Puspendu Adhikari, Ishita Srivastava, Rishabh Pandey, and Vivek Kant
The primary aim of the project is to comprehend the possibilities of using microorganisms to aid in the degradation of plastics. The synthetic nature of the polymer structure of plastics causes it to degrade for centuries, leading to accumulation and long-term environmental damage due to the release of toxins. Microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria, that are excessively exposed to plastics have now evolved to treat it as a source of nutrition, effectively digesting it into simple end products. During gigamapping, we first analysed the parts of the system, such as the stakeholders involved, impactful factors like the life cycle of plastics, and interaction with microorganisms. Then we put them together to examine the system as a whole. Further, the data is analysed using ZIP analysis, where we zoomed into the highest impact areas, recognised pain points, and developed design interventions through innovations. In terms of the results, we have conceptualised a mycelium incubator and research kit specifically designed to study fungal behaviour on plastic degradation. This design solution unlocks a sustainable, scalable pathway for mitigating plastic pollution, bridging research gaps, and integrating bioremediation into the design by using the natural capabilities of mycelium to break down toxic materials. Our final solution included the design being more adaptable for independent researchers and allowing them to have different temperature and humidity levels to study the mycelium, to conduct more studies simultaneously, and generate more data.
KEYWORDS: mycelium incubator, microbial biodegradation, enzyme-based plastic degradation, decentralised bioremediation, plastic waste valorisation, circular bio-economy, sustainable waste management
