Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new leaf-inspired bioplastic that is stronger than other bioplastics and does not require high-temperature composting, because it it is degradable at room temperature! 

WashU researchers find their inspiration from the humble leaf and the structure of leaves’ cellulose-rich cell walls. 

“We created this multilayer structure where cellulose is in the middle and the bioplastics are on two sides,” said Joshua Yuan, the Lucy and Stanley Lopata Professor and chair of energy, environmental and chemical engineering at the McKelvey School of Engineering.

Long before plastic, humans wrapped their food in leaves, which easily biodegrade due to an underlying structure of cellulose-rich cell walls. So, the WashU’s chemical engineers decided to introduce cellulose nanofibers to the design of bioplastics.

The new bioplastic packaging is called LEAFF: Layered, Ecological, Advanced and multi-Functional Film.