Eco-friendly bio-derived foam has been developed by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed an innovative eco-friendly bio-derived foam.
It will offer a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic foams.
Around 2.3 million tonnes of plastic foam are produced worldwide.
A team from IISc’s Department of Materials Engineering has created a biodegradable foam suitable for packaging for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).
This foam is made from bio-based epoxy resins, non-edible oils approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and hardeners derived from tea leaves.
This reduced reliance on fossil fuels and non-recyclable materials while maintaining the foam’s excellent compressive strength.
The Indian foam market was valued at USD 7.9 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to USD 11.1 billion by 2032.
The production of 10,000 traditional plastic foam cups resulted in approximately 308 kg of greenhouse gas emissions.
