Formulation of Biodegradable Nursery Pots from Poultry Feather Keratin

Situation: The U.S. poultry industry annually produces two billion pounds of feathers; considered waste biomaterials, they are converted into low value protein for use in animal feed. Feathers are not utilized for their unique structural properties as strong, lightweight fiber made of the protein keratin, which can be used to enhance the strength of polymers. The USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center has developed several processes for feathers tailored to their respective market application. Also, a major environmental issue currently facing the $11.2 Billion floriculture industry is the disposal of plastics (e.g., nursery containers) which are exempt from the plastics recycling stream due to the use of resins in production. According to the EPA, more than 29 million tons of non-biodegradable plastic waste ends up in landfills each year. Purpose: The processing of chickens is the number one agricultural activity of Maryland's Eastern Shore, generating by-products which could improve the bottom line of the industry. Developing alternative markets may be critical to the industry as it is anticipated that the Food and Drug Administration will issue rules restricting their use as an ingredient in chicken feed similar to actions taken for cattle relative to mad cow disease. The key components of this project will examine commercialization, market analysis and strategic planning, providing the basis for a comprehensive feasibility study of a poultry feather processing plant on the Eastern Shore of Maryland or Delaware to produce plastic feedstock for injection molding.