Growing concerns over the environmental impact of conventional plastic waste have accelerated the search for sustainable alternatives. This study investigates the development of biodegradable plastics using agricultural residues—specifically pineapple leaves, potatoes, and tomatoes. Pineapple leaves provide cellulose for structural strength, potato starch improves film-forming capacity, and tomato-derived pectin and fiber enhance elasticity and moisture resistance. The bioplastics were prepared through extraction, gelatinization, and crosslinking processes to achieve mechanical stability and biodegradability. Their tensile strength, water absorption, and degradation under natural conditions were analyzed and compared with conventional plastics. The results demonstrate the potential of these agricultural-waste-derived films as eco-friendly substitutes, supporting the transition to sustainable packaging while reducing dependence on petroleum-based materials.

Keywords: Bioplastic, Biodegradable materials, Agricultural residues, Pineapple leaf cellulose, Tomato fiber, Potato starch, Natural polymers, Pectin, Cellulose extraction, Starch recovery, Gelatinization process, Crosslinking, Biopolymer films, Sustainable packaging, Circular economy.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Auras, R., Lim, L. T., Selke, S. E., & Tsuji, H. (2010). Poly (lactic acid): Synthesis, structures, properties, processing, and applications. John Wiley & Sons.
2. Garlotta, D. (2001). A literature review of poly (lactic acid). Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 9(2), 63–84.
3.  Reddy, M. M., Vivekanandhan, S., Misra, M., Bhatia, S. K., & Mohanty, A. K. (2013). Biobased plastics and bionanocomposites: Current status and future opportunities. Progress in Polymer Science, 38(10–11), 1653–1689.
4. Shogren, R. L., Lawton, J. W., Doane, W. M., & Tiefenbacher, K. F. (1998). Structure and morphology of baked starch foams. Polymer, 39(26), 6649–6655.
5. RameshKumar, S., Shaiju, P., O’Connor, K. E., & Ruzgas, T. (2020). Biosynthesis of biodegradable plastics: A sustainable approach. Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 21, 75–81.
6. Peelman, N., Ragaert, P., De Meulenaer, B., Adons, D., Peeters, R., Cardon, L., & Devlieghere, F. (2013). Application of bioplastics for food packaging. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 32(2), 128–141.
7. Seligra, P. G., Bizarria, M. T., & García, M. A. (2021). Biodegradable starch-based films with improved mechanical and water resistance properties. Carbohydrate Polymers, 255, 117350.
8. European Bioplastics. (2022). What are bioplastics? https://www.european-bioplastics.org
9. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (2021). Biodegradable plastics in agriculture: An overview. http://www.fao.org
10. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2020). Bioplastics: A global review of opportunities and challenges. https://www.unep.org
11. Shah, A. A., Narancic, T., & Ashter, S. A. (2020). Bioplastics and their environmental value. Environmental Science Review.
12. Mishra, P., Haider, S., Thakur, V. K., & Javadian, S. (2021). Utilization of agricultural waste in bioplastic production: A sustainable approach. Green Materials, 9(1), 45–56.
13. Sanchez-Garcia, M. D., & Lagaron, J. M. (2017). Role of cellulose in bioplastic production and performance. Cellulose, 24(3), 1433–1450.
14. Shahbazi, M., Zhang, Y., & Mohammed, S. (2020). Starch as a primary ingredient for bioplastic production: Structure and functionality. Industrial Crops and Products, 145, 112068.
15. Espitia, P. J. P., Lopez, J. M. F., & Gómez-Estaca, J. (2020). The role of pectin in enhancing bioplastic performance. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 149, 750–762.
16. Ali, S. S., Xu, H., & Agarwal, R. (2021). Biodegradability and mechanical performance of starch- and cellulose-based bioplastics. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 180, 109308.

Growing concerns over the environmental impact of conventional plastic waste have accelerated the search for sustainable alternatives. This study investigates the development of biodegradable plastics using agricultural residues—specifically pineapple leaves, potatoes, and tomatoes. Pineapple leaves provide cellulose for structural strength, potato starch improves film-forming capacity, and tomato-derived pectin and fiber enhance elasticity and moisture resistance. The bioplastics were prepared through extraction, gelatinization, and crosslinking processes to achieve mechanical stability and biodegradability. Their tensile strength, water absorption, and degradation under natural conditions were analyzed and compared with conventional plastics. The results demonstrate the potential of these agricultural-waste-derived films as eco-friendly substitutes, supporting the transition to sustainable packaging while reducing dependence on petroleum-based materials.

Keywords: Bioplastic, Biodegradable materials, Agricultural residues, Pineapple leaf cellulose, Tomato fiber, Potato starch, Natural polymers, Pectin, Cellulose extraction, Starch recovery, Gelatinization process, Crosslinking, Biopolymer films, Sustainable packaging, Circular economy.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Auras, R., Lim, L. T., Selke, S. E., & Tsuji, H. (2010). Poly (lactic acid): Synthesis, structures, properties, processing, and applications. John Wiley & Sons.
2. Garlotta, D. (2001). A literature review of poly (lactic acid). Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 9(2), 63–84.
3.  Reddy, M. M., Vivekanandhan, S., Misra, M., Bhatia, S. K., & Mohanty, A. K. (2013). Biobased plastics and bionanocomposites: Current status and future opportunities. Progress in Polymer Science, 38(10–11), 1653–1689.
4. Shogren, R. L., Lawton, J. W., Doane, W. M., & Tiefenbacher, K. F. (1998). Structure and morphology of baked starch foams. Polymer, 39(26), 6649–6655.
5. RameshKumar, S., Shaiju, P., O’Connor, K. E., & Ruzgas, T. (2020). Biosynthesis of biodegradable plastics: A sustainable approach. Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 21, 75–81.
6. Peelman, N., Ragaert, P., De Meulenaer, B., Adons, D., Peeters, R., Cardon, L., & Devlieghere, F. (2013). Application of bioplastics for food packaging. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 32(2), 128–141.
7. Seligra, P. G., Bizarria, M. T., & García, M. A. (2021). Biodegradable starch-based films with improved mechanical and water resistance properties. Carbohydrate Polymers, 255, 117350.
8. European Bioplastics. (2022). What are bioplastics? https://www.european-bioplastics.org
9. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (2021). Biodegradable plastics in agriculture: An overview. http://www.fao.org
10. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2020). Bioplastics: A global review of opportunities and challenges. https://www.unep.org
11. Shah, A. A., Narancic, T., & Ashter, S. A. (2020). Bioplastics and their environmental value. Environmental Science Review.
12. Mishra, P., Haider, S., Thakur, V. K., & Javadian, S. (2021). Utilization of agricultural waste in bioplastic production: A sustainable approach. Green Materials, 9(1), 45–56.
13. Sanchez-Garcia, M. D., & Lagaron, J. M. (2017). Role of cellulose in bioplastic production and performance. Cellulose, 24(3), 1433–1450.
14. Shahbazi, M., Zhang, Y., & Mohammed, S. (2020). Starch as a primary ingredient for bioplastic production: Structure and functionality. Industrial Crops and Products, 145, 112068.
15. Espitia, P. J. P., Lopez, J. M. F., & Gómez-Estaca, J. (2020). The role of pectin in enhancing bioplastic performance. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 149, 750–762.
16. Ali, S. S., Xu, H., & Agarwal, R. (2021). Biodegradability and mechanical performance of starch- and cellulose-based bioplastics. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 180, 109308.