US firm plans to convert melon waste into bioplastics

AgroRenew, a newly formed US firm, plans to open a facility in Knox County (USA) that will convert the waste from Indiana’s watermelon, pumpkin, and cantaloupe industries into biodegradable plastics.

The company is mulling a $83-mn investment in the facility, which is expected to break ground in early 2024. The facility is scheduled to open by 2026 and employ nearly 250 people. There are also future plans to establish a Bioplastics Innovation Centre next to the facility