®2026

Milkplastic

Milk
Plastic

Milk-derived bioplastics as an eco-friendly material for designing innovative pet toys. Harnessing casein, the primary protein in milk, we transform what would otherwise be waste into safe, durable, and biodegradable toys that cater to a pet's natural instincts and well-being

project type

BIO-Material

Team member

Chenchen Li

Year

2024

Role

designer

BACKGROUND

116M Tons of milk are wasted every year, accounting for about 8.5% of total milk production. In terms of impact per unit, milk waste has a larger environmental footprint than many plant-based food products

BIO PLASTIC

Bioplastics are sustainable materials derived from renewable biological sources like plants or waste products

Milk plastic is a sustainable and biodegradable material made from milk's natural protein, casein

INSIGHTS

When milk micelles come into contact with acid, it results in coagulation which enables the formation of milk plastic

Casein Proteins

Calcium Phosphate Cluster

Casein, inherently exhibits antimicrobial activity. It can inhibit the growth of certain bacteria on the product surface

Naturally Antibacterial Properties

Milk plastic retains trace protein characteristics, dogs are naturally attracted to protein-based materials due to carnivorous instincts

High Protein Content Mimics Edible Appeal

Casein Micelles

Milk plastic can be engineered to balance durability, making it ideal for product that need to withstand moderate wear

Biodegradability with Controlled Durability

Milk plastic’s customizable, antimicrobial, biodegradable, and protein-based properties stands out as an innovative choice for dog toys

Conclusion

PET TOY DESIGN

PET TOY
DESIGN

PET TOY DESIGN

`Characteristics of milk plastic`

Non-toxic

Biodegradable

Sturdy enough to withstand constant biting

`Dog toys can be made out of milk plastic`

Each toy addresses specific needs—dental health, physical exercise, and mental stimulation while supporting sustainability

`Characteristics of milk plastic`

Non-toxic

Biodegradable

Sturdy enough to withstand constant biting

`Dog toys can be made out of milk plastic`

Each toy addresses specific needs—dental health, physical exercise, and mental stimulation while supporting sustainability

Puzzle Toy

Chew Toy

Tug Toy

EXPERIMENT

`1 Heat the Milk Heat milk in a saucepan until the milk is steaming`

`2 Add Vinegar The milk will curdle, forming lumps (curds) and liquid`

`3 Strain the Mixture Pour the mixture through a strainer to separate the curds`

`4 Mold the Plastic and Dry Knead the curds together into a dough-like consistency`

`Challenge The loose structure of the protein makes it challenging to mold milk plastic into a durable, rigid form, as it tends to crack easily when dry`

SOLUTION

Instead of shaping the milk plastic while it's moist, we decided to dry it and grind it into powder and then mix the milk plastic powder with gelatin to create a durable object

Milkplastic