Karapiro’s Brayden Whitton
A Waipā student’s biodegradable foam innovation, using plant-based fibres, could soon replace polystyrene.
Brayden Whitton, of Karāpiro, is a PhD student at Waikato University’s School of Engineering, where he is on the cusp of cracking how to scale up production of a biodegradable, sponge-like material called cellulose foam. If successful, it could become a sustainable alternative to polystyrene which is used around the world, mostly in packaging.
Whitton’s innovation and research into cellulose gained international attention in March when he won the Australasian Pulp and Paper Technical Association New Speakers Competition in Melbourne.
Whitton told The News that he was “stoked” with the award and aspired to help create a sustainable solution to a global environmental problem – plastic packaging.
“Materials of the future need to be more sustainable. As scientists and engineers, we have a responsibility to harness the strength of natural materials and develop practical, environmentally friendly alternatives,” he said.
Cambridge News 7 May 2026
Polystyrene, also known as styrofoam, is widely used in packaging and insulation but poses environmental issues. It is not biodegradable, difficult to recycle, and often ends up in landfills or the natural environment.
Cellulose foam is made from a variety of natural sources, including recycled paper, plant materials, and wood pulp. It can be composted, or recycled, and is produced using water-based processes rather than harmful solvents.
Whitton showed The News a sample of the cellulose material, which is lightweight yet firm, with a slightly springy, cardboard-like texture.
He described it as somewhere between a dry kitchen sponge, puffed popcorn and marshmallows.
Whitton said his research was backed by a great team of Waikato University PhD students and professors, who were working on challenges to mass produce cellulose.
His research was supervised by Associate Professor Dalour Beg and Professor Kim Pickering, both from the School of Engineering.
The main challenge was that the foam-like material had to be scalable and viable for commercial operators to use it in place of polystyrene, Whitton said.
He hoped to find a viable solution by the time he finished his PhD in 2028. His research was funded by a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) fund – the Smart Ideas Endeavour Fund.
Brayden Whitton is gaining international attention for his research into a natural foam that could replace polystyrene. Photo: Michelle Lachmann
