Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Biodegradation, Water Sorption Isotherms and Thermodynamic Properties of Extruded Packaging Composed of Cassava Starch With Tomato Peel

Scientists tested biodegradable packaging films made from cassava starch and tomato peel as an alternative to conventional plastic packaging. The films showed promising biodegradability and physical properties, suggesting that agricultural byproducts can be used to create sustainable food packaging.

2023 Research Square (Research Square) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthesis of Biocomposite of Kappa Carrageenan and Polyvinyl Alcohol for Bioplastic

Researchers synthesized biocomposite films from kappa carrageenan and polyvinyl alcohol crosslinked with glutaraldehyde, incorporating chitosan to determine the optimal formulation based on mechanical properties and swelling behavior. The study characterized how varying the ratios of these biopolymers affected film performance, supporting development of sustainable bioplastic alternatives.

2025 The Eurasia Proceedings of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics
Article Tier 2

Effect of the Incorporation of Lignin on Starch/PVA Blend Films Produced by Casting

Researchers produced and characterized starch/PVA blend films incorporating varying amounts of lignin (0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2%) using a casting method, aiming to improve the mechanical and barrier properties of biodegradable packaging materials. The study identified optimal lignin concentrations that enhance film performance while maintaining biodegradability as an alternative to conventional polymeric materials.

2024 Macromolecular Symposia 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Study of structure and properties of biodegradable composite films based on thermoplastic starch

Researchers studied the structure and properties of biodegradable thermoplastic starch composites as potential replacements for conventional polyethylene plastics. Using starch — a natural, renewable polymer — as a filler in plastic films could reduce microplastic pollution by enabling faster environmental breakdown.

2023 E3S Web of Conferences
Article Tier 2

Bio-nanocomposites films based on unmodified and modified thermoplastic starch reinforced with chemically modified nanoclays

Researchers developed biodegradable bio-nanocomposite films by combining chemically modified thermoplastic starch with functionalized nanoclays via reactive extrusion, demonstrating that both strategies synergistically reduce water sensitivity and improve mechanical and barrier properties — offering a pathway toward more stable, sustainable packaging materials that degrade without generating persistent plastic waste.

2023 Journal of Materials Science 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Boric acid-crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol): biodegradable, biocompatible, robust, and high-barrier paper coating

Researchers developed a paper coating using polyvinyl alcohol crosslinked with boric acid that significantly improves the paper's barrier properties and mechanical strength. The study found that this coating remains fully biodegradable and biocompatible despite its enhanced performance. The findings suggest a practical, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic-based packaging coatings.

2024 Green Chemistry 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Enset starch-based biocomposite film reinforced with Ethiopian bentonite clay: Improved mechanical and barrier properties

Researchers developed an eco-friendly food packaging film made from enset starch reinforced with Ethiopian bentonite clay as an alternative to conventional plastics. Adding 5% bentonite clay increased the film's strength by 132% and reduced water permeability by 42%, making it a more practical option for food packaging. The study demonstrates a promising biodegradable material that could help reduce microplastic pollution from traditional plastic packaging.

2024 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Preparation of Film Based on Polyvinyl Alcohol Modified by Alkaline Starch and Lignin Fiber

Researchers prepared a polyvinyl alcohol film modified with alkaline starch and lignin fiber (SPL film) from agricultural and forest waste sources through polycondensation under acidic conditions, characterizing the resulting material by SEM, FTIR, ESI-MS, and mechanical testing. The SPL film showed smooth surface morphology with good compatibility between the lignin fiber and the starch-PVA hybrid matrix.

2022 JOURNAL OF RENEWABLE MATERIALS 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable materials based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly (lactic acid) (PLA) with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity for food packaging applications

Researchers developed biodegradable food packaging films by combining poly(vinyl alcohol) and polylactic acid with natural antioxidants and antimicrobials. The resulting films extended food shelf life and degraded in the environment unlike conventional plastic packaging. Replacing petroleum-based plastic food packaging with biodegradable alternatives could significantly reduce microplastic contamination from packaging waste.

2021 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Composite Film of Brewers’ Spent Grain and Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)

This paper is not directly about microplastics; it describes the development of biodegradable composite films from brewers' spent grain and polyvinyl alcohol as a potential plastic packaging alternative, focusing on mechanical and moisture properties.

2023 Processes 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Films from Starch Inclusion Complexes with Bioactive Compounds as Food Packaging Material

Researchers created biodegradable food packaging films from starch combined with the bioactive compounds carvacrol and ascorbic acid. The films demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial properties while being mechanically suitable for packaging applications. The study presents a promising alternative to conventional plastic food packaging that could both preserve food and reduce plastic waste.

2025 Food and Bioprocess Technology 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhancing the Biodegradability, Water Solubility, and Thermal Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol through Natural Polymer Blending: An Approach toward Sustainable Polymer Applications

Researchers blended synthetic polyvinyl alcohol with natural polymers like corn starch and cellulose derivatives to create more environmentally friendly plastic alternatives. Adding corn starch doubled the rate of biodegradation in soil, while cellulose blending boosted both water solubility and biodegradation from 10% to 100%. The study offers a practical approach to making existing plastics break down faster, potentially reducing long-term microplastic pollution.

2024 Polymers 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent Advances in Polyvinyl Alcohol–Based Biodegradable Packaging: Preparation, Modification, and Applications in Food Packaging

This review examines polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a promising biodegradable alternative to conventional plastic food packaging, summarizing recent advances in how PVA films are prepared and modified to improve their performance. Researchers highlight methods for making PVA more water-resistant and better at blocking gases, which are key challenges for food packaging applications. The findings suggest that PVA-based materials could help reduce microplastic contamination from traditional plastic packaging.

2025 Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Valorization of Cork Stoppers, Coffee-Grounds and Walnut Shells in the Development and Characterization of Pectin-Based Composite Films: Physical, Barrier, Antioxidant, Genotoxic, and Biodegradation Properties

Researchers developed biodegradable composite films using pectin combined with waste materials from cork stoppers, coffee grounds, and walnut shells as a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging. The films showed antioxidant properties, were non-genotoxic, and biodegraded effectively in both soil and seawater within weeks. The study demonstrates that food industry and agricultural waste can be repurposed into functional, environmentally friendly packaging materials.

2024 Polymers 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Plásticos biodegradables, una alternativa a los empaques alimentarios actuales

This Spanish-language review examines biodegradable polymers as alternatives to conventional plastic food packaging, covering materials like starch, cellulose, gelatin, chitosan, polylactic acid (PLA), and polyvinyl alcohol. It describes the mechanical and functional properties of packaging films made from each material and discusses their suitability for different food applications. The paper is directly relevant to reducing plastic packaging waste and the downstream microplastic pollution it generates.

2026
Article Tier 2

Cellulose nanofibrils and silver nanoparticles enhances the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposite film

Researchers developed a biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposite film reinforced with sugarcane bagasse cellulose nanofibrils and silver nanoparticles, finding that the combination significantly improved mechanical strength and antimicrobial properties, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic food packaging.

2022 Scientific Reports 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoscopic Characterization of Starch-Based Biofilms Extracted from Ecuadorian Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Varieties

Researchers compared biofilms made from starch extracted from four Ecuadorian potato varieties as a potential biodegradable plastic substitute, finding that both the potato variety and amount of glycerol added significantly affected the film's strength, water resistance, and nanoscale surface structure. The work contributes to developing plant-based plastic alternatives that could reduce the microplastic burden from conventional synthetic packaging.

2024 Polymers 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano‐fillers Embedded Green Polyvinyl Alcohol/Starch Mixed Matrix Polymeric Thin Film to Enhance the Freshness of Vegetables

Researchers developed biodegradable food packaging films made from polyvinyl alcohol and starch — reinforced with titanium dioxide and graphitic carbon nitride nanoparticles — as a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastic packaging. The resulting films showed improved water vapor barrier properties and were designed to slow food spoilage, with the explicit motivation of reducing the microplastic pollution caused by single-use synthetic plastics. While primarily a materials science study, it is relevant to microplastics as part of the effort to replace plastic packaging with safer alternatives.

2025 ChemistrySelect 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradability of Polyvinyl Alcohol Based Film Used for Liquid Detergent Capsules

Researchers confirmed the biodegradability of polyvinyl alcohol film used in liquid detergent capsules through ready biodegradation screening tests, addressing concerns that these water-soluble capsule films might contribute to environmental microplastic accumulation.

2021 Tenside Surfactants Detergents 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Safely Dissolvable and Healable Active Packaging Films Based on Alginate and Pectin

Researchers developed active packaging films from alginate and pectin biocomposites that are safely dissolvable in water, self-healing, and exhibit mechanical properties comparable to commercial packaging films, offering a potential biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based plastics.

2019 Polymers 89 citations
Article Tier 2

Agar Biopolymer Films for Biodegradable Packaging: A Reference Dataset for Exploring the Limits of Mechanical Performance

Researchers developed a reference dataset for agar biopolymer films as biodegradable packaging alternatives, systematically testing mechanical performance with different plasticizer concentrations and providing a design-of-experiments framework to help optimize film properties for practical packaging applications.

2022 Materials 36 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of biodegradable thermoplastic starches, their blends and composites: recent developments and opportunities for single-use plastic packaging alternatives

This review analyzed how different plasticizers, compatibilizers, and essential oils affect biodegradable thermoplastic starch blends and composites. The study suggests these materials offer promising alternatives to single-use plastic packaging, highlighting recent developments in improving their mechanical and barrier properties.

2022 Green Chemistry 214 citations
Article Tier 2

Fabrication of Lignin/Pbat Biodegradable Plastics Films via Reactive Extrusion and Their Thermal, Mechanical and Water Absorption Properties

Researchers developed biodegradable films made from poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and lignin as a sustainable alternative to conventional polyethylene packaging films. Replacing fossil-fuel-based plastic films with biodegradable alternatives could reduce the microplastic pollution that results from conventional plastic film degradation in the environment.

2023 Preprints.org 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Moving Toward Paperization of Packaging Industry: Use of Laponite and Montmorillonite Nanoclays for Recyclable and Biodegradable High-Barrier Paper

Researchers developed a biodegradable paper coating using polyvinyl alcohol and nanoclays (laponite and montmorillonite) that achieves oxygen barrier performance nine times better than PET plastic film. This work is directly relevant to microplastic pollution because replacing conventional plastic packaging with biodegradable, non-microplastic-forming alternatives is a key strategy for reducing environmental plastic loads.

2026 ACS Omega