Virginia Tech® home

SBIO

Undergraduate's research looks toward a more sustainable future

Brian Tea received a CNRE Undergraduate Research Fellowship to investigate how biodegradable single-use cutlery goes from waste stream to compost.

Brian Tea received a CNRE Undergraduate Research Fellowship to investigate how biodegradable single-use cutlery goes from waste stream to compost.

Brian Tea shows the forks he is using to research their ability to biodegrade
November 9th, 2023 - CNRE undergraduate research fellow Brian Tea works in a lab in ICTAS II. His research is focused on the potential for at-home compostable plastic cutlery. (Photo by Luke Hayes/Virginia Tech)

Packaging to Polymers

Sustainable Biomaterials majors work to create solutions to key issues in global ecology, from pollution to climate change. We research sustainable, renewable biomaterials and biopolymers to reduce adverse environmental impacts across industries. Our packaging major focuses on ways to positively affect the entire supply chain and its environmental impact, because every resource that is moved for industry or commerce is packaged. 

In the Spotlight