Pioneering research and skills
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
New adventures in plastic The current generation of plastics is no longer sustainable because of the oil they use and the waste they leave. Plaxica, a company set up to commercialise EPSRC-funded research by Professor Vernon Gibson and Dr Ed Marshall at Imperial College London, is pioneering the next generation of bioplastics – plastics made from natural ‘feedstocks’ such as sugar and materials made from cellulose. The company’s aim is to reduce our reliance on oil-based products through the introduction of more sustainable and environmentallyfriendly processes for use in a wide range off industrial and consumer applications, including packaging, textiles, electronics and automobile parts. Plaxica employs 26 full-time staff and is an acknowledged leader in its field. To download the Growth Stories app visit www.epsrc.ac.uk/growth
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