A collaborative research between universities in Thailand and Malaysia have developed a unique kind of bioplastic sheet using pineapple stems from agricultural waste. The researchers created this bioplastic sheet using a byproduct of the bromelain industry, specially utilizing the leftover pineapple stems from agricultural waste. This new type of bioplastic sheet has the potential to be used as single-use packaging material.
To lessen the negative impact of plastics in the environment, several biodegradable polymers have been developed. These involve a range of options, such as biobased polylactic acid (PLA), partially biobased polybutylene succinate (PBS), fully synthetic polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), as well as natural polymers like starch, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs),and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB).
Nevertheless, it is crucial to acknowledge the different characteristics and properties of these biodegradable polymers, and it is essential to understand the specific properties and limitations associated with each type.
Some widely adopted biodegradable polymers such as PLA, PBAT, and PBS do not easily biodegrade under natural environmental conditions. These call for specific conditions typically found in industrial composting facilities such as controlled humidity and temperature.
Meanwhile starch-based materials, PHAs, and PHBs are fully biodegradable within natural environments, These materials offer a more practical and environmentally friendly solution for specific waste types, as they possess the ability to biodegrade completely without requiring specialized industrial composting facilities.
As published in the journal Polymers, “the team used the starch from the pineapple stems as the main ingredient. They added glycerol and calcium carbonate to make the material easy to shape and strong. By altering the amounts of these ingredients, the team made samples with different strengths and properties”.
The newly developed material resulted resistant to water and didn’t absorb as much water as similar materials. When buried in the soil, it completely degraded into tiny pieces in a timespan of two weeks. The team made a test version of a bread clip using this material, which served its purpose efficiently. Using pineapple stem starch can be a good and eco-friendly choice, and a step toward a more sustainable way of making small plastic products and promoting a circular economy.
