Biocomposites and the Circular Economy

Dr. Abbas S. Milani is a tenured full Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia, Canada. His major scholarly and administrative roles to date include: Founding Director of the UBC Materials and Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI); Technical Director of the Composites Research Network (CRN); Lead of Canadian-International Biocomposites Research Network; Lead of UBC-Pacific Economic Development Canada-Advancing Circular Economy (ACE) program; Lead of UBC-NRC IRAP National Circular Economy Contribution to Organizations Program; and Lead of NSERC CREATE in Immersive Technologies (CITech). His primary expertise falls into advanced modeling, simulation, and multi-criteria design optimization of composite/biocomposite materials, structures, and manufacturing processes. His research to date has resulted in over 400 publications, including six books. In 2020, Dr. Milani was inducted into the Royal Society of Canada (RSC)–College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists which is Canada’s first national system of multidisciplinary recognition for the emerging generation of Canadian intellectual leadership.Mahdi Takaffoli is a senior research engineer at the Materials and Manufacturing Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Canada. He has served as the coordinator for several research and training initiatives, including the Cluster of Research Excellence in Biocomposites, the Cluster for Microplastics, Health, and the Environment, and the Circular Economy Seed Funding program. Mahdi holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and is an alumnus of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's From Linear to Circular Programme.

• 1. An Introduction to Biocomposites2. Agriwastes for Biocomposites3. Valorization of Lignin towards Sustainable Biocomposites4. A Cleaner Approach to Utilize Discarded Fabric to Strengthen Wood-Ash Treated Soil: A Circular Textile Economy Perspective5. Application of Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) for Ranking and Selection of Biocomposites in Construction – A Case Study6. A New Acetone-based Treatment Process for Fabricating Flax Fibre-Reinforced Bioepoxy Composites with Vacuum Infusion7. 3D-printting of Biocomposites8. Lignin Containing Aerogels9. Degradation Studies of Biodegradable Composites10. Biodegradation of Bioplastics in Aerobic and Anaerobic Environments11. Recycling of Biocomposites12. A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Supply Chain Design Strategies to Improve Hemp Use Efficiency in Biocomposites Production13. A Techno-Economic Investigation of Hemp-based Biocomposite Supply chain: A Case Study in Western Canada