Past Winner
2018 NSERC Synergy Awards for Innovation

Amar Mohanty has teamed with three Ontario-based companies to develop innovative biodegradable materials that are substitutes for petroleum-based plastics. The University of Guelph researchers use natural fibres and resins found in non-food agricultural material and waste streams to create these biocomposite materials. One of their biodegradable materials is now used in single-serve coffee pods by companies around the world, including McDonald’s and Club Coffee. Mohanty’s team is advancing sustainability within the food industry by drastically reducing the plastic waste produced by these popular beverage products. A separate application of their research is leading to durable bio-based composite materials for automotive parts and consumer products. In addition to their green advantages, their biocomposites are much lighter in weight while exhibiting the same strength and durability as conventional plastics.