Prof. Mohanty, Prof. Misra and research associate Dr. Rodriguez attended the OCI DiscoveryX innovation event held in Toronto on April 29th-30th, 2026. This event brings together entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, government and industry leaders to showcase and discuss Ontario’s innovation ecosystem. The BDDC was invited to showcase its research as part of the University of Guelph Research Innovation Office’s larger exhibition booth, highlighting BDDC research focused on developing and commercializing greener bioproducts to substitute non-renewable materials in manufacturing sectors. Click here to learn more about the event......
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The second annual research team meeting for the ORF-RE11 project, “Commercialization of compostable and soil biodegradable, single-use coffee capsules,” was held on April 21, 2026. A total of 38 researchers, trainees, industry partners, and government representatives attended to share progress and discuss project activities. The meeting brought together stakeholders across the value chain to support coordination on the development and commercialization of biochar and compostable coffee pods. Thank you to the three keynote speakers who presented: Jordan Hatton (Director of Economic Development, Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek Nation), Atul Bali (CEO, Competitive Green Technologies), and Julia Ramos (Vice-President of Innovation, Club Coffee). Trainees from the University of Guelph delivered oral and poster presentations. ...
Congratulations to Blessing Itabana and all co-authors on their article being recognized as one of the journal's top 10 most-cited papers published in 2024. The article "Poly (Butylene Adipate‐Co‐Terephthalate)(PBAT)–Based Biocomposites: A Comprehensive Review," was published in the journal "Macromolecular Materials and Engineering." The article is authored by Blessing Itabana and co-authored by Amar K. Mohanty, Phil Dick, Mohini Sain, Atul Bali, Mike Tiessen, Loong-Tak Lim, and Manjusri Misra.To read the article, please visit this link......
Congratulations to Dr. Debarshi Nath, who on April 2nd, 2026, successfully defended his PhD thesis, titled ‘Design, Processing, and Performance Evaluation of Biodegradable Packaging Materials Developed Using Injection Molding and Blown Film Techniques’. Nath’s research focused on developing cost-effective, high-performance biodegradable materials by integrating material design with scalable processing such as injection molding and blown film extrusion. It involved the use of low-cost fillers, multilayer film design, orientation, and controlled compatibilization to improve material performance. By improving the performance and processability of biodegradable materials using industry-relevant manufacturing techniques, this research contributes to the transition toward more environmentally responsible packaging and manufacturing solutions for commercial applications. During his PhD, Nath was awarded 2nd place for the poster presentation competition at SPE ANTEC 2025 and 1st place at CSChE in 2024. The BDDC congratulates and wishes all the best to Dr. Nath. ...
Congratulations to Dr. Malik Hassan, who on March 31, 2026, successfully defended his PhD thesis titled “Additive Manufacturing of Sustainable Thermoplastic Polymers, their Blends and Composites: Processing–Structure–Property Relationships and Applications”. Hassan’s research investigated developing sustainable, high-performance materials for additive manufacturing by integrating recycled and biodegradable polymers with optimized processing and structural design. To successfully create these thermoplastic polymers, Hassan used biomass-derived biocarbon, controlled printing parameters, and auxetic geometries to enhance several factors associated with performance and manufacturing: printability, interlayer bonding, mechanical performance, and energy absorption. This work provides a practical pathway for advancing sustainable additive manufacturing systems while supporting circular economy strategies and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Hassan has received several awards and recognitions during his PhD journey, including the Irv Poston Detroit Section Scholarship, SPE Automotive & Composites Conference & Exhibition (ACCE) Scholarship, and SPE Foundation Scholarship (TPO Division) from the Society of Plastics Engineers. Additionally, Hassan won 3rd Place in the 3-Minute Pitch Presentation Competition at the Canadian Conference of Chemical Engineering 2024. The BDDC commends Dr. Hassan’s hard work and wishes him luck in future endeavors. ...
Congratulations to Fatemeh Jahangiri, a BDDC PhD student who, on March 24, 2026, completed her thesis defense titled, "High-Barrier Coatings and Plasticized Cellulose Acetate-Based Composites for Sustainable Biodegradable Packaging."Her thesis investigates "material- and process-level solutions for biodegradable packaging, with a focus on high-barrier coatings for plastic and paper substrates, as well as plasticized cellulose acetate composites. Through various complementary studies employing reactive extrusion, film casting, injection molding, and coating technologies, the work addresses key challenges related to barrier performance, mechanical properties, processability, and thermal stability in bio-based materials. The biomaterials developed in this thesis exhibit enhanced performance and represent promising alternatives to conventional petroleum-based packaging materials."""...
The BDDC participated in the University of Guelph's 101st annual College Royal open house on March 15 and 16, 2025. The College Royal is a campus-wide open house that provides a chance for people to see what professors and students have been working on and explore the campus.The BDDC had an interactive booth with biodegradable material and automotive parts samples and a 3D printing demo. BDDC volunteers spoke with over 300 students, parents, children, and other visitors about their research.For more information about the college royal, please visit this link. ...
On March 17, 2026, members of the BDDC attended the Ontario Biomass Producers Co-operative Annual General Meeting in Elora, ON. This event, hosted by the Ontario Biomass Producers Co-operative, brought together Ontario farmers, producers, and researchers to discuss the latest research and market updates.The Ontario Biomass Producers Co-operative is an organization of Ontario farmers working toward the sustainable production and marketing of biomass products. Current areas being addressed are marketing opportunities, production of purpose-grown biomass crops, harvesting of crop byproducts, transportation, and storage issues, among others.For more information about the event, please visit this link......
Profs. Misra and Mohanty presented at the SPE ANTEC 2026 Conference, held from March 9-12, in Pittsburgh, USA. The conference brought together scientists and researchers, business leaders, decision makers, and engineers to discuss the latest breakthroughs in plastics technology, advanced polymer research, and next-generation processing solutions.Prof. Mohanty gave a presentation on March 11, titled, "Processing of Biodegradable Plastics and their Bio-Composites for Single-use Plastic Alternatives and 3D printed Products."Prof. Mohanty gave a second presentation on March 11, titled, "An Affordable Cost-Competitive Innovation in Rigid Packaging: Home Compostable and Soil Biodegradable Thermoformed Packaging as an Alternative to Polystyrene Tray."Prof. Misra gave a presentation on March 12 titled "Innovations in Biocarbon Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites for Light-weight Automotive: Sustainable Composites for Electric Vehicle Parts."For more information about SPE ANTEC 2026, please visit this link......
Congratulations to Manjusri Misra for being recognized in the International Women’s Day 2026 Green Chemistry Special Collection. The article "Recent advances in biodegradable polymer blends and their biocomposites: a comprehensive review" has been chosen for the Royal Society of Chemistry's themed collection "Celebrating International Women’s Day 2026: Women in green chemistry." The article is authored by Kehinde Olonisakin and co-authored by Amar K. Mohanty, Mahendra Thimmanagari, and Manjusri Misra.To read the featured article, please visit this link.More from the themed collection: Celebrating International Women’s Day 2026: Women in green chemistry......
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