IIT Madras Develops Eco-Friendly Packaging from Agricultural Waste

IIT Madras Introduces New Eco-friendly Packaging

Image Credits: IIT Madras

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has announced the development of a biodegradable packaging material, which is derived from agricultural waste. The new material was introduced by the IIT researchers as an alternative to the conventional plastic foams like expanded polystyrene and expanded polyethene.

The new material innovation by IIT Madras is a bold step that showcases the relevance of how mycelium biocomposites grown from fungi on paper and agricultural waste can help in meeting the standards of traditional plastic packaging. The innovation equally matches the strength and quality despite being fully compostable.

The Assistant Professor of IIT Madras, Laskhminath Kundanati, said,

“In India, over 350 million tonnes of agricultural waste are produced annually, much of which is burned or left to decay. Our goal was to address both plastic waste and agricultural residue by developing sustainable packaging.”

The IIT researchers cultivated Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus on sawdust, coconuth, paper, hay, and cardboard. The new approach helps save agricultural residues from contributing to air pollution and also promotes a circular economy.

The team at IIT Madras found that the Ganoderma, which was grown on the cardboard, managed to achieve higher strength than EPS, which creates a clear and safe space for it in the multiple packaging operations. Sandra Rose Biby, a research scholar, also mentioned that” The ideal fungus-substrate combinations outperform traditional foams, offering an eco-friendly and high-performance solution”

The innovation marks a crucial place in the packaging industry, as the country generates over 4 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. The innovation is expected to be a game changer in the industry as it will help in reducing microplastic formation, greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production and incineration.

The report also believes that the mycelium-based composites can be adopted in other engineering applications like acoustic and thermal insulation, marking a step towards sustainable future.