Sustainable Packaging with Waterborne Acrylated Epoxidized Soybean Oil

Abstract

Packaging is responsible for 46% of total plastic waste, and thus, sustainable packaging alternatives are urgently required. Reported herein is coated paper as a sustainable packaging material using waterborne acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) to coat kraft paper. The waterborne AESO was cast onto kraft paper and was then photo-cured. Upon curing, the coated paper was tested for its oil and water repellency as well as its mechanical properties. Biodegradability studies were also conducted for the coated paper, and our findings suggest that its biodegradability reaches >90% within 90 days. The coating process was also evaluated for its compatibility with paper printing processes and its resistance to hot oil. Overall, the AESO-emulsion-coated paper offers desirable water and oil resistance and mechanical properties, offers biodegradability, and is also cost-effective. This work thus provides a sustainable alternative to the currently wasteful packaging made with plastic or plastic-coated paper. This work also fits numerous principles of green chemistry, such as waste prevention (no microplastics), the use of safer solvents (water), the promotion of renewable feedstock, and the design of packaging that is biodegradable.