Sargassum inspired, optimized calcium alginate bioplastic composites for food packaging

Plastic pollution, more specifically from food packaging and containers which account for the largest share of 36% current plastic production, is one greatest threats to natural environment human health. Thus, development alternative renewable plastics are needed complement a circular economy reduce resource depletion. Seaweeds have been known possess good film forming properties ideal bioplastic Sargassum natans-an invasive brown seaweed has inundating shores Caribbean, shown be an excellent candidate. This study presents, first time, novel optimized biodegradable alginate composite as traditional packaging. The optimization process was carried out using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) resulting in formulation 6 wt% alginate, 0.263 starch, 0.35 CMC, 0.065 g/g sorbitol 0.025 PEG 200- with ultra-high oxygen barrier (OP - 0.2 cm3 μm m−2 d−1 kPa−1), water vapor (WVP 2.18 × 10−12 g m/m2 s Pa) high tensile modulus (E 3.93 GPa)- no migration additives into simulated aqueous system 10 days. Furthermore, films were found fully degrade 14 days possessed better OP, higher WVP comparable material HDPE, PET PLA. Ultimately, our results support viable best fitted low moisture environments-encouraging use materials innovation supporting UNSDGs.