Top Packaging Innovations from Universities Around the World
11/21/2024

In this edition of the Packaging Innovation Dashboard, we explore packaging innovations and research from universities around the world—including NC State (USA), Kyungpook National University (South Korea), University of Córdoba & University of Girona (Spain), Clemson University (USA), and South Dakota State University (USA).

If you have innovations from your university you'd like showcased on this page, please reach out to us at marketing@packagingschool.com.

NC State University | Seaweed & Chitosan Bioplastic

Did you know that crustacean shells and seaweed can be used to make biodegradable packaging? 

Last December, Packaging Gateway reported that a research team at North Carolina State University published a paper in the Cell Reports Physical Science journal that explored the potential of a material made from a mix of chitosan (crustacean shells) and agarose (seaweed) biopolymers to replace petroleum-based plastic films.

The NC State University team used an innovative approach to combine the two biopolymers for obtaining the best performance (as compared to conventional plastic films) with the lowest impact.

Yosra Kotb from the research team was quoted in Packaging Gateway, stating: 

We use chitosan dendritic particles to reinforce the agarose matrix because of compatibility of both materials leading to good mechanical properties; chitosan particles also have an opposite charge to agarose. When mixed, these charges are neutralized so the resulting materials also become more resistant to water.”

The film is transparent, 100% biodegradable, and has numerous antibacterial properties, including resistance to E. coli. The research team filed a patent for the material and process in 2023.

Read more about the innovative material developed by NC State here.

Story from Packaging Gateway

Kyungpook National University | Rice & Chitosan Bioplastic

Did you know that the byproduct involved in manufacturing rice (the “protective outer layer you toss out before cooking rice”) can be used to make biodegradable food packaging?

In Q2 of 2024, The Cool Down reported that the research team at Kyungpook National University in Daegu, South Korea found a way to treat rice husks with a “special chemical process” and mix in select enzymes to extract nanofibers. The strong, extracted nanofibers are mixed with chitosan, a biopolymer found in crustacean shells.

The resulting rice and chitosan-based film is sturdy, biodegradable, and helps reduce agricultural waste associated with rice, a food staple for over 3.5 billion people. The films also have strong UV resistance, making them a greater option for “delicate goods and foods.”

Read more on the material pioneered by Kyungpook National University here.

Story from The Cool Down

University of Córdoba & University of Girona

Also occurring in Q2 of 2024, Advanced Science News reported that researchers at the University of Córdoba and the University of Girona have found a method to turn avocado “pruning residue” (branches and leaves from avocado trees) into a cellulose-based composite that can be used for biodegradable food packaging.

Eduardo Espinosa, an assistant professor at the University of Córdoba, spoke on the strength of the avocado-based composite in the article mentioned above, stating:
Natural fibers possess strong mechanical properties. When these fibers are combined with a thermoplastic matrix like bio-polyethylene, they are dispersed and embedded within the plastic matrix, aiding in the transfer of loads when the material is subjected to mechanical stress.”

The next steps include researchers investigating the environmental impact, economic feasibility, and shelf life of food packaging made from the composite.

Read more on the innovative avocado waste material from the Spanish universities here.

Story from Advanced Science News

Clemson University | New Healthcare Packaging Lab

In June of 2024, Packaging Digest reported that Clemson University’s Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences will be opening a Healthcare Packaging Lab in August 2024.

The new facility and research lab will be used primarily for research and teaching, building upon Clemson’s existing coursework related to healthcare packaging.

Our very own Dr. Andrew Hurley is also a Professor of Packaging at Clemson; he shared these thoughts about the new lab:

"Understanding how to navigate FDA processes and advance medical devices and pharmaceutical products to marketing through effective packaging are crucial skills for our students."

Similar to the University’s student-led BrownBox Agency, the lab will be an opportunity for brands to engage with students to drive innovation and test emerging packaging designs.

Read more on Clemson University’s work to drive innovation in healthcare packaging here.

Story from Packaging Digest

South Dakota State University | Coffee-Based Bioplastic

After being mentioned for their work on advancing bioplastics made of alternative materials like switchgrass, South Dakota State University and Dr. Srinivas Janaswamy make our Packaging Innovation series once again with their work researching coffee-based bioplastic.

Did you know that coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world (oil is number one)? With ~2 billion cups consumed daily worldwide, you might be wondering—what happens to the 8 million tons of spent coffee grounds sent to landfills annually?

In Q4 of 2023, Packaging World reported that a research team at South Dakota State University, led by Dr. Srinivas Janaswamy, published a study in Psy.org on the potential for upcycling used coffee grounds into biodegradable films to replace single-use plastics.

SDSU’s team developed a complex process involving “extracting lingocellulosic fibers from the coffee grounds” and modifying them to “enhance their suitability for packaging.” The Packaging World article notes that the coffee-grounds bioplastic films made by the team biodegrade in just 45 days in a home composting environment.

Dr. Janaswamy was quoted in Packaging World stating:

The potential for plastic-replacing films from the widely discarded but plentiful and sustainable spent coffee grounds remains unscathed and exciting toward value creation.”

Read more about SDSU’s research on creating packaging materials from upcycled waste here.

Story from Packaging World

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