Latest news with #SandraRoseBiby
Hans India
5 days ago
- Science
- Hans India
IIT Madras develops new agri-waste-based packaging material to help reduce plastic use
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have developed an agriculture waste-based packaging material, which can be a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic foams used in packaging. The researchers demonstrated that mycelium-based biocomposites grown on agricultural and paper waste provide quality in packaging while being biodegradable. The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Bioresource Technology Reports, offer a practical solution to two major problems -- plastic pollution and agricultural waste disposal. By converting agricultural residues into high-strength, biodegradable packaging materials, the mycelium-based biocomposites will directly support plastic waste reduction in the country -- currently exceeding 4 million tonnes annually. 'In India, over 350 million tonnes of agricultural waste are generated annually, much of which is burned or left to decay, causing air pollution and wasting valuable resources. Our research aimed to address both challenges -- plastic pollution and agricultural waste -- by developing mycelium-based biocomposites as sustainable, biodegradable packaging materials,' said Dr. Lakshminath Kundanati, Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering, IIT Madras. For the research, the team cultivated fungi such as Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus, which are different types of mushrooms, on agricultural and paper wastes - cardboard, sawdust, paper, cocopith, and hay. This approach not only diverted agricultural residues from open burning but also created fully compostable packaging solutions, aligning with circular economy principles, the researchers said. 'The work identifies the ideal substrate–fungus combinations that outperform conventional foams like EPS and EPE, with Ganoderma on cardboard achieving compressive strengths an order of magnitude higher than EPS (Expanded polystyrene),' said Sandra Rose Biby, Research Scholar, IIT Madras. Replacing plastic foams like EPS and EPE with mycelium-based biocomposites can significantly reduce landfill burden, prevent microplastic formation, and cut greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic production and waste incineration. The mycelium composites can further be modified to cater to other engineering applications such as thermal and acoustic insulation materials, the researchers said.
The Hindu
31-07-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Researchers at IIT-Madras develop agricultural waste-based biodegradable packaging material
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) have developed an agriculture waste-based packaging material, which they say can be a sustainable alternative to plastic foams that are used currently. The researchers cultivated fungi, such as Ganoderma lucidum, a type of mushroom known for its medicinal properties, and Pleurotus ostreatus, an edible mushroom, on agriculture and paper waste to derive the material. They explored various optimal combinations of fungal strains and substrates to produce a composite material, which turned out to be sturdy, a press release stated. The fungal strains were allowed to grow on five different substrates — cardboard, sawdust, paper, cocopith, and hay — and Ganoderma on cardboard achieved a compressive strength greater than expanded polystyrene (EPS), the release added. With over 350 million tonnes of agriculture waste is generated in India every year. While much of it is burnt or left to decay, these materials can provide a sustainable alternative to plastics and significantly reduce the four million-odd tonnes of plastic waste that is generated in the country. The researchers have established NatureWrks Technologies, a start-up incubated by IIT-M, to develop and commercialise the product. The start-up will also pursue technology transfer in collaboration with industry partners, explore licensing agreements to enable wider adoption of these solutions, and aim to seek government funding to accelerate the development of the product. Lakshminath Kundanati, assistant professor, Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering, is the lead researcher and co-founder of the start-up. Other members of the team include Sandra Rose Biby and Vivek Surendran, both research scholars at IIT-M. The findings were published in Bioresource Technology Report, a peer-reviewed journal, in June.
India Today
31-07-2025
- Science
- India Today
IIT Madras develops eco-friendly packaging using crop and paper waste
To offer a practical alternative to plastic packaging, researchers at IIT Madras have developed a biodegradable material made from farm and paper waste. Using fungi like Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus, the team has created packaging that is strong, lightweight, and project aims to reduce both agricultural waste and plastic pollution, which remain major environmental concerns in team used fungi such as Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus, growing them on materials like sawdust, cardboard, hay, and paper The resulting product is strong, lightweight, and compostable, making it a potential replacement for plastic foams like EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) and EPE (Expanded Polyethylene) used in project is being led by Dr Lakshminath Kundanati, Assistant Professor at the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering. Alongside him are research scholars Ms Sandra Rose Biby and Mr Vivek Surendran. The findings were published in the Bioresource Technology Reports journal in June about the initiative, Dr Kundanati said, 'Over 350 million tonnes of agricultural waste is generated in India each year. Much of this goes unused or is burnt, contributing to air pollution"."At the same time, India produces over 4 million tonnes of plastic waste annually. We saw an opportunity to address both problems together,' he move from lab to real-world use, the team has founded a startup called NatureWrks Madras researchers have developed biodegradable packaging using fungi (mycelium) grown on agricultural and paper waste, offering an eco-friendly alternative to plastic foams like EPS and research demonstrated high strength and compostability, with Ganoderma grown on cardboard outperforming conventional plastic foams in compressive strength.A startup named NatureWrks Technologies has been launched to scale and commercialise the innovation, promoting sustainable packaging and rural income past efforts that focused on a single combination of fungus and waste, the IIT Madras team tested multiple COMBINATIONS AND FUTURE POTENTIALThe team found that Ganoderma grown on cardboard offered the best compressive strength, ten times more than EPS. Water resistance and biodegradability were also Biby, one of the lead researchers, said the study's strength lies in its side-by-side comparisons. 'We tested different fungi and substrates and examined how they affect strength, water absorption, and decomposition.'The research fits into the larger idea of a circular economy, where waste is repurposed into valuable to Mr Surendran, such packaging could also open up opportunities for rural communities. 'This method creates value from low-cost, farm-level waste and could offer additional income streams for farmers.'The material, still at prototype stage, may also be adapted for thermal and acoustic insulation in the future.- Ends
