Project at Bursa Technical University Transforms Food Waste into Eco-Friendly Packaging
A project aimed at developing eco-friendly packaging materials by utilizing food industry waste at Bursa Technical University has been awarded funding by TÜBİTAK.
An academic project aimed at developing eco-friendly and biodegradable packaging materials by utilizing food industry waste at Bursa Technical University was deemed worthy of support by TÜBİTAK.
Details of the TÜBİTAK-Supported Project
The project titled Development of Biodegradable Polymer-Based Composite Films Enriched with Food Industry Waste and Calcium Silicate Mineral, to be carried out at Bursa Technical University, is coming to life. This study aims both to reduce plastic usage and to reintegrate food industry waste into the economy.
The project is coordinated by Neşe İşman, a PhD student in the Department of Polymer Materials Engineering at the BTÜ Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences. The team also includes Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pınar Terzioğlu, a faculty member in the Department of Polymer Materials Engineering, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aycan Yiğit Çınar, a faculty member in the Department of Food Engineering.
Eco-Friendly Packaging Production from Fruit Peels
While the environmental damage caused by plastic waste increases today, much of the waste generated during food production is discarded without being utilized. Within the scope of the project, fruit peel powders arising from the food industry will be utilized in packaging production through appropriate methods.
By leveraging the natural components contained in fruit peels, it is planned to develop next-generation packaging materials that are eco-friendly and possess the feature of protecting food products. Thus, it aims to create a sustainable alternative to traditional packaging.
Contribution to Preserving Food Freshness
The packaging to be developed in the project is targeted not only to be environmentally friendly but also to contribute to the preservation of foods. Thanks to the natural antioxidant and antimicrobial components found in fruit peels, the potential of the packaging to slow down the spoilage process of foods will be researched.
The next-generation packaging to be developed will be tested in detail in a laboratory environment for critical properties such as durability, food protection, and biodegradability.