First Advisor

Jan Just

Date of Award

Summer 8-5-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Environmental Science and University Honors

Department

Environmental Science and Management

Language

English

Subjects

Specialty Mushroom Cultivation, Plastic Waste Reduction, Compostable and Biodegradable Packaging, Sustainable Product Development, Sustainability in Small Business, Recycling in Mushroom Cultivation

Abstract

Specialty mushroom cultivator, Bridgetown Mushrooms, generates approximately 3 metric tons of polypropylene plastic waste a year. This is just a fraction of the 1-2 million metric tons created by the specialty mushroom industry annually. With only 10% of plastic waste being used as secondary materials, the majority of this waste ends up in landfills or in the environment. Through collaboration with employees within Bridgetown’s operation and government agency mentorship, it was determined that the most viable and ecological solution to reduce on-farm plastic waste within Bridgetown’s operation was to develop a reusable growing apparatus as a direct replacement for polypropylene bags. This case study examines the feasibility for recycling plastic waste within local and private municipalities, assesses the environmental impact of biodegradable plastics, explores alternative cultivation techniques, and conducts a preliminary cradle-to-gate life cycle impact assessment to evaluate the carbon output of developing a reusable grow bag made of silicone rubber (SR). This study was conducted with the goal of sharing findings with the specialty mushroom industry at large

Comments

Thank you so much, Professor Just! I have completed the few revisions you requested.

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