Materials and technologies – May 2025

New Insights into nano plastic formation and HDPE production
Columbia University researchers have discovered that nano plastics form through chain-end depolymerisation triggered by mechanical stress, not just surface wear. This molecular process accelerates in water, releasing hazardous particles. The findings highlight serious environmental and health concerns, especially in packaging and consumer products. The study (1.59 MB) is published in Nature Communications.
Scientists at Cornell University applied machine learning to identify new catalysts for HDPE production. Their AI-guided approach found alternatives that cut greenhouse gas emissions significantly, offering a data-driven path to plastic production processes. The study (abstract) is published in The Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Packaging from unconventional sources: CO₂ and manure
A VTT and LUT University project shows how CO₂ from the forest industry can be upcycled into useful products. This Forest CUMP project work enables CO₂ from pulp mills to be turned into platform chemicals and even plastics via microbial or catalytic processes.
UCL scientists demonstrated how cow dung, rich in cellulose, can be processed into construction panels, insulation, and potentially packaging. The study (7.91 MB) is published in the Journal of Cleaner Production.

Impact of packaging on bacon colour
A study from Iowa State University reveals that packaging film types can significantly affect bacon’s visual appeal by altering oxygen exposure. Light-blocking, oxygen-barrier films preserved the meat’s redness better, indicating packaging choice directly influences consumer perception and potential food waste. An abstract (5.07 MB, abstract 51) of the findings is published in Meat and Muscle Biology.

Turning waste into biodegradable packaging solutions
Several innovative projects are advancing the development of biodegradable plastics for packaging. The COM4PHA project, led by AIMPLAS, is developing PHAs, fully biodegradable bioplastics made via fermentation of food waste. These materials suit cosmetic packaging due to their natural origin, compost ability, and potential for short-lifecycle applications. This innovation may also be of interest to other processors and end-users in the food and beverage sector, in addition to cosmetics. At Virginia Tech, scientists have designed a lightweight, biodegradable packaging foam made from nanocrystals derived from wood pulp. This foam mimics the properties of polystyrene but decomposes naturally in soil or water, while also requiring less energy to produce and avoiding fossil-based feedstocks. The research (8.13 MB) is published in Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications. Additionally, researchers at Southern Illinois University have developed a method to convert leftover bread into biodegradable plastic films via bacterial fermentation. These compostable films are intended for single-use food packaging, helping to create circular systems that reduce waste in both the food and plastics industries.
 

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