Biography
Biography: Ian DeWeerdt
Abstract
The next generation of biorefineries will advance the biomass industry in two important ways. First, high value commodity products, such as specialty chemicals, plastics and long chain fuels, will replace methane and ethanol production. Second, feedstock streams will move down the value chain to waste products and away from crop sources. Full Cycle Bioplastics (FCB) has developed an environmentally friendly, cost-effective method of producing polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) using organic waste as the feedstock. FCB’s biorefined plastic system is designed to operate on a compost or food processing facility, mitigating hauling costs and carbon footprint. The FCB model is designed to produce resin at less than half the average price of PHA resins offered since 2006. The cost savings are driven by feedstock costs, which for waste hauling partners are often negative. Furthermore, the FCB technology does not rely on genetically modified organisms, greatly reducing operational costs versus traditional bacterial plastic operations. This hybrid waste management/plastic production technique will soon be available at commercial scale. Waste driven biorefineries will provide waste managers a new and more profitable pathway for organic waste streams, a strategic advantage over competitors and a socially responsible end-of-life narrative.