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Valorization of wood pulp to mechanically strong and biodegradable packaging foams by wet foaming process
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Researchers developed biodegradable packaging foams from wood pulp and lignin using a wet foaming process, optimizing surfactant concentration and foaming time to achieve densities as low as 0.013 g/cm3 and porosities up to 99.2% as sustainable alternatives to expanded polystyrene.
This research focuses on developing environmentally friendly, biodegradable foams as alternatives to traditional petroleum-based materials like polyurethane and expanded polystyrene (EPS). Utilizing pulp and lignin through a cost-effective method, the study optimized factors such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration, lignin content, and foaming time to achieve desirable mechanical properties and porosity. The box-behnken design identified optimal samples with varied characteristics, including densities from 0.013 g/cm³ to 0.077 g/cm³ and porosities from 95.2% to 99.2%. The introduction of lignin improved foam strength, with compression pressures ranging from 37.5 to 379 kPa. Additionally, the impact of chitosan on porosity, strength, and water resistance was examined. Incorporating 20 wt.% of chitosan enhanced strength by 4% and reduced water absorption by 60%. Over three months, the biodegradable foams displayed significant degradation, introducing them as sustainable alternatives to EPS for diverse applications like packaging.,
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Lightweight and eco-friendly methyl cellulose foams featuring moisture-induced form interlocking: A versatile alternative to conventional plastic foams.
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Researchers fabricated a fully biodegradable methyl cellulose foam using only mechanical agitation and oven drying—no chemical additives—yielding an ultra-low-density material with 99% porosity, strong thermal insulation, and moisture-activated form-interlocking capability that positions it as a viable sustainable substitute for petroleum-based plastic foams.
The Future of Sustainable Packaging: Exploring Biodegradable Solutions Through Extrusion, Thermo-Expansion, 3D Printing and Supercritical Fluid from Agro-Industry Waste
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Researchers reviewed biodegradable foam alternatives to expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging, evaluating manufacturing methods including extrusion, thermo-expansion, 3D printing, and supercritical fluid processing of renewable polysaccharides derived from agro-industrial waste as more sustainable options.
Leaf-Inspired Hierarchical All-Natural Foams with Ultralow Shrinkage, Mechanical Robustness, and Flame Retardancy via Ambient-Pressure Drying
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Scientists created a sturdy, lightweight foam from natural materials, bamboo fibers, seaweed extract, and clay, that could replace plastic foam packaging without breaking down into microplastics or contributing to plastic pollution. This new foam is fire-resistant, biodegradable, and holds its shape well during production, making it a promising eco-friendly alternative for insulation and packaging that avoids the environmental and health concerns tied to petroleum-based foams.
Energy absorption and resilience in quasi-static loading of foam-formed cellulose fibre materials
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Researchers investigated lightweight foam-formed cellulose fibre materials as potential replacements for fossil-based plastic cushioning in packaging applications. They tested a wide range of material compositions and densities, finding that fibre type and refining significantly influenced energy absorption and resilience during compression. The study demonstrates that cellulose-based foams could provide adequate mechanical protection for packaging while avoiding the microplastic pollution associated with conventional plastic foams.
PET foaming: development of a new class of rheological additives for improved processability
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This paper describes development of rheological additives to improve PET foaming for lightweight packaging, as an alternative to hard-to-recycle foamed polystyrene. Replacing polystyrene foam with more recyclable materials is important for reducing ocean microplastic pollution from packaging waste.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.