10 September 2025
A study from South Dakota State University suggested that grapevine canes, woody sticks left after vineyards are pruned, can be used to make biodegradable packaging films.
The reliance on plastic, especially single-use one, has been constantly creating significant environmental concerns due to the rising pollution. These conventional plastics are mostly derived from crude oil, of which only 9% is being reused.
The experts believe that agricultural residues can help in creating packaging solutions. Kateryna Zvierieva, the director of the Ukrainian Horticulture Association, agribusiness marketing expert said that
“Today we see multiple breakthroughs worldwide: Indian researchers are developing biodegradable films from orange peels; in Chennai, IIT scientists use agricultural waste combined with mushroom mycelium to produce strong compostable materials; in Australia, universities are testing bioplastics for berry packaging made from PHA and wood fibers; while European and international projects convert fruit and vegetable byproducts into antioxidant and antimicrobial films that extend shelf life.”
The director further added that grapevine cellulose is a good addition as the horticultural waste can move from being a disposal challenge to a high-value resource.
The research revealed that the films are stronger than the plastic bags in tensile strength. It also stated that it biodegrades in just 17 days after being placed in soil. The high light transmittance also makes them ideal to be use in food packaging applications.
The vineyards can turn byproducts into raw materials for sustainable packaging, also the films can help in reducing the reliance on petroleum-based plastics. Srinivas Janaswamy, the Associate Professor of the Department of Dairy and Food Science at SDSU, also mentioned that the use of underutilized prunings as a cellulose source would help in waste management at a global level.
10 September 2025
10 September 2025
10 September 2025
10 September 2025