Journal
AGRONOMY-BASEL
Volume 11, Issue 2, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/agronomy11020242
Keywords
banana fiber; banana bunch protective bags; biopolymers; biodegradability; composting; blown film extrusion; compounding extrusion; circular economy
Categories
Funding
- Environment and Climate Action LIFE Programme (European Union) under the LIFEBAQUA project [LIFE15 ENV/ES/000157]
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This study developed biodegradable bags reinforced with banana fiber to address the environmental impact of banana packaging waste. Through experimentation, the optimal manufacturing process and formulation were determined, enabling these biodegradable bags to perform well in field tests.
Bags used to protect and accelerate the ripening of bananas are a clear example of the environmental problem of packaging waste. Small pieces of these non-biodegradable bags are frequently disposed on the soil by accident (environmental conditions and poor handling during the harvest) and remain there for years. This work focuses on the development of protective biodegradable bags reinforced with banana fiber, obtained from waste of the banana plants, thus promoting a circular economy and a more environmentally friendly process. To achieve this, different bio-based composites were tested (processability) by compounding extrusion (biopolymer and banana fiber with different process steps) and blown film extrusion. The bags produced were tested in field and sequentially improved in three generations of biofilms. The results showed that the maximum processable fiber content was 5 wt %. Additionally, the micronizing of the compounds was crucial to simplify the blown film extrusion and improve the smoothness of the bags (scratches avoidance on the banana surface). The final bags (Mater-Bi biopolymer, 5% combed and sieved banana fiber, and 2.5 wt % TiO2 for ultraviolet light filtration), performed better than the conventional ones (faster maturing, i.e., earlier harvest, and easier handling) and fulfilled the biodegradability, composting and ecotoxicity test requirements.
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