José Jesús Benítez, from the Institute of Materials Science of Seville (ICMS), belonging to cicCartuja, has recently published an article in collaboration with researchers from the “Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia” and the University of Malaga, where they demonstrate the manufacture of a new bioinspired material, a polyester based on plant cuticles and with direct application in the sustainable manufacture of packaging.
Currently, cellulose is the most widely used material for the manufacture of sustainable packaging, as it is a very abundant resource in nature. However, cellulose’s high affinity with water prevents its direct use as a hydrophobic container, and its processing for this purpose is highly toxic and dangerous.
Various studies conclude that plants have developed a barrier against massive water loss in their cuticle, that is, in the outermost layer that covers their epidermis. In addition, the cuticle plays another important physiological role, as it is the first barrier that exists against pests and pathogens. Given the qualities of this plant organ, it is not surprising that they have been used to design this biomaterial.
Composed of a mixture of cutin and carnauba wax reinforced by a fibrous cellulose substrate, this biodegradable polyester is a non-toxic alternative to plastics used in the manufacture of packaging, thanks to its mechanical properties, low thermal conductivity and its barrier activity against water vapor and oxygen, in addition to the more than affordable cost for industrial production.
This article has been featured in the prestigious scientific journal Advanced Science News, as well as being among the most read on the ResearchGate portal. For its part, Advanced Sustainable Systems has also selected one of the illustrations belonging to this article for its inaugural cover.
The reference of the full publication is: José A. Heredia-Guerrero, José J. Benítez, Pietro Cataldi, Uttam C. Paul, Marco Contardi, Roberto Cingolani, Ilker S. Bayer, Antonio Heredia and Athanassia Athanassiou. All-Natural Sustainable Packaging Materials Inspired by Plant Cuticles, Adv. Sustainable Syst. 2017, 1600024. DOI: 10.1002/adsu.201600024.