Regenerative Architecture: Plastic Biodegradation & Bioplastic Production Algae Farm

The current plastic recycling system burdens the environment with harmful CO2 emissions. Its operations mislead consumers to believe their duties of sorting waste according to material type will guarantee proper handling thereafter. However, this is not the case as less than 10% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled.2 Most of it has either been incinerated for energy, buried in landfills, or littered in the land or seas. Emerging technologies and government incentives are slowly changing this. One promising development is the use of genetically modified algae to biodegrade plastics and create bioplastic production. Algae has the potential to reduce land use, save water and improve the recycling economy to combat plastic pollution and climate crisis. By understanding algae, its environment, applications, benefits and risks, I have designed a space that requires no land to produce an algae farm.