Welcome to the Evolving Folks Project’s Evolved “Young” Man of the Week profile. Today, we will highlight historical and contemporary figures who embody what it means to be an evolved person, famous and non-famous. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to the Brazilian teen, Lucas Tadao Sugahara Wernick.
Lucas Tadao Sugahara Wernick, a 14-year-old student in Brazil, is attracting nationwide interest by developing a biodegradable alternative to standard Styrofoam food trays, using locally sourced agricultural waste. This project began as a school science initiative in Curitiba, Paraná’s capital. Its goal is to address the environmental problems caused by single-use plastics by using cassava peels and araucaria tree residues that would otherwise be discarded.
When Wernick learned that Styrofoam, often used to package produce and meats, can stay in the environment for centuries, he started looking for eco-friendly packaging options. Project records show that Styrofoam can take up to 700 years to break down, adding to plastic pollution. Wernick decided to try using cassava peels from Brazil’s food industry and araucaria tree residues, which naturally fall from Paraná pine trees and are usually thrown away.
To make the trays, they mix dried, ground cassava peels with processed araucaria residues, water, and cassava starch. They clean the raw materials, grind them into fine particles, then heat and press them into molds before drying. Cassava starch, which comes from a common local crop, acts as a natural binder, so there’s no need for synthetic additives or plastics. These trays are meant to replace traditional Styrofoam containers for fresh-produce packaging.
Tests show that these biodegradable trays are much better for the environment than Styrofoam. Lucas says the trays break down in about 30 days under the right conditions, while traditional options can last for centuries. To ensure the packaging works in real life, the project tested strength, pressure resistance, twisting, water absorption, and how well the trays break down. The trays were strong enough for food packaging and broke apart in damp soil, proving they work well.
Since Brazil is one of the world’s biggest cassava producers, cassava peels are a great resource for new ideas like this. The natural starch in the peels acts as a glue, helping to make lightweight materials when mixed with fibrous tree residues. This approach reduces the need for new raw materials and supports circular-economy principles by reusing materials that would otherwise go to waste.
Wernick’s invention has earned recognition at Brazilian science fairs, such as the PUCPR Science Fair, and has been featured in the proceedings of a scientific initiation symposium. This achievement underscores the greater possibilities of agricultural waste as a source for biodegradable packaging materials.
As countries work to reduce their reliance on petroleum-derived plastics, this solution is gaining prominence globally. While more development is necessary for mass production and deployment, the project highlights the potential of grassroots innovation using local materials and waste streams to reduce plastic pollution and promote a sustainable future.
We at the Evolved Folks Project wish Wernick all the best as he and his team work to refine the process to mass-produce biodegradable food containers. Wernick is part of a younger generation thinking outside the box to help solve some of humanity’s greatest 21st-century challenges. Today we honor Lucas Tadao Sugahara Wernick as our evolved young man of the week.
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