Three students of the chemical engineering department from IIT Madras, India, have developed a printable three thin-layered sachet made from cellophane, which is regenerated cellulose; starch; polyvinyl alcohol, a water-soluble synthetic polymer, and a natural vitamin-like molecule. This biodegradable solution to plastic, a major pollutant, won an award at a national competition organised by consumer goods company Hindustan Lever, India.
Praneeth, who worked with his team for four months on the material for sachets, said they had to look for something strong, flexible, air, light and water-resistant. After skimming through several research papers on biodegradable material and existing eco-friendly packaging products, they zeroed in on cellophane. Cellophane is regenerated celulose that makes tree trunks strong and hold up the tallest trees. Cellophane was chosen as the innermost material because it had all the properties of polyethylene, a synthetic plastic presently used to make most sachets.
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Biodegradable alternative to plastic sachets
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