BioPots - Biodegradable Pots From Food Waste

When food is disposed of in a landfill it rots and produces 86x more methane than CO2. I've provided a method of using food waste to reduce methane production.

This project presents an innovative proposal to prepare nursery pots from food waste. Food waste is commonly found in houses, vegetable shops and vegetable cold storage on a day to day basis. Most of the time the food waste is thrown away with other non-biodegradable waste which isn’t viable for our Earth as it causes environmental problems. Here I have tried to make bio-pots out of food waste which reduces the amount of methane production as a large chunk of methane is produced due to food waste. Bio-pots are also a replacement of plastic pots used in nurseries which can also help our environment substantially. In todays world the problem of plastic pollution and global warming has become a big concern for the upcoming generation's future. Bio-pots are completely made out of food waste which not only reduce methane production but also

When food is disposed of in a landfill it rots and becomes a significant source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that's up to 86 times more powerful than carbon dioxide and also the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. We can see in many parts of the world where the effect of global warming is visible, factors like  I have provided a method of using food waste which not only would decrease methane production but also simultaneously decrease plastic use. This project can also increase the income of cow-keepers and fruit and vegetable vendors by selling cow dung and food waste respectively, for making bio-pots out of it.

Bio-pots alternate method of making nursery pots is by using food waste which is cheaper. Focusing primarily on how fast it would biodegrade, and the micronutrients it would provide the soil when biodegraded; Bio-pots showed better germination with less mortality rate of the saplings which can bring a big improvement in the nursery sector.  As bio-pots biodegrades in just a week, it easily transforms into organic matter in due course and over a period of time forms humus and further helps in the plant’s growth. Plant roots can grow through the pot walls by penetrating, which provides a strong root system. It also provides moderate moisture and increases microbial activity in soil which can increase the humus production.  It will help farmers spend less on fertilizers which are also not good for soil fertility and our health. 

I have volunteered with many organizations which have similar motto to stop plastic pollution. I've also had talk with famous environmentalist like The Plogman of India, Dipu Raman has helped me and mentored me to work towards the betterment of environment. To understand my core problem, I went street by street meeting and discussing with street vendors about the use of plastic. I also discussed my solution with my chemistry teacher and he helped me with improving the project.

I have successfully made Bio-pots during testing and found that plants flourished even more than they would in regular plastic pots. Bio-pots demonstrated greater germination with a lower death rate of seedlings, which has the potential to significantly enhance the nursery business. I did the testing of Bio-pots by planting different types of sapling and seedlings. At the end, all the saplings and seedlings flourished and showed numerous improvements.

In the making of Bio-pots the use manufacturing technology is essential and important because to give the pots a proper shape to handle soil is very important. As the plant requires water, that's why the pots need to be sturdy enough to hold the water in. During testing even without manufacturing technology, I was able to create pretty sturdy pots that could withstand water. This goes to show that the Bio-pots are overall pretty sturdy by itself.

This projects serves all the farmers and people. With the help of Bio-pots farmers will get natural manure for the soils without the use of fertilizers in the cost of plastic made pots. It will also reduce overall plastic usage which will reduce pollution around the world.

My goals for next year with this project is to implicate it in a larger scale and also improve the manufacturing procedure and make it even more sturdy so that it can be implemented in the day to day life. My plans are to completely remove the usage of plastic that is used in nursery shops. Bio-pots will also nourish the soil in which the pot will be placed in and would provide all the micronutrients that the plant requires, therefore Bio-pots can be a revolutionary innovation which can contribute in the reduction of plastic pollution and can simultaneously reduce methane production.

To measure my progress would be to grow and test after certain improvements in Bio-pots. I would be using tools and technology to determine how fast Bio-pots biodegrades and provides nutrients to the plants.

Currently the barriers I am facing is with manufacturing technology to implement it on a larger scale. I have plans for the Bio-pots by specifically approaching big manufacturing companies to help building a easier method to create Bio-pots.

I have been taking some advice from my chemistry teacher to improve the Bio-pots. I worked on the Bio-pots alone with my parents helping me to get all the necessary items for me to work on the project .

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we would learn from other peers and improve our work to fit day to day life.