Bio-Plastics

Research Statement

Mardi Gras is a cornerstone of Louisiana’s culture and economy, playing a significant role in annual Carnival celebrations.  According to a report by Office of New Orleans Mayor, Mardi Gras generates nearly $891 million in economic impact for New Orleans in 2023. 

Mardi Gras beads are a cherished tradition symbolizing celebration, culture, and community spirit. They add vibrant energy to parades, creating a fun, interactive experience as revelers catch throws. Beads have become iconic, representing Louisiana rich heritage. The total bead market is valued at $50 to $100 million annually. Most beads are imported from overseas, supporting a supply chain, but efforts to develop local, sustainable alternatives could further boost the regional economy. In the past years, however, Mardi Gras beads present environmental and logistical challenges.　Mardi Gras beads pose significant environmental, health, and social challenges. Conventional plastic beads contribute to pollution, clog storm drains, and release toxic chemicals such as lead and cadmium into the environment. Cleanup efforts are costly and labor-intensive, while recycling is limited due to mixed materials. Additionally, many beads are produced under poor labor conditions overseas, raising ethical concerns. The overabundance of these beads promotes a disposable culture, overshadowing traditional and meaningful Mardi Gras practices. Efforts to address these issues include recycling initiatives, eco-friendly alternatives, and promoting homemade throws to reduce waste. The Krewe of Freret has announced a ban on throwing traditional plastic beads starting in 2025, which will eliminate over two million conventional beads from the streets and drains over the next decade. Eco-friendly alternatives are urgently needed for the Krewes and others looking to follow this lead.

To address this issue, we developed and introduced an innovative method that directly converts microalgal cultures into carotenoids—commercially valuable bioactive compounds—and biodegradable plastics in 2018. This approach offers a competitive cost advantage by leveraging the high carotenoid productivity of microalgae, followed by the sustainable conversion of algal waste from carotenoid extraction into bioplastics. This solution not only mitigates the environmental impact of traditional Mardi Gras beads but also creates new economic opportunities by integrating biotechnology into Louisiana’s iconic celebrations.

In 2025, the PlantMe Beads, biodegradable Mardi Gras beads were invented to inspire science and sustainability consciousness during Mardi Gras. Made with bio-based plastics and caging flower seeds, these beads sprout into flowers when planted in soil. The bead materials degrade by activities of the soil bacteria that are attracted by the flower roots, reducing environmental impact. PlantMe Beads can be produced using FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)-based 3D printers, making them accessible to individuals and educational institutions such as high schools and libraries.

Publications

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Kato, N. Algae-based bioplastics and methods of making United State Patent 2025 US12221604B2

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Kato, N. Production of Crude Bioplastic-Beads with Microalgae: Proof-of-Concept. Bioresource Technology Reports 2019, 6, 81–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2019.01.022.

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Kato, N.; Lum, T.; Légeret, B.; Li-Beisson, Y.; Ndathe, R. Centrifugation-Induced Production of Triacylglycerols in Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii. Bioresource Technology Reports 2019, 5, 326–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2018.10.003.