Tracey Read, The University of Queensland

Tracey Read is a PhD candidate at The University of Queensland’s ARC Training Centre in Bioplastics and Biocomposites in the School of Chemical Engineering. Tracey’s interest in biodegradable plastics stems from 10+ years working in the NGO sector In Hong Kong for the charity she co-founded Plastic Free Seas. She delivered solution-focused, research-based education programs, promoting waste reduction action and dispelling greenwashing myths in schools, companies and in the community. Her PhD is 18-month aquatic field trial analysing 3 different biodegradable plastics of varying thickness in 4 locations. The research objectives include understanding the impacts of different processing methods and the effects of a plasticiser and filler on the rates of biodegradation of bioplastics in aquatic environments.