Researchers at IIT Roorkee confirmed that the material is non-toxic and has been made without using the chemicals commonly used in the production of synthetic plastics.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee developed an environmentally friendly biodegradable substitute for single-use plastic packaging by incorporating fully biodegradable polysaccharides within a week.

Researchers at IIT Roorkee confirmed that the material is non-toxic and has been made without using the chemicals commonly used in the production of synthetic plastics.

The research team developing the eco-friendly biodegradable plastic material was led by Professor Kirtiraj K Gaikwad, from IIT Roorkee’s department of paper technology, and his student Lokesh Kumar, MTech (packaging technology).

The plant material used was mixed with gelatin (a colorless and tasteless water-soluble protein). This solution is mixed for 12 hours and a film is made from the obtained solution. These films are malleable enough to be developed into various forms of packaging, including shopping bags, pouches, sachets, etc.

Of note, research at IIT Roorkee to develop environmentally friendly plastic packaging materials has received government funding through the department of science and technology (DST) under the INSPIRE faculty grant, an IIT Roorkee statement said.

The research team anticipates that the material will reduce environmental pollution caused by synthetic plastic materials that are not biodegradable. Also read | Impact of raga on humans, temple tanks among IITs and CUs subjects selected for research: AICTE increased from about 700 to nearly 2500 in the last five years.