Bioplastics research spurs international collaboration with Dongsung Chemical

Virginia Tech researchers are advancing new ways to transform food waste into biopolymers, biodegradable, bio-based plastics with potential uses in packaging and other specialty materials, and that work is now drawing international industry attention.

Building on several years of research led by faculty in the College of Natural Resources and Environment and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the university has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Dongsung Chemical Co. Ltd., a South Korea–based materials company. The agreement establishes a framework to expand collaborative research in bioplastics and explore future pathways for commercialization.

“Since co-founding the Virginia Tech packaging program in 2014, this represents our first international collaboration with a global plastics leader in Korea to commercialize bioplastic technologies,” said Young-Teck Kim, associate professor in the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials. “Driven by interdisciplinary collaboration at Virginia Tech, the collaboration spans the full pipeline from materials to applications and positions the program as a global leader in sustainable packaging.”

Virginia Tech researchers have focused on improving biopolymer production efficiency, identifying viable waste-based feedstocks, and evaluating how these materials could perform in real-world applications. Their work reflects the university’s broader strengths in sustainable biomaterials, polymer science, and circular economy systems.

“At Virginia Tech, our research is focused on solving real, interconnected problems, and food waste and plastic pollution are two of the most pressing,” said Zhiwu "Drew" Wang, associate professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering. “By developing a process that turns highly variable food waste into high-quality, biodegradable plastics, we’re showing what’s possible when fundamental research is designed with real-world impact in mind. Our collaboration with Dongsung Chemical helps move this work beyond the lab, accelerating the path to products that reduce environmental harm while supporting sustainable manufacturing.”

Dongsung Chemical identified bioplastics as a core area of its long-term business strategy with a goal of increasing the share of its products derived from non-fossil-based carbon sources. Over the past year, the company has supported Virginia Tech’s work through sponsored research funding, including an initial research grant to launch biopolymer production processes and a subsequent seed grant focused on using food waste as a feedstock.

An exclusive global licensing agreement for the underlying technology has also been executed through Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, with a patent currently pending.

“This memorandum reflects an exciting opportunity to bring together Virginia Tech’s research strengths and industry expertise to explore new approaches to sustainable materials,” said Saskia van de Gevel, dean of the College of Natural Resources and Environment. “We are especially honored that our college faculty are being asked to engage in this work and to help shape emerging bioplastics research at this early stage. This agreement is intentionally focused on exploration and discovery, creating space for faculty and student innovation, and thoughtful evaluation of how these technologies will be developed responsibly and at scale.”

Dongsung President and CEO Man-Woo Lee visited Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus in January to meet with university leadership, faculty, and regional partners as part of the memorandum signing.

“We believe that the most meaningful innovations are born through deep, long-term collaborations with academia,” said Man-Woo Lee, Dongsung Chemical CEO. “Through this MOU, we will combine Virginia Tech's world-class research capabilities with Dongsung Chemical’s industrial expertise to build a bridge between academic study and practical application. By strengthening our research presence in the United States, we will jointly create a research-driven, sustainable future.”

Under the memorandum, Dongsung will explore options to establish a U.S. presence closely connected to the university’s innovation ecosystem and bioplastics commercialization efforts. As an early step, the company is considering leasing space within the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, which would provide immediate access to faculty expertise, student talent, and collaborative research opportunities. Dongsung may also evaluate support for a dedicated research and processing laboratory at Virginia Tech’s Brooks Forest Products Center, an expansion that would deepen technical collaboration and accelerate product development, pending additional planning and formal agreements.

Faculty involved in the collaboration represent multiple disciplines across the two colleges, reflecting Virginia Tech’s interdisciplinary approach to sustainable materials research. If the collaboration advances, it could create future opportunities for applied research, pilot-scale testing, and hands-on student engagement.

“This collaboration highlights the power of interdisciplinary research at Virginia Tech,” said Mario Ferruzzi, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). “Through CALS, our faculty are advancing innovative ways to turn food waste into valuable bioplastics, work that connects agriculture, engineering, and environmental science in service to sustainability and economic development. Collaborations like this help move discovery from the lab into real-world solutions.”

University and company leaders emphasized that the memorandum represents an early-stage framework rather than a finalized plan, with next steps focused on continued research progress and mutual evaluation.

“This is about taking a thoughtful, research-driven approach,” van de Gevel said. “We’re focused on learning, testing, and understanding.”