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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Exploring the frontier of sustainable alternatives: Design, development, and evaluation of mushroom-based edible cups utilizing Agaricus bisporus
ClearPhysical and thermal properties of mycelium-composite materials made from cattail biomass for the manufacture of compostable coffee cups
Scientists created eco-friendly coffee cups using mushroom fibers (mycelium) grown on cattail plants, which could replace regular paper cups that are coated with plastic. These new cups resist water and heat well and would break down naturally after use, helping people avoid drinking microplastics that can leak from plastic-coated cups. The cups aren't strong enough for commercial use yet, but this research shows promise for healthier, compostable alternatives to current disposable cups.
Development of sago-based edible plastic as primary packaging for instant food products
Researchers developed a sago-based edible plastic as primary packaging for instant food products as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics that contribute to microplastic pollution. The bio-based packaging was designed to be safe for food contact and to reduce the accumulation of persistent plastic waste in ecosystems.
Edible plastics: feasibility and challenges of solving environmental pollution problems
This review examines the feasibility and challenges of edible plastics as biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastic packaging in addressing marine plastic pollution. It surveys available edible and bio-based materials, outlines strategic recommendations for scaling sustainable alternatives, and identifies key technical and regulatory hurdles to broader adoption.
Improving the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Mycelium-Based Green Composites Using Paper Waste
Researchers explored using paper waste to improve mycelium-based composites, which are sustainable materials grown from mushroom fibers. The study found that adding paper waste enhanced the physical and mechanical properties of these biodegradable materials, suggesting they could serve as greener alternatives to traditional plastics and packaging.
Growing a circular economy with fungal biotechnology: a white paper
Researchers outlined how fungal biotechnology can drive a shift away from petroleum-based products toward a sustainable circular economy, offering solutions ranging from biodegradable plastics to food, fuel, and materials — with the potential to significantly reduce plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Fundamental studies for designing insulation panels from wood shavings and filamentous fungi
Researchers tested the feasibility of making thermal insulation boards from wood shavings and filament waste to replace conventional petroleum-based insulation materials. This sustainable materials research is part of efforts to develop plastic alternatives that would reduce long-term microplastic environmental accumulation.
Synthetic biology enables mushrooms to meet emerging sustainable challenges
This perspective paper discusses how synthetic biology can enhance mushroom cultivation and fermentation to address sustainability challenges, including applications in biodegradable materials and pollution cleanup. While not directly about microplastics, mushroom-based materials could serve as biodegradable alternatives to plastics, and engineered fungi may help break down existing plastic pollution. The research points toward biological solutions for reducing plastic waste in the environment.
Моделирование и разработка технологии съедобной посуды для предприятий индустрии питания
This Russian-language paper described the modeling and development of technology for producing edible tableware for the food service industry, exploring plant-based and edible materials as alternatives to single-use plastic dishes. The proposed edible tableware concept aims to eliminate plastic cutlery and plate waste.
Current trends, limitations and future research in the fungi?
This broad review of modern mycology (the study of fungi) covers emerging fungal diseases, drug discovery from fungi, genomics advances, and how fungi can be used in construction and circular economies. While not directly about microplastics, some fungi show promise for biodegrading plastic waste, making mycology research relevant to addressing microplastic pollution.
Plastic Cutlery Alternative: Case Study with Biodegradable Spoons
Researchers produced biodegradable spoons from natural materials as an alternative to plastic cutlery, evaluating their texture, antioxidant activity, and polyphenol content to assess feasibility as an environmentally friendly disposable option.
Amanita caesarea ve Boletus reticulatus Özütlerini İçeren Yenebilir Film Üretimi
Researchers prepared edible films incorporating extracts from two wild mushroom species and evaluated their properties for potential food packaging applications. Developing biodegradable, naturally sourced food packaging materials could reduce reliance on plastic films that shed microplastics into food.
Chitosan oligosaccharide-modified Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium for microplastic removal based on the green design concept
Researchers modified Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom mycelium with chitosan oligosaccharide and citric acid to create a green biosorbent for removing microplastics from water, finding the modified mycelium achieved high removal efficiency for polystyrene particles while remaining biodegradable and cost-effective.
Fungal chitosan in focus: a comprehensive review on extraction methods and applications
Researchers reviewed fungal-derived chitosan as a biodegradable plastic alternative for food packaging, highlighting advantages over marine-sourced chitosan — including lower mineral content, year-round supply, and reduced microplastic contamination risk — alongside advances in extraction techniques such as deep eutectic solvents and enzymatic processing.
Exploring the potential of mosambi peel and sago powder in developing edible spoons
Researchers explored using mosambi (sweet lime) peel combined with sago powder as the primary material for manufacturing edible spoons, offering a biodegradable and compostable alternative to single-use plastic cutlery.
A Review on Edible Straws
This review examines edible straws as a biodegradable alternative to single-use plastic straws, synthesizing research on their material compositions, structural performance, sensory properties, and alignment with global sustainability goals to reduce microplastic accumulation from disposable plastic products.
Edible Straws as Promising Biodegradable Alternatives to Single-Use Plastics: A Comprehensive Review
Single-use plastic straws are a small but symbolic part of the microplastics problem, and this review surveys research into edible straws as a biodegradable alternative, covering materials ranging from cassava starch and seaweed to cellulose and proteins. Lab results are promising — cellulose-based versions show good strength, seaweed-based ones biodegrade quickly, and life cycle analyses confirm ecological advantages over plastic — but challenges including high production costs, short shelf life, and lack of regulatory standards are holding back commercial adoption. The review concludes that realizing the potential of edible straws will require coordination across material science, food engineering, and policy.
Edible cutlery: An eco-friendly replacement for plastic cutlery
This review assessed edible cutlery as an eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastic utensils, examining preparation methods, material options, and potential health benefits of plant-based edible products. The authors argue that edible cutlery can reduce microplastic contamination in food chains while simultaneously providing nutritional or therapeutic value.
Preparation of fungal biocomposite for environment friendly packaging of plant saplings
Researchers grew Pleurotus ostreatus and Ganoderma lucidum fungi on agricultural waste substrates to produce mycelium biocomposites for biodegradable plant sapling packaging, finding that Ganoderma lucidum composites showed superior thermal stability and mechanical strength as a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging.
A Review on Replacing Food Packaging Plastics with Nature-Inspired Bio-Based Materials
Researchers reviewed bio-based materials inspired by nature as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based food packaging plastics. The study highlights that while conventional plastic packaging is effective for food preservation, its environmental impact has driven research into biodegradable and compostable alternatives that could reduce plastic waste and microplastic generation.
A new approach to food packaging, a recycling assessment using in vitro strategies
This study assessed sustainable food packaging materials using in vitro strategies to evaluate recycling potential and microplastic release, within the framework of the European strategy for reducing plastic in packaging. Results provided data on whether recycled packaging materials release microplastics and how circularity approaches affect plastic particle contamination of food.
Study on the degradation efficiency and mechanism of polystyrene microplastics by five kinds of edible fungi
Scientists tested five common edible mushroom species and found they can break down polystyrene microplastics, with oyster mushrooms achieving the highest degradation rate of about 16% in 50 days. This is the first study to identify the specific genes and enzymes involved in how these fungi digest plastic, opening the door to potential biological solutions for microplastic cleanup.
Fungal Based Biopolymer Composites for Construction Materials
Researchers developed a novel composite biomaterial combining lignocellulosic wheat straw substrate, fungal mycelium, and polypropylene embedded with bacterial spores for potential construction applications. The study suggests that fungal-based biopolymer composites could serve as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional construction materials, contributing to reduced reliance on petroleum-based plastics.
Bio-based and Sustainable Food Packaging Technology: Relevance, Challenges and Prospects
A review assessed bio-based and sustainable food packaging technologies, evaluating their relevance as replacements for conventional plastic packaging that generates microplastic pollution. The study identifies the most promising materials and the barriers to scaling up plastic-free food packaging.
What Hinders the Development of a Sustainable Compostable Packaging Market?
This review examines the barriers hindering the development of a sustainable compostable packaging market as an alternative to conventional plastics, noting that roughly 80% of marine litter originates from plastic food packaging. The authors identified regulatory fragmentation, consumer confusion, and inadequate industrial composting infrastructure as the main obstacles slowing the transition to compostable solutions.