Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

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.

2021 Foods 42 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 Journal of Applied and Natural Science 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Starch-based edible protective coating obtained from sweet potato waste.

Researchers developed an edible protective food coating made from sweet potato waste starch, offering a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging. The coating extended shelf life and improved food safety, demonstrating how agricultural waste can be used to create eco-friendly food preservation materials.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety
Article Tier 2

Preliminary Techno-Economic Feasibility of Biodegradable Food Packaging from Luffa Acutangula Peel in Indonesia

Researchers conducted a preliminary techno-economic feasibility assessment of biodegradable food packaging made from Luffa acutangula peel as an alternative to conventional plastics, addressing growing concerns about microplastic and nanoplastic contamination from food packaging in Indonesia.

2025 Buletin Penelitian Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Haluoleo/Buletin Penelitian Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian - Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Haluoleo
Article Tier 2

Comprehensive Review of Polysaccharide-Based Materials in Edible Packaging: A Sustainable Approach

This review examined polysaccharide-based edible packaging materials as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic packaging, highlighting their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial properties for food preservation.

2021 Foods 141 citations
Article Tier 2

Leaves as dining plates, food wraps and food packing material: Importance of renewable resources in Indian culture

Researchers documented the long-standing Indian tradition of using plant leaves as biodegradable food plates and packaging, highlighting their cultural, medicinal, and economic importance as a sustainable alternative to plastic disposables. The authors argue that supporting leaf plate production and restricting plastic alternatives could reduce both plastic pollution and microplastic contamination from single-use items.

2019 Bulletin of the National Research Centre/Bulletin of the National Research Center 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Ethnobotanical study on plant leaves for food wrapping in traditional markets of Wonosobo District, Central Java, Indonesia

Researchers conducted an ethnobotanical survey of plant leaves traditionally used for food wrapping in markets of Wonosobo District, Indonesia, documenting sustainable alternatives to plastic packaging that could reduce environmental and health impacts.

2023 Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the frontier of sustainable alternatives: Design, development, and evaluation of mushroom-based edible cups utilizing Agaricus bisporus

Researchers explored the feasibility of making edible cups from button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) powder as a sustainable alternative to disposable plastic cups. The mushroom-based cups are compostable, require less energy to produce, and generate less waste than conventional plastics. While challenges remain around cost and scalability, the study suggests these cups have meaningful commercial potential for reducing plastic pollution in food packaging.

2025 Journal of Current Research in Food Science 2 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

A Preliminary Evaluation on the Development of Edible Drinking Straw from Guso (Eucheuma cottonii) Seaweeds

Researchers developed edible drinking straws from Guso seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii) with different plasticizer concentrations and evaluated their biodegradability, strength, and water resistance. Replacing single-use plastic straws with edible, biodegradable alternatives reduces the plastic waste that enters aquatic environments and eventually fragments into microplastics.

2023 Proceedings of International Exchange and Innovation Conference on Engineering & Sciences (IEICES) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable trays made from Poraqueiba serícea Tulasne seed starch and Zea Mays cob flour

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper develops biodegradable food trays from Amazonian seed starch and corn cob flour as an alternative to petrochemical packaging, without addressing microplastic pollution.

2024 Scientia Agropecuaria 2 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2026
Article Tier 2

Preparation and Characterization of Biodegradable Plastic From Luffa Cylindrica

Researchers produced and characterized a biodegradable bioplastic from Luffa cylindrica agricultural waste combined with cellulose-based additives, demonstrating a potential eco-friendly alternative to conventional non-degradable plastics derived from fossil feedstocks.

2025
Article Tier 2

Recycling of Waste Bamboo Biomass and Papermaking Waste Liquid to Synthesize Sodium Lignosulfonate/Chitosan Glue-Free Biocomposite

Not a microplastics paper — this study creates a biodegradable composite material from papermaking waste liquid (sodium lignosulfonate) and waste bamboo as a glue-free alternative to conventional wood-based building materials.

2023 Molecules 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Desarrollo de biopelículas degradables a partir de harina de fruta de pan (Artocarpus altilis), como alternativa al uso de plásticos sintéticos convencionales

Biodegradable biofilms were developed from breadfruit flour (Artocarpus altilis) as a sustainable alternative to conventional synthetic plastic packaging. The biofilms were characterized for physical, mechanical, and barrier properties, offering a compostable food packaging material that reduces microplastic waste.

2024 Tierra Infinita
Article Tier 2

Low-environmental-impact Bamboo Toothbrushes Demonstrate Comparable Hygienic Condition to That of Plastic and Biomass Plastic Toothbrushes after Use and Storage

This study compared the hygienic condition of bamboo, plastic, and biomass-plastic toothbrushes after use and storage, finding that bamboo toothbrushes maintained comparable hygiene levels to conventional plastic ones. The results support bamboo toothbrushes as a viable lower-environmental-impact alternative.

2023 International Journal of Oral-Medical Sciences 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic-Free Microcapsules to Encapsulate Health-Promoting Limonene Oil

Researchers developed microplastic-free microcapsules using biodegradable materials to encapsulate limonene oil, demonstrating that sustainable shell materials can effectively replace non-biodegradable synthetic polymers while maintaining comparable encapsulation performance and shelf-life extension.

2022 Molecules 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable carboxymethyl cellulose based material for sustainable packaging application

Researchers converted sugarcane agricultural waste into carboxymethyl cellulose and blended it with gelatin and agar to create a biodegradable plastic film suitable for food packaging, demonstrating a low-cost, environmentally friendly alternative to conventional petroleum-based packaging materials.

2020 Scientific Reports 248 citations
Article Tier 2

Bacterial cellulose bio-scrubber impregnated with antibacterial flavonoids from Moringa leaves as a microplastic substitution solution

Researchers developed a bacterial cellulose-based scrubbing material infused with antibacterial compounds from Moringa leaves as a plastic-free alternative to conventional plastic-containing scrubbers. The bio-scrubber was effective at removing contaminants and could reduce the release of microplastics from synthetic scrubbing products into wastewater.

2023 AIP conference proceedings 1 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Food processing industry
Clinical Trial Tier 1

The Effect of Lecithin and Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) Concentrations on the Physical Characteristics of Sago Starch-Based Edible Films

This study found that adding lecithin and carboxymethyl cellulose to sago starch-based edible films significantly improved their mechanical strength and water resistance. These biodegradable edible films offer a potential alternative to conventional plastic food packaging, which degrades into microplastics that contaminate food and the environment.

2025 Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA
Article Tier 2

A hydrophobic and degradable straw based on the ethyl cellulose-coated bacterial cellulose

Researchers developed a hydrophobic and biodegradable straw made from ethyl cellulose-coated bacterial cellulose as a microplastic-free alternative to conventional disposable plastic straws. The cellulose-based straw achieved the hydrophobicity needed for beverage use while remaining biodegradable, offering a sustainable substitute that avoids microplastic shedding during use and disposal.

2024