Goal
The goal of the BIO-CLEAR project is to understand how commercially used chemical additives in biodegradable polymers influence the formation, aging, and properties of biodegradable microplastics (BioMP). The project focuses on additives that are widely applied in industrial biodegradable plastics, and how they affect degradation pathways, particle morphology, and surface chemistry during environmental exposure. The potential cytotoxicity of the resulting BioMP is evaluated using in vitro tests.
Impact
BIO-CLEAR will provide new insights into the role of commercially used additives in biodegradable microplastic formation, supporting the development of safer and more predictable biodegradable polymer formulations. The results will strengthen sustainability-driven materials research at Tampere University and contribute to future guidelines for the use of additives in biodegradable plastics. In the longer term, the project supports environmentally responsible material design and improved assessment of plastic-related health risks.
Funding source
Tampere University, Tampere Institute of Advanced Study
Contact persons
Konstantin Malafeev
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Konstantin Malafeev