Tara Steenbakkers
My name is Tara Steenbakkers, and I study at the Koning Willem I College in ’s-Hertogenbosch. For this project, I set myself the goal of creating a more sustainable version of a common everyday object: the protein powder scoop.
My project began with a simple question: How can we create an eco-friendly alternative to the standard protein powder scoop?
Driven by a desire to reduce plastic waste, I started experimenting with homemade bioplastics. I explored materials like banana peels, cornstarch, and potato starch.
These natural ingredients were fascinating to work with, but they came with challenges — most samples turned out to be too fragile or begain to mold. However, a few stood out. The banana peel plastics (Samples 1 & 2) and one of the potato starch plastics (Sample 11) held up surprisingly well — they didn’t mold and were more durable than expected.
This brought me to a new challenge: Which of these materials could actually hold the shape and function of a scoop over time? That’s the question I’m currently exploring further through continued testing and refinement.
In the meantime, to create a fully functional prototype, I turned to PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) — a biobased plastic made by microorganisms. PHA is not only compostable, but also tough enough for everyday use, making it an ideal material for a scoop that’s meant to last.
ORIGINAL
