Teysha Technologies Ltd, a London-based bioplastics startup, claims to have developed a breakthrough technology to develop organic-based plastic substitute.

In a statement to PNE, the company said its “plug-and-play” process take monomers and co-monomers from bio-based feedstock, such as starches and agricultural waste, to produce biopolymers that can be used in a large variety of applications.

Particularly, what makes the Teysha technology stand out is that it allows the company to “precisely tune the physical, mechanical and chemical properties” of its polymers.

“In doing so, we can adjust the strength, toughness, durability and longevity of our polymers to suit different applications,” according to Matthew Stone, commercialisation director of Teysha Technologies.

The “tunability” of the technology will allow for the manufacture of a wide variety of final products, from medical implants and vehicle moulding to food packaging and even cladding for building construction.

Teysha claims that its technology can produce bio-polycarbonate materials that are rigid or flexible, or that offer different thermal properties.

The process uses polyhydroxyl natural products as monomeric building blocks and carbonates as the linkages to produce the polycarbonates.

Crucially, the company asserts that it can control the biodegradation of its polymers – i.e. either within weeks or years.

Teysha maintains that its materials are fully compatible with existing production methods and that they “slots easily” into current manufacturing facilities.