Sunita Somvanshi
Valentín Fravoli (22) and Alejandro Unchalo (21), students from Technical School No. 2 in Tandil, Argentina, developed Citricplas—biodegradable plastic bags created from citrus peels.
Photo Source: Bichos De Campo
These bags biodegrade in 15 to 30 days, depending on soil conditions and humidity. As they decompose, they contribute nutrients to the soil, improving its microbiological load.
The entire production process is based on circular economy principles, meaning no polluting waste is generated throughout the process.
The project has seen a modest investment of over US$1,000 to date.
Alejandro, who already runs a bakery and grocery store, partnered with Valentín, a student of Environmental Diagnosis and Management, who transformed his backyard into a makeshift laboratory for experimentation.
This venture began as a sixth-year school project during the pandemic. Their initial research centered on cigarette butt cellulose, which was later abandoned as it didn't meet their sustainability goals.
Citricplas marks a departure from the traditional "produce, consume, dispose" model, transitioning towards a "produce, consume, reuse" cycle.
The creators’ vision is to offer biodegradable bags that consumers can use for various purposes and then return to the earth, completing a full cycle of “starting on the ground and ending on the ground."