A research team at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in New York, US, is working on a plant-derived material that could replace certain plastic uses in packaging.
The work centres on starch, which is being adapted into a biopolymer layer for paper-based packaging. The project is led by Sneh Bangar, assistant professor of packaging science in RIT’s College of Engineering Technology and leads the food packaging and shelf-life testing laboratory.
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Bangar said: “We were able to achieve the same barriers that plastic lamination or plastic coatings give. The goal is not to eliminate plastics but to reduce the use of plastics.
“When it comes to packaging, the food category contributes the most to the need for packaging options. We can add value to alternative packaging options with this new work.”
The researchers used crosslinking methods to modify pearl millet starch and change its internal structure to improve the material’s viscosity and make it more stable.
Crosslinking is a chemical method that links polymer materials at the molecular level to make them stronger. In materials science, it is used in efforts to produce substitutes for plastics made from petroleum.
Although starch is renewable, widely available and comparatively low-cost, it must be treated before it can function as a bio-plastic that is water-resistant, durable and stable.
Findings from recent tests were published in the International Journal of Food Properties.
The project is being carried out with Clemson University and received support through a grant from the US Department of Agriculture’s programme, Assisting Specialty Crop Exports—Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab.
Kyle Dunno is the professor and chair of CET’s Department of Packaging and Graphic Media Science.
He worked closely with Bangar and her research group on the biopolymers project.
Dunno said: “RIT is uniquely positioned to address these challenges through the integration of packaging science, materials research, manufacturing technologies, and product testing.
“Research like Dr Bangar’s exemplifies how our interdisciplinary approach can transform promising bio-based materials into practical packaging solutions that support a more sustainable future.”
