Mountain House, California
Age 14 at the time of innovation.
Achievement: Developed bio.fiber.plastic to reduce plastic waste
One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.
That saying is especially true for Jacqueline. When she learned about the lasting effects of plastics on the environment and realized that Americans produce 200 million tons of garbage every year, she decided to turn garbage into valuable resources for a cleaner, healthier Earth.
Jacqueline developed bio.fiber.plastic, a new bioplastic that is a fusion between garbage and broken rice pulp. She explored how structural fibers from common plant-based materials that would otherwise be thrown away—paper, cotton, and corn husks— could improve the formation and strength of rice-based bioplastics. Using bio.fiber.plastic, which would break down in the environment, could give these wastes new lives.
Jacqueline’s goal is to continue to develop eco-friendly materials that are more sustainable than regular plastics by upcycling everyday garbage to reduce global plastic pollution.
Watch Jacqueline’s project summary:
Watch Jacqueline’s prototype video here: