Craving for a cleaner greener future there is a stringent need to eliminate hundreds of millions of tons-worth non-biodegradable plastic which ends up in the landfills or is discarded every year according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That is why researchers at the University of Buenos Aires have developed a non-toxic, edible plastic material called bio-plastic build around starch extracted from waxy corn and cassava. The starch nano-material extracted from the waxy corn is the main ingredient of this bio-plastic which is 50,000 times smaller than hair follicle making it strong enough and maintaining the elasticity too. This protects food from rotting while maintaining the biodegradable aesthetics as this plastic can be eaten too because it breaks down in the digestive system just like any other vegetable material.
According to Norma D’accorso, Conicet and University of Buenos Aires researcher:
Of course biodegradable polymers are going to break down in the environment a lot faster than polyethylene or traditional containers that we use. In other words, the breakdown could take around a year and a half, so it generates products that are safe and degrade easily.
Other applications of this plastic material include painting on the fluid gel directly onto the fresh food which dries out to protect food from oxidation and can be easily washed off when you need to consume it. The research team is looking to come up with a strong plastic combination which can be used commercially replacing conventional plastic bags altogether.
Via: Reuters
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