Two Belgian scientists have been selected as finalists in the ‘Industry’ category of the European Inventor Award 2023, the European Patent Office announced on Tuesday.
They are among 12 finalists chosen from more than 600 applicants worldwide, and owe their place on the shortlist to their work on reducing the environmental impact of plastic production.
Michiel Dusselier (KU Leuven) and Bert Sels (KU Leuven) aim to make plastic production and consumption patterns more efficient and reduce the environmental impact of plastic production.
To do this, they have moved away from conventional plastics and are focusing on developing an environmentally friendly bioplastic called polylactic acid (PLA).
The two Belgians have developed a one-step catalytic process to make PLA without using fossil fuels or toxic chemicals. According to the European Patent Office, the method saves energy and reduces costs, cutting the total cost of producing bioplastics by 30%.
The winners of the European Inventor Award 2023 will be announced at a ceremony in Valencia, Spain, on 4 July.
