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OSU researchers working on replacement for plastic bags

BRANDON KLEIN
Special to the Legal News

Published: April 23, 2019

New research from The Ohio State University could potentially produce an environmently friendly replacement for plastic.

The food industry has several standards for how its products are package, resulting in limited sucess for biodegradable replacements. For instance, products have been too brittle for food packaging, OSU research shows.

But Ohio State researchers have found a potential replacement: a combination of natural rubber with bioplastic in a one method. The result is a much stronger product than plastic.

"Previous attempts at this combination were unsuccessful because the softness of the rubber meant the product lost a lot of strength in the process," said lead author Xiaoying Zhao, a postdoctoral researcher in Ohio State's Department of Food Science and Technology, in a statement.

Yael Vodovotz, a professor of food science and technology at Ohio State, said researchers are looking at other biodegradable materials to possibly use to strengthen the mix.

"We want something that would otherwise go to waste that is sustainable and also relatively cheap," he said.

"As we get closer and closer to working with food manufacturers, there are specific questions our potential partners are asking," he added. "We have to be very careful about what we use in this process in order to meet their needs, and they have very specific parameters."

About 90 percent of plastics are petroleum-based and are not biodegradable.

Some businesses and states are considering banning the use of plastic bags because of enviornmental concerns.

The Kroger Co. announced last year its plant to go plastic-bag free at all of its nearly 2,800 stores by 2025.

The biodegradable packaging market was valued at $85.11 billion last year and is expected to reach a value of $119.3 billion by 2024, according to ResearchAndMarkets.com.

"Biodegradable packaging solutions are increasingly finding applications in a wide variety of industries due to their low environmental impact and high demand. Biodegradable packaging made from renewable resources decreases dependence on petroleum and reduces the amount of waste material, while still yielding a product that provides benefits similar to traditional plastics," the company said in a release.

It added: "Rising consumer awareness regarding the environmental impact of packaging products and a willingness to replace packaging materials by alternatives with a lower carbon footprint (or made from renewable resources) are the main drivers for the development and the use of these materials."

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