Nick Carter at Primitives Biodesign

For my practicum, I worked at Primitives Biodesign, a company that conducts research to create biodegradable plastics with advanced properties. Its technology ties directly to the company’s mission of creating new, smarter plastics that reduce the impact of plastics pollution on the environment. My project focused around a central life-cycle assessment of a functional unit of product manufactured by Primitives Biodesign. One task was to determine the scope, parameters, materials, impact categories, and partners all involved in the assessment. This involved in-depth research and professional meetings with experts in fields of bioplastics, life cycle assessment, food waste streams, values-based food chains, and more. As subprojects, I created a feedstock library, which evaluates all feedstocks involved in the LCA; and a process diagram, illustrating the life-cycle assessment.

            My experience with Primitives not only strengthened my research and project planning skills, but also expanded my professional network tremendously. When planning the life-cycle assessment, I had the opportunity to (virtually) meet experts from the World Wildlife Fund and Environmental Protection Agency, end-of-life waste management partners, external environmental consultants and more. I’m incredibly thankful for the time and work I committed to Primitives, but I’m looking forward to using these skills in the future.