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Open Access CC BY V4.0
Report
Open-source PHA bioplastic, biodegradable 3D printed anchor pods for seagrass and mangrove restoration
Murdoch University
2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60867/00000155
Abstract
Restoration of seagrass meadows and mangrove forests is hindered by transplant loss to waves, currents, and sediment movement before roots establish. Conventional anchoring materials contribute to marine debris or incur retrieval costs. Here we present a two-part 3D printed anchor pod made from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a biodegradable bioplastic, featuring a spiked perforated cone base filled with local sediment for anchoring and an open cage dome that protects the plant while allowing light and water flow. The pod requires no adhesives or fasteners, prints on standard desktop printers, and is designed to degrade in situ once the plant is established. Prototype testing is underway in Thailand through a collaboration between Murdoch University and Walailak University, and the complete design package is released openly with a DOI minted at deposit through the Murdoch University Research Portal, enabling local adaptation and deployment. This approach offers a sustainable, customisable way to improve early-stage survival in coastal ecosystem restoration without contributing to persistent marine debris.
Details
- Title
- Open-source PHA bioplastic, biodegradable 3D printed anchor pods for seagrass and mangrove restoration
- Authors/Creators
- Sakshi Tiwari - Murdoch University, Food Futures InstituteAlexandra Gulizia - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Farming SystemsDaniel Murphy - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Farming SystemsAndrew Macrae - Murdoch University, Food Futures Institute
- Publisher
- Murdoch University
- Grant note
- The Thailand seagrass restoration project applying these pods is jointly funded by the National Research Council of Thailand and Murdoch University's Bioplastics Innovation Hub, supported by the CSIRO.
- Identifiers
- 991005909773307891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Food Futures Institute; Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
- Resource Type
- Report
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