12/6/22, 9:25 AM Polish Packaging from Tyres | Tyre and Rubber Recycling

News Business News Latest News

Polish Packaging from Tyres

Vladislav Vorotnikov

24 November 2022

PREMIUM

Lodz University image: Mariusz Cieszewski

A group of Polish researchers from the Lodz University of Technology have developed a method of
converting used tyres into biodegradable packaging

The researchers use the bacterial strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum that eats rubber waste, turning it
into biocellulose. Due to high water retention and insufficient strength, the obtained bacterial cellulose
was originally unsuitable for paper production, but the scientists have now solved this problem.

Dr Tomasz Olejnik, one of the authors of the study, explained that the scientists developed a special
composite: a mixture of plant and bacterial cellulose, improving the physicochemical properties of
obtained paper, which becomes impermeable to air and biodegradable.

The paper obtained using this method can be used to produce packaging materials that can replace
plastics.

https://www.tyreandrubberrecycling.com/articles/news/polish-packaging-from-tyres/ 1/1