Recycling polymers to make greenhouses

Canadian food self-sufficiency is a major issue and current domestic greenhouse production can produce a part of consumption. However, a large amount of Canada's food supply is imported, and road transport is currently a major Canadian political issue, which also generates greenhouse gases (GHG). To develop the locality and circularity of products from greenhouse production, the project aims to develop new greenhouse designs by recycling agricultural polymers that are accumulating on Canadian farms and that can be used for another cycle. Formulating new polymers based on recycled polyethylene (PE), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and other types should answer this challenge. In this work, a protocol was established to ensure the quality control of the recycled PE materials. One type of structural composite is designed based on the recycled agricultural polymers. The new greenhouse design also aims to reduce the greenhouse's energy consumption. The use of renewable energy combined with these new materials can also limit the use of fossil energy. The new greenhouse design should increase crop yields, reducing production costs. It will contribute to building a more diversified and sustainable food system.