Greening Food Packaging

Research Lead

Jeffrey Catchmark
Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Product

An environmentally friendly, edible coating to replace petroleum-based coatings in food packaging that could replace millions of tons of plastic associated with food packaging per year in the United States, and much more globally.

Why it's Important

• The global production of plastic is approaching 300 million tons per year.
• In 2011, more than 29 million tons of plastic became municipal solid waste in the U.S. and 12.1 million tons of this waste was plastic packaging.
• It is anticipated that 10 percent of all plastic produced globally will become ocean debris, representing a significant ecological and human health threat.
• The technology has the potential to be incorporated into foods to reduce fat uptake during frying and maintain crispness.
• Since the coating is essentially fiber-based, it is a means of adding fiber to diets.
• Since the composition is also an adhesive, the potential exists to create improved fully natural composites with improved performance like wood fiber composites, drywall board, and ceiling tiles.

Status

• Current work focuses on developing commercialization partners in different industry sectors for a wide variety of products
• Patent application filed (14/894,914)
• Direct approach to volume production established

Technology Development Awards

• $75,000 - RAIN Grant (2015)