Instead of plastic: a "smart" biodegradable coating for products is invented

Researchers at the Rutgers School of Public Health in New Jersey have developed a coating that could replace store-bought grocery wrap . This is a plant-based coating made from polysaccharides, the most common carbohydrates that can be taken from food waste. It's heated in a device that looks like a hair dryer and then sprayed onto foods ranging from avocados to steaks that make it look like shrink wrap.

The coating includes thyme oil, citric acid and nisin, plant-derived antimicrobial ingredients that fight spoilage and pathogens like E. coli. In addition, the coating is quite durable and helps against stains. All this helps to extend the shelf life of products. So, during tests with avocados, fruits with a new coating remained edible 50% longer. When it comes to eating the product, the coating can simply be washed off with water. Three days is enough for it to completely decompose in the soil.

This invention belongs to a new generation of packaging that should replace oil-based plastic. It is environmentally friendly, non-toxic, allows you to extend the shelf life and reduce the amount of food waste.