Journal Article

Biomimetic layered, ecological, advanced, multi-functional film for sustainable packaging

Yuan, Joshua S., Dhatt, Puneet S., Hu, Acadia, Hu, Cheng, Dai, Susie Y., Huynh, Vincent

2025

Overview

Plastic pollution is one of most daunting sustainability challenges. Multi-functional and biodegradable plastics are critical for both desirable end-of-life outcomes and petrochemical plastics replacement. Current bioplastics are either: short of mechanical properties, like polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB); lack room temperature biodegradability, like polylactic acid (PLA); or lack the functionality to create additional values. Here, we present the bioinspired Layered, Ecological, Advanced, and multi-Functional Film (LEAFF), for sustainable plastic packaging. This biomimetic composite, based on the structure of the natural plant leaf, synergistically improves mechanical strength while empowering PLA for rapid ambient soil biodegradability, achieving complete degradation in 5 weeks. The film is also highly transparent and water stable, and achieves high gas barrier properties to improve food shelf life and reduce waste. The biomimetic design showcases the synergistic advantage leveraged by the LEAFF’s multilayer structure to enhance mechanical performance while simultaneously retaining biodegradability and achieving multifunctionality for broad applications. Designing biodegradable plastics is highly desirable, though it has been a challenge to balance mechanical properties with biodegradability. Here the authors design a multilayered biodegradable composite without compromising the mechanical properties.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 147/135 / 639/166/898 / 639/301/54/989 / 639/638/455/953 / Biodegradability / Biodegradable Plastics - chemistry / Biodegradation / Biodegradation, Environmental / Biomimetic Materials - chemistry / Biomimetics / Biomimetics - methods / Bioplastics / Cellulose fibers / Composite materials / Contact angle / Design / Food / Food packaging / Food Packaging - methods / Fourier transforms / Humanities and Social Sciences / Interfacial bonding / Leaves / Mechanical properties / Morphology / multidisciplinary / Multilayers / Packaging / Petrochemicals / Plant Leaves - chemistry / Plastic pollution / Plastics / Plastics - chemistry / Polyesters - chemistry / Polyethylene / Polyhydroxybutyrate / Polyhydroxybutyric acid / Polylactic acid / Polymers / Product Packaging - methods / Protective coatings / Room temperature / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Shelf life / Soil - chemistry / Soil degradation / Soil mechanics / Spectrum analysis / Sustainable materials / Sustainable packaging / Tensile strength / Water