Curtin Malaysia research team turns waste into next-gen bioplastics, wins prestigious Curtinnovation Award 2025

Miri, Sarawak – 1 October 2025 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) has once again proven its research excellence on the global stage, winning the prestigious Curtin Global Award at the 2025 Curtinnovation Awards in Perth with its groundbreaking project ‘Waste to Bioplastic – Transforming Waste Biomass into Next-Gen Bioplastics.’

The award-winning project, led by Associate Professor Tan Inn Shi together with Associate Professor Henry Foo Chee Yew, Ir. Tian Foon Howe, Dr. Kevin Tian Xiang Tong, and Associate Professor Lam Man Kee, impressed the judges with an innovative green bioprocess that addresses two critical environmental challenges: plastic pollution and agricultural waste.

Selected from a record 109 submissions, with only 19 finalists across nine categories, the Curtin Malaysia team’s innovation stood out for its potential to revolutionise sustainable bioprocessing. Using ozonolysis and dilute acid treatment, the technology converts marine macroalgae and oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) into fermentable sugars, which are then used in microbial fermentation to produce high-purity lactic acid, a key ingredient in biodegradable plastics.

Associate Professor Tan highlighted the wider impact of the research, saying, “This project not only offers a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics but also creates a value-adding pathway for agricultural waste, supporting circular economy practices and Malaysia’s leadership in renewable bioprocess technologies.”

Meanwhile, Curtin Malaysia’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive of Curtin Malaysia, Professor Vincent Lee, heralded the team’s achievement as a prestigious recognition highlighting the dedication and creativity of Curtin Malaysia’s researchers.

“Curtin Malaysia has consistently proven its mettle at the Curtinnovation Awards over the years, and this latest win reinforces our role as a hub of world-class innovation,” he said.

Curtin Malaysia is no stranger to success at the Curtinnovation Awards, with multiple wins showcasing its diverse research strengths. In 2021, Associate Professor Agus Saptoro and PhD student Terence Chia Yi Kai won a Curtinnovation Award for their groundbreaking ‘AgriSmartEye’ – a rapid, reliable and cost-effective screening tool for analysing black pepper, combining hyperspectral imaging technologies with deep learning artificial neural networks (DLANN) to detect not only adulterants but also the chemical properties and origin of black pepper samples.

In 2023, Dr. Christine Yeo Wan Sieng and PhD student Eric Chua Yong Hong were recognised with a second Curtinnovation Award for their remarkable research innovation, ‘Pine Sense’, which utilises advanced artificial intelligence technology to predict pineapple quality based on skin colours.

Curtin University’s annual Curtinnovation Awards celebrate its commitment to transforming exceptional research at the university into new products and services that benefit communities nationally and globally. They showcase the scope, breadth and depth of the research conducted across the university, including at its global campuses in Australia, Malaysia, Dubai, Singapore, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka.

The Curtinnovation Award won by Associate Professor Tan Inn Shi and her team firmly positions Curtin Malaysia at the forefront of sustainable bioprocess technology and environmental research. Such achievements underscore Curtin Malaysia’s consistent ability to translate bold ideas into impactful solutions that address global challenges and its growing reputation as a leader in sustainable technologies and applied research.

Information on Curtin Malaysia can be found on its website at curtin.edu.my, or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and TikTok.

(L-R) Derek Gerrard (entrepreneur and Advisory Council member, Curtin University Business and Law School); Professor Harlene Hayne (Vice-Chancellor); Associate Professor Henry Foo; Associate Professor Tan; Professor Melinda Fitzgerald (Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research); Stephen Dawson (Science and Innovation Minister of Western Australia); and Rohan McDougall (Executive Director of Commercialisation).