Researchers at Aberystwyth University in Wales have reported that compounds derived from seaweed may provide a biodegradable substitute for conventional plastic used in food wrapping.
The findings were set out in a paper in the journal Algal Research by academics at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS).
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Food-sector plastic films are mostly produced from fossil fuels.
In a university statement, such materials represented just under one-third of the 400 million tonnes of plastic made globally in 2022.
Packaging waste remains a significant environmental issue, with 15 billion kilograms of plastic entering marine environments each year.
Dr Jessica Adams from IBERS at Aberystwyth University said: “It is good news for the planet that seaweed grown in the UK can be used to create more sustainable plastics.”
The research team in west Wales used alginate, an extract from seaweed, alongside other biological compounds to improve the material’s durability and flexibility so that it could be formed into food wrap.
The extracts are processed into powder, combined with water, heated and poured into moulds to make the film.
The team has been assessing the material for durability, antibacterial performance, resistance to water and other characteristics.
PhD student Luke Barnett, who led the study, noted: “While bioplastics have a long history, plastic packaging, including films, is now starting to shift to environmentally friendly alternatives. These more natural sources for packaging will help reduce the effect plastic pollution is having on the environment.”
The work received support from the BBSRC and food company Samworth Brothers.
BBSRC executive chair Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith said: “Bioscience has a vital role to play in tackling environmental challenges, and this research shows how natural resources such as seaweed can inspire innovative alternatives to fossil-fuel derived plastics.
“Through our investments, BBSRC supports partnerships between academia and industry to turn discovery research into practical solutions that improve lives and livelihoods while advancing a more sustainable circular bioeconomy.”
