Grantee Research Project Results
100% Compostable Packaging Film
EPA Grant Number: SU840865Title: 100% Compostable Packaging Film
Investigators: Sun, Luyi
Institution: University of Connecticut
EPA Project Officer: Brooks, Donald
Phase: I
Project Period: January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025
Project Amount: $75,000
RFA: 20th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet Request for Applications (RFA) (2023) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , Environment , Land and Waste Management
Description:
The collection and processing of thin plastic films, such as food packaging following use in consumer goods, remains a great challenge in our current recycling infrastructure. A considerable portion of plastic packaging waste is mismanaged or unable to be recycled and is thus subject to landfill dumping or burning. This results in an accumulation of millions of tons of waste and leakage of chemicals that have a severe impact on ecotoxicity and human health. One alternative to collecting and breaking down thin plastic films is to develop packaging material that can break down naturally in a composting environment, removing them from both landfills and recycling facilities altogether. In the execution of this project, we will align with P3’s strategic principles by: (1) empowering student researchers across multiple disciplines by providing a hands-on experience in solving a significant environmental issue; (2) developing a novel solution to plastic waste pollution in the interest of environmental and public health, especially in communities and ecosystems surrounding waste facilities; (3) demonstrating the convenience and functionality of this compostable plastic packaging system through publications and presentations of our findings; (4) promoting the viability and distribution of our technology by working directly with partners in the packaging industry. Through multidisciplinary student and industry collaboration, we hope to inspire continued efforts in confronting the issue of plastic pollution and revitalizing the environment and quality of life for generations to come.
Objective:
Plastic films have become ubiquitous in modern consumer goods, primarily used for single-use food packaging material around the world. However, despite modern advances in recycling technology, most thin plastic films cannot be recycled in the current recycling infrastructure, because they entangle processing equipment and are typically made from materials (such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), etc.) that are difficult to break down and reuse. Additionally, returning to biodegradable alternatives such as paper has become increasingly difficult since modern-day food packaging has several strict requirements, including flexibility, transparency, and high gas barrier properties. Therefore, the goal for plastic films should be to create a packaging system that maintains all the functionalities of traditional plastic films while also being 100% compostable into the environment, ideally made with at least some naturally occurring materials. In comparison to conventional food packaging, we aim to achieve the following goals: (1) similar or higher oxygen and water vapor barrier performance, i.e., similar or higher performance to meet food protection requirements; (2) a thin-film production process that is easily retrofittable into existing infrastructure; (3) 100% compostable packaging film without toxic or hazardous chemicals; (4) similar or lower cost to existing packaging technology. The development of this technology will contribute to the EPA’s goal of reducing waste and preventing environmental contamination (EPA-G2023-P3-Q3 Goal 6.2). By developing these technologies, we aim to fundamentally change plastic packaging and waste management conventions.
This new packaging system will be achieved via coating biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) films with a thin coating layer of inorganic nanosheet/polymer nanocomposite via a facile one-step coassembly process. This coating involves the coassembly of the nanosheets with a selected polymer, which possess weak interactions with each other (such as electrostatic force, hydrogen bonding, etc.). During the coating process, the nanosheets can be well-aligned by either gravity or a physical force exerted by common industrial processing tools. The polymer serves as the binder for the nanosheets to form a hybrid coating with a highly ordered layered structure, which has shown exceptional mechanical and barrier properties in our preliminary exploration. Additionally, oxygen and moisture-scavenging components (e.g., silica gel) that are traditionally left in separate packets next to the food product can be incorporated within the coating for further improved barrier properties. Given the correct choice in nanosheets, polymer binders, and scavenging compounds, this system can be 100% degradable in composting conditions and can also have additional functionalities such as transparency and printability.
Approach:
At the end of this project, we will have real samples that are strongly resistant to gas transport, formulated without toxic chemicals, and 100% compostable. We will have detailed characterization results to show the microstructure of the nanocoating, as well as a chart illustrating the optimization of processing parameters. We plan to submit a journal manuscript for publication and present our results at a national conference. It is also planned to set up a website (which is partly ready: https://draft.sus.engr.uconn.edu) to educate people on how significantly the current food packaging technology is affecting our environment, health, and society, and how important it is to replace them with environmentally friendly alternatives.
Expected Results:
At the end of this project, we will have real samples that are strongly resistant to gas transport, formulated without toxic chemicals, and 100% compostable. We will have detailed characterization results to show the microstructure of the nanocoating, as well as a chart illustrating the optimization of processing parameters. We plan to submit a journal manuscript for publication and present our results at a national conference. It is also planned to set up a website (which is partly ready: https://draft.sus.engr.uconn.edu) to educate people on how significantly the current food packaging technology is affecting our environment, health, and society, and how important it is to replace them with environmentally friendly alternatives.
Supplemental Keywords:
Environmentally benign substitute, green chemistry, nanotechnology, global consideration, system designThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.