Banana Waste into Sustainable shopping bags and food containers

Date:29 Nov 2019

Country: Australia

Application

• It is utilized in eco-friendly, biodegradable food packaging applications, including shopping bags and food containers.

Description

Researchers at UNSW have developed a sustainable packaging material from banana plant pseudostems, which are usually discarded after harvest. The team extracts cellulose from the pseudostems and processes it into biodegradable, recyclable films suitable for food packaging. The material is non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and can be used for products like shopping bags and food trays. This innovative solution addresses agricultural waste and offers an eco-friendly alternative to plastic packaging.

 

Pathway Description:

The banana pseudostem is first dried and then ground into a fine powder. This powder is treated with a mild chemical process to extract cellulose, which is then processed into nano-cellulose. The nano-cellulose is formed into films of varying thicknesses, suitable for packaging materials. The material is biodegradable, recyclable, and non-toxic, making it ideal for sustainable packaging solutions.