Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Development of Biodegradable Rigid Foams from Pineapple Field Waste

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper develops biodegradable rigid foam materials from pineapple agricultural waste (starch and cellulose) as a sustainable packaging alternative to petroleum-based plastics.

2023 Polymers 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Development and Characterization of Reinforced Flexible Packaging Based on Amazonian Cassava Starch Through Flat Sheet Extrusion

Scientists created eco-friendly food packaging from cassava starch (a plant-based material) mixed with natural ingredients like beeswax and plantain leaf fibers. This new packaging is much stronger and better at keeping moisture out than regular plant-based plastics, making it a promising replacement for petroleum-based plastic bags. This matters because it could help reduce plastic pollution while still protecting our food effectively.

2026 Polymers
Article Tier 2

An overview: exploring the potential of fruit and vegetable waste and by-products in food biodegradable packaging

Researchers reviewed how fruit and vegetable processing waste — rich in polyphenols, vitamins, and fiber — can be transformed into biodegradable food packaging films and coatings, offering an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic packaging. Repurposing food waste this way could simultaneously reduce plastic pollution (including microplastics from packaging degradation) and address agricultural waste disposal challenges.

2024 Discover Food 15 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Foods 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano/Micro Hybrid Bamboo Fibrous Preforms for Robust Biodegradable Fiber Reinforced Plastics

Researchers created strong, eco-friendly composite materials by combining nano- and micro-scale fibers from bamboo, producing a biodegradable plastic alternative with improved mechanical properties. This work contributes to developing sustainable materials that could replace conventional petroleum-based plastics and reduce microplastic generation.

2021 Polymers 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating the characteristics of carboxymethyl cellulose film as a possible material for green packaging

Researchers developed biodegradable carboxymethyl cellulose films from agricultural waste as a potential sustainable alternative to conventional plastic food packaging. Replacing single-use plastics with biodegradable packaging is directly relevant to reducing the source of microplastic pollution, as conventional packaging is a major contributor to plastic fragmentation in the environment.

2023 GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Energy absorption and resilience in quasi-static loading of foam-formed cellulose fibre materials

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.

2024 Cellulose 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Biofilms Production from Avocado Waste

Researchers developed biofilms from starch and cellulose extracted from avocado peels and seeds as potential biodegradable food packaging materials. These plant-based packaging alternatives could replace petroleum-based plastics that break down into persistent microplastics.

2021 Ingenieria y Universidad 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Commercial Viability of Eco-friendly Alternatives to Traditional Floral Foam and Their Effects on Vase Life of Five Species of Cut Flowers

This horticultural study evaluates eco-friendly alternatives to traditional floral foam, a significant source of microplastic pollution, finding that some sustainable substitutes maintain cut flower vase life comparably to conventional foam. Replacing plastic-based floral foam could reduce microplastic contamination of garden and waterway soils.

2023 HortTechnology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparing the Biodegradability of Petroleum-based Plastic with a Novel, Sustainable Bio-plastic Alternative

Researchers developed a novel bioplastic from bamboo tannins and chitosan and compared its biodegradability to conventional petroleum-based plastic. The bioplastic degraded significantly faster in soil conditions, offering a promising alternative that could reduce microplastic accumulation compared to conventional plastics that persist for centuries.

2020 Journal of Emerging Investigators
Article Tier 2

Use Of Organic Fruit Residues To Obtain Bioplastics

Researchers investigated the use of organic fruit waste as a raw material for producing bioplastics, exploring a range of fruit types and processing methods to develop petroleum-free alternatives to conventional single-use plastics. The review aligns bioplastic production from agricultural residues with circular economy principles and growing demand for environmentally friendly packaging solutions.

2024 MIGRATION LETTERS 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Análisis Integrado de Eficiencia y Viabilidad Ambiental en Tratamientos Fisicoquímicos de Residuos de EPS para su Reintegración Industrial Sostenible

Scientists tested different ways to recycle expanded polystyrene foam (the white foam used in packaging and takeout containers) to keep it out of landfills and the environment. They found that using heated D-Limonene, a natural chemical from citrus peels, was the most effective and environmentally-friendly method to break down the foam for reuse. This matters because it could help reduce plastic waste that breaks down into harmful microplastics in our environment and food chain.

2026 Ibero Ciencias - Revista Científica y Académica - ISSN 3072-7197
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable film: a sustainable alternative to polyethylene film for Loess Plateau maize production

Scientists tested biodegradable plastic films instead of regular plastic films to cover soil when growing corn in China. The biodegradable films worked almost as well as regular plastic films for improving crop growth and water efficiency, while being better for the environment since they break down naturally instead of leaving harmful plastic pieces in soil. This matters because it shows farmers can reduce plastic pollution in our food system without hurting crop production.

2026 Frontiers in Plant Science
Article Tier 2

Development of Sustainable Polymer Materials for Packaging Applications

**TLDR:** Scientists developed new ways to make plastic packaging more eco-friendly by recycling existing materials, creating biodegradable alternatives, and turning farm waste into packaging materials. This research matters because it could help reduce the massive amounts of plastic pollution (over 400 million tons yearly) that breaks down into harmful microplastics in our environment. These cleaner packaging options could mean less plastic contamination in the food chain and ecosystems that affect human health.

2026 Nova Science Publishers (Nova Science Publishers, Inc.)
Article Tier 2

Corncob-derived biodegradable packaging films: A sustainable solution for raspberry post-harvest preservation

Researchers developed biodegradable packaging films from corncob waste that preserved raspberries significantly longer than conventional polystyrene packaging. The films biodegrade in soil within 29 days, offering a sustainable alternative that could reduce microplastic contamination from food packaging. This matters because plastic food packaging is a known source of microplastic and nanoplastic migration into food.

2024 Food Chemistry 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Development of Eco-Friendly Packaging Films from Soyhull Lignocellulose: Towards Valorizing Agro-Industrial Byproducts

Researchers developed a biodegradable packaging film from soyhull waste, a byproduct of the soybean industry, as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics. The film showed good barrier and mechanical properties suitable for food packaging applications. This type of innovation is important because replacing conventional plastic packaging with biodegradable alternatives could reduce the generation of microplastics that contaminate food and the environment.

2024 Foods 15 citations
Article Tier 2

From Fruit Waste to Hydrogels for Agricultural Applications

Not relevant to microplastics — this study develops biodegradable hydrogels from fruit waste (pectin and starch) to reduce water loss and slow herbicide migration in sandy agricultural soils, without any connection to plastic pollution.

2023 Clean Technologies 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Analisis Sifat Fisis dan Mekanik Biodegradable Foam Berbahan Dasar Selulosa Jerami Padi dan Polivinyl Alcohol

This paper is not about microplastics — it reports on the physical and mechanical properties of biodegradable foam made from rice straw cellulose and polyvinyl alcohol as a potential alternative to styrofoam, focusing on material science rather than microplastic pollution or health impacts.

2023 Jurnal Fisika Unand
Article Tier 2

Comprehensive overview of sustainable food packaging material alternatives

This review provides a comprehensive overview of alternative packaging materials being developed to replace conventional plastics, including biodegradable plastics, cellulose, bamboo, edible packaging, and nano-cellulose. Researchers found that recycling plastics and producing bioplastics have not yet proven to be fully effective solutions, and the environmental impact of many alternatives remains unclear. The study notes that while no single alternative can fully replace plastic packaging, emerging materials show promise for reducing environmental impact and waste.

2025 Cognitive Sustainability 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Toward a Circular Bioeconomy: Development of Pineapple Stem Starch Composite as a Plastic-Sheet Substitute for Single-Use Applications

This paper is not about microplastics; it develops a biodegradable composite material from pineapple stem starch as a substitute for hard-to-recycle single-use plastic items.

2023 Polymers 7 citations