Bioplastics are produced from renewable resources and can degrade in the environment. They make a far more sustainable solution to petroleum-based plastics, but they are currently too expensive for widespread use.

MetaCycler is creating cost-effective bioplastics. We are focused on integrating waste products into a circular bio-economy to produce a wide range of useful plastic materials.

Microbes are a reservoir of diverse metabolic pathways. By leveraging their abilities to digest agricultural, food, and other waste products, we can build better sustainable bio-based plastics.

MetaCycler BioInnovations develop a range of microorganisms that can use renewable resources such as food waste as feedstock to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). This bio-based plastic can break down in the environment, and is the only material available that is both marine and biodegradable while possessing traditional plastic-like properties.

MetaCycler began at the University of Waterloo in 2022. We are a highly collaborative team of interdisciplinary researchers committed to creating a sustainable future.