In a laboratory at the University of Copenhagen, a group of scientists has just created what could be the answer to the global problem of plastic pollution: sustainable packaging made of barley. This new bioplastic promises to decompose completely in nature in just two months, offering a concrete solution to the accumulation of plastic waste in our oceans and landfills. How did they manage to create such a material, and what implications could it have for our future?
A material born out of necessity
Professor Andreas Blennow and his team at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at the University of Copenhagen faced a Herculean challenge: creating an alternative to plastic that was truly sustainable.
Their motivation? The awareness that only 9% of global plastic is recycled (and apparently, with terrible side effects), while the rest ends up incinerated, in landfill or, even worse, dispersed into the environment.
Blennow makes a crucial point: Even current bioplastics are not the ideal solution many believe.
The name is misleading, because most bioplastics do not decompose easily if thrown into nature. The process can take many years and some of it continues to pollute as microplastic.
Andreas Blennow
Sustainable packaging from an extraordinary material
Il new material it is a biocomposite that mainly uses two natural ingredients: amylosio e cellulose. Amylose is extracted from a barley variety specially developed to produce pure amylose in its grains. This purity is critical, as pure amylose is much less prone to becoming mushy when interacting with water than ordinary starch.
The cellulose used is a nanocellulose derived from sugar industry waste. These nanocellulose fibers, a thousand times smaller than linen and cotton fibers, give the material its mechanical strength. The production of this innovative material occurs through relatively simple methods: the raw materials are dissolved in water and mixed together, or heated under pressure. The result? Small "pellets" or chips that can be subsequently processed and compressed into the desired shape, for sustainable and versatile packaging.
Advantages compared to traditional plastic, in summary:
- Complete biodegradability in just two months
- Water resistance superior to current bioplastics
- Flexibility and durability comparable to traditional plastic
- Use of renewable raw materials and industrial waste
Future challenges and prospects
Despite the revolutionary potential, there are still challenges to overcome. At the moment, only laboratory prototypes have been produced. Blennow, however, is optimistic that large-scale production can be started relatively quickly.
The entire production chain for amylose-rich starch already exists. In fact, millions of tons of pure potato and corn starch are produced every year and used by the food industry and other sectors. Therefore, easy access to most of our ingredients is guaranteed for large-scale production of this material.
Andreas Blennow
Potential impact on the sustainable packaging industry
The research team is already collaborating with two Danish packaging companies to develop prototypes for food packaging. Blennow sees many other potential uses for the material, such as in the automotive industry for car interior finishes. While it's difficult to predict exactly when this eco-friendly, barley-based plastic will hit shelves, Blennow is optimistic. “I think it is realistic that several prototypes of soft and rigid sustainable packaging, such as trays, bottles and bags, will be developed in a time range between one and five years,” he concludes.
The creation of this sustainable barley-based packaging represents a significant step towards a greener future. While waiting to see this sustainable packaging on our store shelves, let's keep our eyes open on research: the more we get rid of plastic, the better.
