Kimiko Okuda

Japanese biochemist who developed algae-based plastic alternatives in 1970s environmentalism

Dr. Kimiko Okuda (1934–2009) revolutionized sustainable materials through her work with algae-derived biopolymers at Kyoto Industrial Research Institute. Her 1978 discovery of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii's plastic-producing properties created the first commercially viable bio-plastic, predating modern PHA research by two decades.

Facing skepticism in male-dominated chemical industries, Okuda partnered with fishing communities to cultivate plastic algae farms in Seto Inland Sea. By 1985, her Green Polymer Project supplied 12% of Japan's agricultural mulch films. Though overshadowed by petrochemical lobbies, her patents laid groundwork for today's marine biodegradables.

Her activist book 『海からの贈り物』(Gifts from the Sea) (1983) sparked Japan's eco-packaging movement. The Okuda Marine Material Prize, established in 2001, continues her mission to harmonize industry with ocean ecosystems.