Innovative sustainable material for food packaging developed in Spain

Spain

Sunday 16 June 2024

Spanish researchers have developed a new sustainable food packaging material made from avocado tree prunings (photo: intagri.com).

The University of Cordoba (UCO), in collaboration with the University of Girona, has developed a new sustainable material for food packaging using avocado tree pruning waste. Given that Spain is the largest producer of avocados in Europe, especially in the Axarquia region of Malaga, this project takes advantage of an abundant source of waste that was previously not valued.

The process of creating the new material combines semi-chemical and mechanical techniques to extract the fibres from the woody waste, which are integrated into the food packaging bioplastic using a compatibilising agent. This innovation not only reduces the use of biopolyethylene, but also improves the strength of the material thanks to the mechanical properties of avocado fibres.

The project's principal investigator, Ramón Morcillo, stresses that this compound has great potential not only because of its sustainability, but also because of its greater durability, which could transform current packaging practices. In addition, other properties of the material, such as its antimicrobial and antioxidant capacity, will be investigated to offer new preservation solutions for different types of products.

This development comes at a key moment, when the European Parliament has approved measures to reduce and recycle packaging, including a ban on certain single-use plastics by 2030. According to Morcillo, adapting to these regulations represents a significant challenge for the industry, which must consider the economic viability of these new sustainable materials. Market adoption of these developments will be essential to reduce reliance on plastic and promote a greener economy.

fuente: cordobahoy.es