5 innovations that could end plastic waste
5 innovations that could end plastic waste
1. Packaging inspired by nature
The University of Pittsburgh team applies nano-engineering to create a recyclable material that can replace complex multi-layered packaging that is unrecyclable. This mimics the way nature uses just a few molecular building blocks to create a huge variety of materials.
2. Recyclable packaging, with help from magnets
Aronax Technologies Spain proposes a magnetic additive that can be applied to a material, creating better air and moisture insulation — making it suitable to protect sensitive products such as coffee and medical products, while still being possible to recycle.
The additive — small, plate-like particles of silicates and iron oxide — will provide plastics with much better abilities to block gases such as oxygen, but can be identified and separated at the recycling stage.
3. Packaging from food waste
Working together, Full Cycle Bioplastics, Elk Packaging and Associated Labels and Packaging make a compostable high-performance material from renewable materials, agricultural by-products and food waste to pack a broad range of products from granola bars and crisps to laundry detergent.
4. 'Plastic' made from wood
The VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has created a compostable multi-layer material from agricultural and forestry by-products, which could be used for stand-up food pouches for products such as muesli, nuts, dried fruit and rice.
These wood by-products contain cellulose, the most abundant renewable polymer on the planet, making this new material an environmentally benign alternative to fossil fuel-based, multi-layered plastic packaging.
5. Compostable coatings
The Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC has developed a coating with silicate and biopolymers that can be used in many food packaging applications, protecting biopolymer packaging and food against premature degradation and is fully compostable.
The new coatings can improve the performance of bio-based and biodegradable packaging, which alone cannot guarantee the required minimum shelf life of many food products.
Follow US!
Blog
https://www.ecomasteryproject.com/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/ecomasteryp...
Pinterest
https://www.pinterest.ca/ecomasterypr...
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Eco-Mastery-...
Twitter
https://twitter.com/ecomasterypro
Full article:
https://www.greenbiz.com/artic....le/5-innovations-cou