New Biodegradable Packaging Keeps Your Food and The Environment Fresh
Written by Mateo Cepeda
Edited by Caleigh Donnelly
Jan 31, 2021
Edited by Caleigh Donnelly
Jan 31, 2021
When was the last time you got sick after eating something? A metric from the World Health Organization (WHO) found that, every year, hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of infections come from foodborne illnesses. The use of plastic packaging helps prevent bacteria from growing on our food, but this plastic is often thrown in the waste after we are done with it. With the impacts of the plastic industry changing global temperatures and harming marine ecosystems, researchers from Harvard are exploring new and unique ways to limit this harm. Innovative scientists have found a way to tackle both of these issues: biodegradable food packaging!
This packaging is made up of two main ingredients: nanofibers and antimicrobials. The fibers are made from zein, which is naturally found in corn, and they are even edible! The antimicrobial mixture consists mostly of essential oils like thyme oil and citric acid. As a whole, the packaging works by combining the nanofibers and natural antimicrobial agents, then passing an electric current through the mixture, which creates tiny, interlacing fibers. Passing an electric current through the fiber and antimicrobial mixture allows for the antimicrobials to fully coat the fibers on a microscopic level. This design has a large surface area because of its interlocking structure and therefore it is even more efficient than coating antimicrobial agents on plastic.
The results of the study from Harvard found that the fibers can significantly decrease the amounts of bacteria growth up to four weeks. What does this mean going forward? Zein fibers can be used in place of plastic packaging for foods that are more likely to spread bacteria, such as meats, dairy products, and vegetables. Not only is the packaging better for the environment, but it is designed to keep food fresh for longer. This fresh, sustainable, and effective material can start replacing plastic packaging by healing the environment and making our food safer at the same time!
Works Cited
Aytac, Zeynep, et al. Development of Biodegradable and Antimicrobial Electrospun Zein Fibers for Food Packaging. ACS Publications, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 21 Oct. 2020.
<pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c05917>.