Banana peel-based bioplastic for eco-friendly food packaging

Banana peels, an abundant form of agricultural waste, offer significant potential as raw material for biodegradable packaging. This study focuses on the development and comparative analysis of three banana peel-based bioplastic films: a plain formulation, one infused with natural pH indicators (anthocyanins from red cabbage), and another coated with agarose hydrogel. Starch was extracted from boiled banana peels and blended with glycerol to form the base bioplastic. For the pH-sensitive variant, anthocyanins were incorporated, while the hydrogel-coated films were treated with agarose solution to enhance barrier properties. All films were subjected to mechanical testing, water vapor permeability analysis, pH sensitivity observation, and biodegradability assessment. The plain film served as the control. The hydrogel-coated film demonstrated superior mechanical durability and moisture resistance. The anthocyanin-infused film successfully changed color under acidic and alkaline conditions, highlighting its potential for intelligent food packaging. All films exhibited biodegradability to varying extents. This study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing banana peel waste to produce multifunctional, eco-friendly bioplastics through a low-cost, small-scale process, making it especially beneficial for rural industries and sustainable packaging innovations.