Plastic food wrappers will be a thing of the past thanks to … spray wrapping
Vegetable coating that is “sprayed” instead of plastic packaging
A new invention seeks to put an end to the environmental catastrophe of plastic food wrappers, those with which we wrap bread or fruit, for example.
According to research published on Phys.org , a team of researchers from Rutgers University and Harvard University has developed a plant-based coating that can “wrap” food as a greener and safer solution than traditional plastic wrap.
This coating is said to “spray” fibers based on biopolymer and polysaccharide – the most common carbohydrate in food – which will be “wrapped” around the food. The resulting protection is strong enough to protect food from spoilage and includes natural antimicrobials (such as citric acid, nisin and thyme oils) that can fight harmful bacteria and viruses, in addition to preventing spoilage.
In tests conducted by the researchers, the coating extended the life of the avocado by about 50%, while it only takes three days for it to biodegrade and you can also rinse it with water.
In the long run, they envision turning these fibers into sensors that can activate and kill bacteria, extending their shelf life even further.
However, no mention was made of producing this spray-wrapper in the short term. This ecological solution may be many years away from our hands, but it could reduce the burden on landfills, reduce the spread of microplastics, which pose a serious risk to our health, and minimize food waste.