Clean technology: Plastic from bloodmeal

Darren Harpur, commercial manager for WaikatoLink, with Dr Johan Verbeek holding the raw material for the process. Photo / Supplied

Research by a University of Waikato scientist into how to turn bloodmeal into biodegradable plastic has won investment from the Wallace Corporation, New Zealand's largest service rendering business.

Hamilton-based Aduro Biopolymers is a spin-off company formed by WaikatoLink Limited, the technology transfer office of the University of Waikato, and was formed to develop and market materials and biopolymers for use in the manufacturing sector. The company is currently developing a novel material based on an unconventional idea developed by

University of Waikato scientist Dr Johan Verbeek; turning bloodmeal into bioplastic.

Aduro Polymers' aim is to develop environmentally conscious materials for the manufacturing and construction sectors. The company's first product is Novatein, a bioplastic that will be price competitive with petrochemical plastics. The global plastics market is worth over a trillion dollars and currently bioplastics represent 5-10% of that market, with a compounded annual growth rate of almost 20%.