# Brazilian 14 Year Old Student Crafts Eco Friendly Tray From Cassava Peels and Araucaria Tree Debris to Replace Styrofoam

> Fourteen-year-old student Lucas Tadao Sugahara Wernicke from Curitiba, Paraná, has created a biodegradable tray from cassava peels and fallen Araucaria branches that decomposes in just 30 days.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Success Stories · **Published:** 2026-08-01 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/success-stories/brazil-ke-14-varshiya-chhatra-ne-cassava-chhilake-aura-araucaria-se-banai-styrofoam-ka-vikalpa-dene-vali-30-dina-men-ghulane-vali--12929 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Environment, Biodegradable Tray, Cassava Peels, Araucaria, Lucas Tadao Sugahara Wernicke, Brazil, Plastic Alternatives, Circular Economy

While plastic and styrofoam pollution remains an alarming environmental crisis across the globe, a 14-year-old school student in Brazil has demonstrated a practical, natural solution derived entirely from agricultural and botanical waste. Living in the city of Curitiba within the state of Paraná, Lucas Tadao Sugahara Wernicke has developed a fully biodegradable packaging tray using discarded cassava peels and fallen Araucaria tree debris. Designed as an eco-friendly alternative to commercial expanded polystyrene, commonly known as styrofoam, this innovative tray began as a modest classroom assignment and has quickly gained widespread recognition. Studying at Colégio Bom Jesus Centro, Lucas conceived the idea during a Scientific Initiation course while investigating where industrial waste ultimately accumulates. His determination to turn unwanted waste into a valuable resource inspired a continuous research journey that began in the 8th grade. By the time he reached the 9th grade, Lucas had successfully manufactured more than 30 functional biodegradable trays suitable for replacing synthetic packaging.

## The Styrofoam Crisis and the Quest for Natural Alternatives
Expanded polystyrene is utilized worldwide to package fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, and processed foods due to its lightweight properties and low production cost. However, once discarded into municipal waste streams, styrofoam poses a severe environmental hazard because it resists natural degradation. Scientific estimates indicate that conventional styrofoam packaging takes approximately 700 years to decompose in soil. Recognizing the urgency of finding a sustainable substitute, Lucas focused his attention on locally available raw materials that are typically treated as worthless refuse. In Brazil, cassava is harvested extensively for food production, leaving behind vast quantities of peels that are either discarded or used as low-value animal feed. Meanwhile, the Araucaria pine tree stands as an iconic official symbol of Paraná state, shedding its dry branches and needle-like leaves across parks and gardens, where they accumulate as green waste. By blending cassava peels with fallen Araucaria residue, Lucas applied the fundamental principles of a circular economy, transforming local waste into a high-value eco-friendly product.

## Manufacturing Process and Material Engineering
The fabrication method developed for these biodegradable trays relies on a systematic, multi-step process that eliminates the need for synthetic chemicals or petroleum derivatives. The collected cassava peels and Araucaria tree debris are thoroughly washed to remove impurities, completely dried, and then ground into a fine organic powder. This powder is mixed with water and pure cassava starch, which serves as a natural binder. The resulting mixture is heated, poured into compression molds, pressed firmly into shape, and allowed to dry completely. The integration of cassava starch as a natural adhesive is the critical technological breakthrough of this project, ensuring that the plant fibers bind together securely without any synthetic polymers or artificial glues. The resulting product achieves exceptional performance: whereas traditional styrofoam persists in the soil for roughly 700 years, Lucas's biodegradable tray completely decomposes in about 30 days. Although actual degradation timelines may fluctuate slightly depending on ambient soil humidity, temperature, and microbial activity, a 30-day decomposition cycle represents a monumental leap toward environmental sustainability.

## Rigorous Testing and Physical Performance
To ensure that the biodegradable trays could withstand real-world logistics and handling, Lucas subjected his prototypes to a series of physical and mechanical evaluations. The trays underwent compression testing to determine structural load capacity, torsion resistance evaluations to measure flexibility, water absorption monitoring, and systematic soil degradation tracking. To measure the precise rate of decomposition, samples were buried in moist soil under controlled conditions and monitored continuously. The test results confirmed that the cassava and Araucaria trays possess the mechanical strength required for food packaging applications while remaining entirely non-toxic and environmentally safe.

## Academic Recognition and Future Horizons
The impact of Lucas's research extended far beyond his middle school classroom. His innovation was showcased at prominent academic events, including the PUCPR Science Fair, and was officially published in the proceedings of a Scientific Initiation Symposium. His contributions earned him invitations to present at national science events alongside a prestigious scholarship awarded by the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). Looking ahead, Lucas plans to adapt his organic composite material for broader applications, including architectural models, product design, and interior decoration. According to data from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the world generates over 400 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with single-use packaging accounting for a major portion of that total. Scientific institutions worldwide are actively researching bio-based packaging materials derived from corn starch, sugarcane bagasse, rice husks, and cassava. Lucas Tadao Sugahara Wernicke's success stands as a compelling testament to how student-led scientific inquiry can directly contribute to international sustainability goals, showing that transformative environmental solutions can emerge from simple, creative ideas.

## What this means for you
**Practical Impact for Readers:**

- **Across India:** Opens new pathways for using agricultural and botanical waste to manufacture sustainable packaging solutions, potentially curbing reliance on single-use plastics.
- **Globally:** Provides a realistic, biodegradable alternative to persistent styrofoam packaging, addressing long-term landfill and environmental pollution.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Who is Lucas Tadao Sugahara Wernicke and what did he innovate?
Lucas Tadao Sugahara Wernicke is a 14-year-old student from Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, who created a biodegradable packaging tray from cassava peels and Araucaria tree debris as a replacement for styrofoam.

### 2. What raw materials are used to manufacture this eco-friendly tray?
The tray is produced using cleaned cassava peels, fallen Araucaria pine leaves and twigs, water, and natural cassava starch as a binding agent.

### 3. How long does it take for this tray to decompose compared to styrofoam?
While traditional styrofoam requires roughly 700 years to decompose in soil, Lucas's eco-friendly tray completely breaks down in approximately 30 days.

### 4. What academic recognitions has Lucas received for his research?
His project was presented at the PUCPR Science Fair, published in Scientific Initiation proceedings, and earned him a scholarship from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR).

## Inspiration & Lessons
**Inspiration and Practical Takeaways:**

- **Investigate Root Problems:** Closely examining daily environmental challenges can lead to breakthrough solutions.
- **Leverage Local Waste:** Readily available agricultural and plant residue can be transformed into high-value materials.
- **Validate Through Testing:** A classroom idea becomes a viable innovation through systematic experimentation and rigorous testing.
- **Embrace Circular Design:** Reimagining waste as a raw resource fuels sustainable technological progress.

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