Sustainable Biopolymer Composites from Banana Pseudostem Cellulose: Integrating Natural Plasticizers and Antimicrobial Agents for Eco-friendly E-commerce Packaging

The large-scale growth of global e-commerce has created a huge increase in the need for light weight packaging products made of plastic materials, primarily flexible packaging films and mailer bags; however, almost all of the materials used to produce these items are made from petroleum-based polymers and have very low recycling rates. Therefore, many of these packaging materials contribute to significant environmental problems including landfills and ocean pollution. As a result, it is necessary to create biodegradable and renewable alternatives for packaging materials. Banana pseudostems (BPS) represent a rich source of cellulose, which can be extracted from agricultural residues that are produced after bananas are harvested. These residues are extremely abundant and therefore offer a viable source of raw materials for sustainable product development. In this study, we present a sustainability-focused process for creating biopolymer composite films from cellulose found in banana pseudostem. We also include natural plasticizers and antimicrobial additives to increase the mechanical flexibility, functionality and shelf life of the films. Our methodology for conducting this research included creating a banana pseudostem powder, treating the fibers with alkaline and hydrogen peroxide bleach to clean the fibers and then making the composite films using natural plasticizers such as glycerin and starch. Additionally, we incorporated citrus-derived bioactive compounds into the films. To help optimize the composition of the films and assess their environmental impact, we developed a formulation design matrix and a sustainability assessment framework. Preliminary analytical models indicate that the amount of glycerin added to the film will greatly affect its flexibility, while starch improved film forming, but caused an increase in moisture sensitivity. Overall, this study illustrates the potential of BPS-based composites as eco-friendly alternatives to traditional plastic packaging products and demonstrates how a circular bio-economy approach may be used to develop new, sustainable materials in materials science.