Biodegradable material made of tomato skin would substitute conventional plastic

Researchers from the Institute of Mediterranean and Subtropical Horticulture "La Mayora" (IHSM) in Malaga, Spain, found a way to take advantage of the waste from production of preserved tomatoes and, at the same time, provide an alternative to plastics derived from petroleum.

Scientists extract cellulose from tomato skin to convert it into a bioplastic that can preserve products with similar guarantees as conventional plastic, which takes about 450 years to degrade.

José Alejandro Heredia, researcher responsible for the study, seeks to create a material that can be modified with antioxidants and antibacterial bioactive substances, so that the packaging made of this material could decompose in the sea in just one month.

According to the study, if this bioplastic loses its primary color, it means that it has absorbed water and is losing its structure and antioxidant properties, ceasing to be useful. This discoloration process alerts us that it is time to discard the bioplastic.

With this material, you can create a plastic wrap or transparent film, decorative elements such as buttons, as well as trays for fresh food in the supermarket, lids for drinks, and so on.

Heredia emphasizes that it will still take time to start applying these bioplastic containers in commercial industries, because there, to be economically viable, they need to be used with the same machinery. However, the researcher concludes, this would be a revolution for food sustainability and the environment.

source: vanaguardia.com