Due to its non-biodegradable nature, plastic waste is a major contributor to environmental pollution, both on land and in the sea.
Addressing this environmental issue, a research team from the Department of Chemical Engineering, UGM Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM) has successfully developed an innovative biodegradable packaging plastic called “Kemurai.”
Kemurai is a breakthrough in polypropylene-based packaging plastic that degrades much faster than conventional plastic.
“This research idea emerged in 2018, driven by the growing concern over the increasing amount of waste, especially plastic waste, which takes a long time to decompose,” said Dr. Yuni Kusumastuti, the team coordinator, on Wednesday (Aug. 28) at UGM’s Chemical Engineering Laboratory.
To tackle the plastic waste problem, Dr. Kusumastuti, in collaboration with Dr. Moh. Fahrurrozi and Dr. Teguh Ariyanto, formulated plastic with components similar to conventional plastics but with an estimated degradation time twice as fast as regular plastic.
The idea involved adding an additive to the plastic’s base material.
“We added pro-oxidant and bio-additives to the polypropylene base material, enabling the plastic to undergo structural changes under specific environmental conditions, breaking down long-chain molecules into simpler compounds that are easier to degrade,” Dr. Kusumastuti explained.
According to her, adding these additives does not compromise the strength of conventional plastics. Kemurai retains the same strength and durability as conventional plastics, with the added benefit of being more environmentally degradable.
However, Dr. Kusumastuti emphasized that the Kemurai product is still incomplete. The product must undergo several stages, such as testing its degradation time. They are also exploring other formulations for Kemurai by combining them with natural materials.
“We also need to reduce production costs so that the price of Kemurai is not significantly different from conventional plastic, making it easier for the public to transition to Kemurai,” she said.
As the Kemurai process continues, Dr. Kusumastuti hopes that Kemurai will eventually collaborate with industry partners who share similar innovations, enabling the product to be marketed and used widely.
“This will accelerate the commercialization of modified polypropylene-based packaging plastic that degrades faster than conventional plastic, ultimately benefiting our environment,” she concluded.
It is worth noting that the research on this biodegradable plastic product received funding through the Matching Fund Kedai Reka from participants of the 2023 Program Dana Padanan (PDP) by the Ministry of Education, which has been curated.
The research has also collaborated with PT Pertamina’s Research & Technology Innovation (RTI) division.
Author: Lazuardi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Firsto