project, which was launched in January 2025, addresses key challenges such as thermal stability and phase separation. The aim is to develop a foliage-based biopolymer that can be processed by injection molding and has a defined decomposition time. The results could be particularly important for companies in the packaging, automotive, textile and agricultural industries.
LEAF thus stands for a new generation of sustainable materials that combine ecological responsibility with industrial efficiency.