Improving the Barrier and Mechanical Properties of Paper Used for Packing Applications with Renewable Hydrophobic Coatings Derived from Camelina Oil.

This study looked at using modified camelina oil to develop sustainable coatings that could replace those derived from petroleum-based materials for use in packaging and other industrial sectors. Solvent-free synthesis of maleic anhydride grafted camelina oil (MCO) was carried out at two different temperatures (200 and 230 °C) to obtain sustainable hydrophobic coating materials for paper substrates. Maleic anhydride grafting of camelina oil was confirmed with attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared and NMR spectroscopic techniques, and up to 16% grafting of maleic anhydride was achieved, as determined by the titration method. MCO, obtained at different reaction temperatures, was coated onto cellulosic paper and evaluated for its hydrophobicity, mechanical, oxygen, and water vapor barrier properties. Scanning electron microscopy indicated the homogeneous dispersion of coating material onto the paper substrate. MCO-coated papers (MCO-200C paper and MCO-230C paper) provided a water contact angle of above 90° which indicates that the modified oil was working as a hydrophobic coating. Water vapor permeability (WVP) testing of coated papers revealed a reduction in WVP of up to 94% in comparison to the uncoated paper. Moreover, an improved oxygen barrier property was also observed for paper coated with both types of MCO. Analysis of the mechanical properties showed a greater than 70% retention of tensile strength and up to a five-fold increase in elongation at break of coated versus uncoated papers. Overall, the results show that camelina oil, a renewable resource, can be modified to produce environmentally friendly hydrophobic coating materials with improved mechanical and water vapor barrier properties that can serve as a potential coating material in the packaging industry. The results of this research could find applications in the huge paper packaging industries, specially in food packaging.

Upcycling of post-industrial starch-based thermoplastics and their talc-filled sustainable biocomposites for single-use plastic alternative.

This study utilized post-industrial wheat starch (biological macromolecule) for the development of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) based thermoplastic starch blend (TPS) and biocomposite films. PBAT (70 wt%) was blended with plasticized post-industrial wheat starch (PPWS) (30 wt%) and reinforced with talc master batch (MB) (25 wt%) using a two-step process, consisting of compounding the blend for pellet preparation, followed by the cast film extrusion at 160 °C. The effect of the chain extender was analyzed at compounding temperatures of 160 and 180 °C for talc-based composites. The incorporation of talc MB has increased the thermal stability of the biocomposites due to the nucleating effect of talc. Moreover, tensile strength and Young's modulus increased by about 5 and 517 %, respectively as compared with the TPS blend film without talc MB. Thermal, rheological, and morphological analyses confirmed that the use of talc in the presence of chain extender at a processing temperature of 160 °C has resulted in an enhanced dispersion of talc and chain entanglement with PBAT and PPWS than PBAT/PPWS blend and PBAT/PPWS/Talc composite films. On the other hand, at 180 °C, the talc-containing biocomposite with chain extender tended to form PPWS agglomerates, thereby weakening its material properties.

Recent progress on biodegradable polylactic acid based blends and their biocomposites: A comprehensive review.

Being less dependent on non-renewable resources as well as protecting the environment from waste streams have become two critical primers for a global movement toward replacing conventional plastics with renewable and biodegradable polymers. Despite all these efforts, only a few biodegradable polymers have paved their way successfully into the market. Polylactic acid is one of these biodegradable polymers that has been investigated thoroughly by researchers as well as manufactured on a large industrial scale. It is synthesized from lactic acid obtained mainly from the biological fermentation of carbohydrates, which makes this material a renewable polymer. Besides its renewability, it benefits from some attractive mechanical performances including high strength and stiffness, though brittleness is a major drawback of this biopolymer. Accordingly, the development of blends and biocomposites based on polylactic acid with highly flexible biodegradable polymers, specifically poly(butylene adipate co terephthalate) has been the objective of many investigations recently. This paper focuses on the blends and biocomposites based on these two biopolymers, specifically their mechanical, rheological, and biodegradation, the main characteristics that are crucial for being considered as a biodegradable substitution for conventional non-biodegradable polymers.

A Review on the Challenges and Choices for Food Waste Valorization: Environmental and Economic Impacts.

Valorization of food waste (FW) is instrumental for reducing the environmental and economic burden of FW and transitioning to a circular economy. The FW valorization process has widely been studied to produce various end-use products and summarize them; however, their economic, environmental, and social aspects are limited. This study synthesizes some of the valorization methods used for FW management and produces value-added products for various applications, and also discusses the technological advances and their environmental, economic, and social aspects. Globally, 1.3 billion tonnes of edible food is lost or wasted each year, during which about 3.3 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas is emitted. The environmental (-347 to 2969 kg CO2 equiv/tonne FW) and economic (-100 to $138/tonne FW) impacts of FW depend on the multiple parameters of food chains and waste management systems. Although enormous efforts are underway to reduce FW as well as valorize unavoidable FW to reduce environmental and economic loss, it seems the transdisciplinary approach/initiative would be essential to minimize FW as well as abate the environmental impacts of FW. A joint effort from stakeholders is the key to reducing FW and the efficient and effective valorization of FW to improve its sustainability. However, any initiative in reducing food waste should consider a broader sustainability check to avoid risks to investment and the environment.

Morphology and Performance Relationship Studies on Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)-Based Biodegradable Blends.

Biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blends hold great potential for use in sustainable packaging applications for their advanced performance. Understanding the structure-property relationship in the blends at various proportions is significantly important for their future application, which is addressed in this work. The study found that the inherent brittleness of PHBV can only be modified with the addition of 50 wt % PBAT, where co-continuous structures formed in the blend as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The elongation at break (%) of the blends increased from 3.81 (30% PBAT) to 138.5% (50% PBAT) and 345.3% (70 wt % PBAT), respectively. The fibrous structures of the PBAT formed during breaking are beneficial for energy dissipation, which greatly increased the toughness of the blends. Both the SEM observation and glass-transition temperature study by dynamic mechanical analysis indicated that the PHBV and PBAT are naturally immiscible. However, by simply mixing the two polymers with different composition ratios, the properties including melt flow index, heat deflection temperature, and mechanical properties can be tailored for different processing methods and applications. Our research work herein illustrates the fundamental structure-property relationship in this popular blend of PHBV/PBAT, aiming to guide the future modification direction in improving their properties and realizing their commercial applications in different scenarios.

Biodegradable blends from bacterial biopolyester PHBV and bio-based PBSA: Study of the effect of chain extender on the thermal, mechanical and morphological properties.

Being aware of the global problem of plastic pollution, our society is claiming new bioplastics to replace conventional polymers. Balancing their mechanical performance is required to increase their presence in the market. Brittleness of bacterial poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) was attempted to be decreased by melt blending with flexible starch-based poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA). An epoxy-functionalized chain extender was used to enhance interaction between both immiscible biopolyesters. Mechanical performance, morphology, rheology, and crystallization behavior of injection-molded PHBV-PBSA blends (70-30, 50-50, and 30-70 wt%) were assessed in the presence and absence of the chain extender. Crystallization of PHBV was hindered, which was reflected in the improvement of mechanical properties. When PBSA >50 %, the homogeneity of results increased within the same sample while for PHBV-PBSA 70-30 wt% the elongation was 45 % higher. During the flexural test, it changed from brittle to non-breakable. The additive did not change the type of morphology developed by each blend nor the toughening mechanisms, so impact strength was barely affected. However, it reduced the size of dispersed phase domains due to a viscosity change, improving their processability. The higher the PHBV in the blend, the higher the effect of the chain extender.

Silane treated starch dispersed PBAT/PHBV-based composites: Improved barrier performance for single-use plastic alternatives.

The objective of this study is to include 5 wt% silane-treated starch (S-t-Starch) into biodegradable flexible poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) blend matrix, which can facilitate superior barrier and balanced mechanical properties. With the intension of improving compatibilization between matrix and filler, starch (biological macromolecule) was efficiently treated with 15 wt% of 3-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxy silane (GPTMS), a coupling agent. Various analyses such as barrier, mechanical, thermal, surface morphology and rheological were performed using cast extruded PBAT/PHBV-based composite films. Comprehensive characterizations suggested that cast extruded PBAT/PHBV with 5 wt% S-t-Starch composites exhibited 91 and 82 % improvement in oxygen and water vapor barrier, respectively, compared to PBAT film. The increment in % crystallinity (as supported by DSC analysis) of PBAT/PHBV/5%S-t-Starch composite due to the silane component was one of the reasons for barrier improvement. The other reason was the improved interfacial adhesion between matrix and S-t-Starch particles (as supported by SEM analysis), which restricted the mobility of the polymer chains. The elongation at break (%EB) of the cast extruded PBAT/PHBV/5%Starch film was slightly improved from 536 to 542 % after silane treatment. Hence, the developed polymer composite in this research work can contribute to flexible packaging applications that require improved barrier properties.

Valorization of camelina oil to biobased materials and biofuels for new industrial uses: a review.

Global environmental pollution is a growing concern, especially the release of carbon dioxide from the use of petroleum derived materials which negatively impacts our environment's natural greenhouse gas level. Extensive efforts have been made to explore the conversion of renewable raw materials (vegetable oils) into bio-based products with similar or enhanced properties to those derived from petroleum. However, these edible plant oils, commonly used for human food consumption, are often not suitable raw materials for industrial applications. Hence, there is an increasing interest in exploring the use of non-edible plant oils for industrial applications. One such emerging oil seed crop is Camelina sativa, generally known as camelina, which has limited use as a food oil and so is currently being explored as a feedstock for various industrial applications in both Europe and North America. Camelina oil is highly unsaturated, making it an ideal potential AGH feedstock for the manufacture of lower carbon footprint, biobased products that reduce our dependency on petroleum resources and thus help to combat climate change. This review presents a brief description of camelina highlighting its composition and its production in comparison with traditional plant oils. The main focus is to summarize recent data on valorization of camelina oil by various chemical means, with specific emphasis on their industrial applications in biofuels, adhesives and coatings, biopolymers and bio-composites, alkyd resins, cosmetics, and agriculture. The review concludes with a discussion on current challenges and future opportunities of camelina oil valorization into various industrial products.

Upcycling of Plastic Wastes and Biomass for Sustainable Graphitic Carbon Production: A Critical Review.

Upcycling of waste plastics diverts plastics from landfill, which helps in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Graphitic carbon is an interesting material with a wide range of applications in electronics, energy storage, fuel cells, and even as advanced fillers for polymer composites. It is a very strong and highly conductive material consisting of weakly bound graphene layers arranged in a hexagonal structure. There are different ways of synthesizing graphitic carbons, of which the co-pyrolysis of biomass and plastic wastes is a promising approach for large-scale production. Highly graphitized carbon with surface areas in the range of 201 m2/g was produced from the co-pyrolysis of polyethylene and pinewood at 600 °C. Similarly, porous carbon having a superior discharge capacity (290 mAh/g) was developed from the co-pyrolysis of sugar cane and plastic polymers with catalysts. The addition of plastic wastes including polyethylene and high-density polyethylene to the pyrolysis of biomass tends to increase the surface area and improve the discharge capacity of the produced graphitic carbons. Likewise, temperature plays an important role in enhancing the carbon content and thereby the quality of the graphitic carbon during the co-pyrolysis process. The application of metal catalysts can reduce the graphitization temperature while at the same time improve the quality of the graphitic carbon by increasing the carbon contents. This work reports some typical graphitic carbon preparation methods from the co-pyrolysis of biomass and plastic wastes for the first time including thermochemical methods, exfoliation methods, template-based production methods, and salt-based methods. The factors affecting the graphitic char quality during the conversion processes are reviewed critically. Moreover, the current state-of-the-art characterization technologies such as Raman, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are discussed in detail, and finally, an overview on the applications, scalability, and future trends of graphitic-like carbons is highlighted.

Effect of Simulated Mass-Tunable Auxetic Midsole on Vertical Ground Reaction Force.

When runners impact the ground, they experience a sudden peak ground reaction force (GRF), which may be up to 4× greater than their bodyweight. Increased GRF impact peak magnitude has been associated with lower limb injuries in runners. Yet, shoe midsoles are capable of cushioning the impact between the runner and the ground to reduce GRF. It has been proposed that midsoles should be tunable with subject mass to minimize GRF and reduce risk of injury. Auxetic metamaterials, structures designed to achieve negative Poisson's ratios, demonstrate superior impact properties and are highly tunable. Recently, auxetic structures have been introduced in footwear, but their effects on GRF are not documented in literature. This work investigates the viability of a three-dimensional auxetic impact structure with a tunable force plateau as a midsole through mass-spring-damper simulation. An mass-spring-damper model was used to perform 315 simulations considering combinations of seven subject masses (45-90 kg), 15 auxetic plateau forces (72-1080 N), and three auxetic damping conditions (450, 725, and 1000 Ns/m) and regression analysis was used to determine their influence on GRF impact peak, energy, instantaneous, and average loading rate. Simulations showed that tuning auxetic plateau force and damping based on subject mass may reduce GRF impact and loading rate versus simulated conventional midsoles. Auxetic plateau force and damping conditions of 450 Ns/m and ∼1 bodyweight (BW), respectively, minimized peak impact GRF. This work demonstrates the need for tunable auxetic midsoles and may inform future work involving midsole testing.

Value-Added Bio-carbon Production through the Slow Pyrolysis of Waste Bio-oil: Fundamental Studies on Their Structure-Property-Processing Co-relation.

The present work addresses the transformation of bio-oil into valuable biocarbon through slow pyrolysis. The biocarbons produced at three different temperatures (400, 600, and 900 °C), 10 °C min-1 heating rate, and 30 min holding time were tested for their surface morphology, thermal stability, elemental composition, functionality, particle size, and thermal and electrical conductivity. The physicochemical study of bio-oil showed substantial carbon content, higher heating value, and lower nitrogen content. Also, the Thermogravimetric analyzer-FourierTransform Infrared Spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR) study of bio-oil confirmed that the majority of gases released were hydrocarbons, carbonyl products, ethers, CO, and CO2, with a minor percentage of water and alcohol. Overall, it was found that the pyrolysis temperature has the dominant role in the yield and properties of biocarbon. The physicochemical characterization of biocarbon showed that the higher temperature based pyrolyzed biocarbon (600 and 900 °C) improved the properties in terms of thermal stability, thermal conductivity, graphitic content, ash content, and carbon content. Furthermore, the elemental and Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy study of biocarbon confirmed the substantial depletion in oxygen and hydrogen at a higher temperature (600 and 900 °C) than the lower temperature based pyrolyzed biocarbon (400 °C). Additionally, the purest form of the biocarbon is found at a higher temperature (900 °C) with higher thermal stability and carbon content. The study of the surface morphology of biocarbon revealed that the higher temperature (600 and 900 °C) biocarbon showed larger and harder particles than the lower temperature biocarbon (400 °C); however, the electrical conductivity of biocarbon decreased, whereas thermal conductivity increased, with an increase in the pyrolysis temperatures. Moreover, the particle size analysis of biocarbon confirmed that most of the particles were found in the range of 1 µm. The increased thermal stability, carbon content, and graphitic content and the lower ash content endorse biocarbon as an excellent feedstock for carbon-based energy storage materials.

Evaluating the Performance of a Semiaromatic/Aliphatic Polyamide Blend: The Case for Polyphthalamide (PPA) and Polyamide 4,10 (PA410).

This paper studies the structure-property-processing relationship of polyphthalamide (PPA) PPA/polyamide 4,10 (PA410) blends, via co-relating their thermal-mechanical properties with their morphology, crystallization, and viscoelastic properties. When compared to neat PPA, the blends show improved processability with a lower processing temperature (20 °C lower than neat PPA) along with a higher modulus/strength and heat deflection temperature (HDT). The maximum tensile modulus is that of the 25PPA/75PA410 blend, ~3 GPa, 25% higher than neat PPA (~2.4 GPa). 25PPA/75PA410 also exhibits the highest HDT (136 °C) among all the blends, being 11% more than PPA (122 °C). The increase in the thermo-mechanical properties of the blends is explained by the partial miscibility between the two polymers. The blends improve the processing performance of PPA and broaden its applicability.

A Review on Current Status of Biochar Uses in Agriculture.

In a time when climate change increases desertification and drought globally, novel and effective solutions are required in order to continue food production for the world's increasing population. Synthetic fertilizers have been long used to improve the productivity of agricultural soils, part of which leaches into the environment and emits greenhouse gasses (GHG). Some fundamental challenges within agricultural practices include the improvement of water retention and microbiota in soils, as well as boosting the efficiency of fertilizers. Biochar is a nutrient rich material produced from biomass, gaining attention for soil amendment purposes, improving crop yields as well as for carbon sequestration. This study summarizes the potential benefits of biochar applications, placing emphasis on its application in the agricultural sector. It seems biochar used for soil amendment improves nutrient density of soils, water holding capacity, reduces fertilizer requirements, enhances soil microbiota, and increases crop yields. Additionally, biochar usage has many environmental benefits, economic benefits, and a potential role to play in carbon credit systems. Biochar (also known as biocarbon) may hold the answer to these fundamental requirements.

Statistical Design of Biocarbon Reinforced Sustainable Composites from Blends of Polyphthalamide (PPA) and Polyamide 4,10 (PA410).

A full factorial design with four factors (the ratio of polyphthalamide (PPA) and polyamide 4,10 (PA410) in the polymer matrix, content percent of biocarbon (BioC), the temperature at which it was pyrolyzed and the presence of a chain extender (CE)), each factor with two levels (high and low), was carried out to optimize the mechanical properties of the resulting composites. After applying a linear model, changes in tensile strength, elongation at break and impact energy were not statistically significant within the considered material space, while the ones in the flexural modulus, the tensile modulus, density and heat deflection temperature (HDT) were. The two most influential factors were the content of BioC and its pyrolysis temperature, followed by the content of PPA. The affinity of PPA with a high-temperature biocarbon and the affinity of PA410 with a lower-temperature biocarbon, appear to explain the mechanical properties of the resulting composites. The study also revealed that the addition of CE hindered the mechanical properties. By maximizing the flexural modulus, tensile modulus and HDT, while minimizing the density, the optimal composite predicted is an 80 [PPA:PA410 (25:75)] wt% polymer composite, with 20 wt% of a BioC, pyrolyzed at a calculated 823 °C.

Green Composites from a Bioplastic Blend of Poly(3-hyroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and Carbon Dioxide-Derived Poly(propylene carbonate) and Filled with a Corn Ethanol-Industry Co-product.

Sustainable green composites were engineered from distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a co-product from the corn ethanol industry as a sustainable filler in bioplastic matrices made from a carbon dioxide-derived poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) and poly(3-hyroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) blend. The effect of water-washed DDGS (15 and 25 wt %) on the properties of injection-molded green composites from PHBV/PPC blends (60/40) and (40/60) and DDGS without and with peroxide (0.5 phr) has been investigated. From the results, it was noticed that the glass transition temperature (T g) of the PHBV/PPC (60/40) bioplastic matrix increased by ∼9.6 °C by adding a peroxide cross-linking agent, indicating significant interaction (linkage) between PHBV and PPC polymers in this particular composition ratio, which was supported by SEM analysis as no phase separation was observed between PHBV and PPC. The tensile modulus of PHBV/PPC (60/40) and PHBV/PPC (40/60) blends with peroxide was improved by ∼40.7 and 1.5% after the addition of 25 wt % DDGS, respectively, due to its fibrous flaky structure. The % elongation values at break of the PHBV/PPC (60/40) blend matrices with and without peroxide were drastically improved by 18.5 and 90.7 folds, respectively, as compared to that of brittle pristine PHBV.

Extrusion Based 3D Printing of Sustainable Biocomposites from Biocarbon and Poly(trimethylene terephthalate).

Three-dimensional (3D) printing manufactures intricate computer aided designs without time and resource spent for mold creation. The rapid growth of this industry has led to its extensive use in the automotive, biomedical, and electrical industries. In this work, biobased poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) blends were combined with pyrolyzed biomass to create sustainable and novel printing materials. The Miscanthus biocarbon (BC), generated from pyrolysis at 650 °C, was combined with an optimized PTT blend at 5 and 10 wt % to generate filaments for extrusion 3D printing. Samples were printed and analyzed according to their thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties. Although there were no significant differences seen in the mechanical properties between the two BC composites, the optimal quantity of BC was 5 wt % based upon dimensional stability, ease of printing, and surface finish. These printable materials show great promise for implementation into customizable, non-structural components in the electrical and automotive industries.

Sustainable Biocomposites from Recycled Bale Wrap Plastic and Agave Fiber: Processing and Property Evaluation.

Plastic recycling to make sustainable materials is considered one of the biggest initiatives toward a greener environment and socioeconomic development. This research aims to investigate the properties of a blend of recycled bale wrap linear low-density polyethylene (rLLDPE) and polypropylene (PP) (rLLDPE/PP 50:50 wt % matrix), which was further reinforced with 25 wt % agave fiber prepared by injection-molding. Different ratios of a combined industrial compatibilizer (maleic anhydride-grafted PP/PE) were used (1-3 wt %), which were compared with a synthesized compatibilizer made from maleic anhydride-PP/rLLDPE in terms of mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the biocomposites. Incorporation of the compatibilizer in the composite improved the interfacial adhesion between the hydrophobic matrix and the hydrophilic agave fiber, which further increased the mechanical properties and heat deflection temperature of the composite. Scanning electron microscopy showed enhanced compatibility and adhesion between the fiber and the matrix by inclusion of 2 wt % compatibilizer. The synthesized compatibilizer-blended composite showed better mechanical properties than the industrial one, which indicates the potential application of this composite (around 62% recycled material) in the manufacture of packaging materials and commodity products.

The effect of natural fillers on the marine biodegradation behaviour of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV).

Worldwide, improper disposal of plastics is instigating environmental initiatives to combat plastics accumulation of in the environment and the world's oceans. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) biocomposites with Miscanthus (Misc) fibres and distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS) were studied to ascertain if natural fibres and proteinaceous fillers can improve polyhydroxyalkanoate marine biodegradability. Using ASTM standard D7991-15, the biodegradation of PHBV, PHBV with Misc (15 and 25 wt%) and PHBV with DDGS (15 and 25 wt%) was performed in a simulated marine environment for the first time, as indicated by a literature survey. PHBV/Misc (85/15) and (75/25) biocomposites showed 15 and 25% more biodegradation compared to PHBV, respectively. Proteinaceous PHBV/DDGS (85/15) and (75/25) biocomposites showed 17 and 40% more biodegradation compared to PHBV, respectively. Furthermore, PHBV/Misc (75/25) and PHBV/DDGS (75/25) biocomposites were marine biodegraded in 412 and 295 days, respectively. In conclusion, proteinaceous fillers (DDGS) biocomposites have better marine biodegradability than miscanthus.

Ocean plastics: environmental implications and potential routes for mitigation - a perspective.

This review provides a current summary of the major sources and distribution of ocean plastic contamination, their potential environmental effects, and prospects towards the mitigation of plastic pollution. A characterization between micro and macro plastics has been established, along with a comprehensive discussion of the most common plastic waste sources that end up in aquatic environments within these categories. Distribution of these sources stems mainly from improper waste management, road runoff, and wastewater pathways, along with potential routes of prevention. The environmental impact of ocean plastics is not yet fully understood, and as such, current research on the potential adverse health effects and impact on marine habitats has been discussed. With increasing environmental damage and economic losses estimated at $US 1.5 trillion, the challenge of ocean plastics needs to be at the forefront of political and societal discussions. Efforts to increase the feasibility of collected ocean plastics through value-added commercial products and development of an international supply chain has been explored. An integrative, global approach towards addressing the growing ocean plastic problem has been presented.