Bursa Technical University develops biodegradable packaging from food waste

Bursa Technical University (BTÜ) has received support from TÜBİTAK for a project aimed at developing biodegradable, polymer-based composite films using food industry waste. The initiative, titled ‘Development of Biodegradable Polymer-Based Composite Films Enriched with Food Industry Waste and Calcium Silicate Mineral’, seeks to reduce plastic consumption by repurposing fruit peel powders into eco-friendly packaging.

The project is led by doctoral student Neşe İşman, with a team including Associate Professor Pınar Terzioğlu from the Polymer Materials Engineering Department and Associate Professor Aycan Yiğit Çınar from the Food Engineering Department. The research focuses on utilizing the natural components found in fruit peels to create next-generation materials that can protect food products while remaining environmentally sustainable.

Developed packaging will undergo laboratory testing to evaluate durability, food preservation capabilities, and biodegradability. The goal is to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional petroleum-based synthetic plastics by effectively utilizing by-products from food production.