U.S. research finds new biodegradable plant-based packaging coating

To produce environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic food packaging and containers, scientists at Rutgers University have researched and developed a biodegradable, plant-based coating that can be sprayed on food products to prevent invasion by pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms as well as transportation damage. The research was recently published in the journal Nature Food. This scalable process may reduce the negative environmental impact of plastic food packaging and protect human health.

　　"We all know that humans need to abandon existing plastic food packaging and replace it with more sustainable, biodegradable and non-toxic packaging." Philip Democritus, professor of nanoscience and environmental bioengineering at Rutgers University, said, "We are also asking ourselves, 'Can we design packaging that will extend shelf life and reduce food waste while improving food safety?'"

　　This time, the researchers introduced a new packaging technology called "focused rotational jet spinning" that uses biopolymer fibers, a sticky material that can be sprayed from a heated device similar to a hair dryer and then "shrink-wrapped" on food of all shapes and sizes. ". The resulting food packaging material is strong enough to prevent food from being damaged by external forces. It also contains antimicrobial agents that fight spoilage and disease-causing microorganisms such as E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes.

　　Quantitative evaluations showed that the new packaging extended the shelf life of avocados by 50%. Experiments showed that the packaging could be rinsed off with water and degraded in the soil within 3 days.

　　The paper also describes how the new fibers that wrap the food incorporate natural antibacterial ingredients - thyme oil, citric acid and lacto-streptolysin. Researchers can program this smart material to act as a sensor, activating and destroying bacterial strains to ensure that food is not contaminated. This would address growing concerns about foodborne illness and reduce the incidence of food spoilage.

　　The new packaging is designed to address a serious environmental problem: the proliferation of petroleum-based plastic products in the garbage. Democritus said the new technology is able to transform biopolymers (derived from food waste, which can be used as part of a circular economy) into smart fibers that can be wrapped directly around food. This is part of a new generation of "smart" and "green" food packaging that is expected to help limit the use of plastic.