The global polymer foam market is estimated to reach USD 153.8 billion by 2027. The rise in the demand for foam applications in industries such as automotive, construction, and packaging has contributed to the ongoing growth of the market. The lack of sustainability and recyclability of current foams poses an urgent need to find alternative technologies that derive foam materials from environmentally benign and sustainable resources such as plant-based feedstock. As the degradation of petroleum-based plastics can last several centuries, with the widespread growth of plastics usage, plastic pollution has become an imminent global crisis. According to American Disposal Services, polystyrene foam (aka, Styrofoam) makes up 30 percent of all US national landfill content due to its excessive use in packaging, and since most material recovery facilities do not accept it as part of their recycling programs. During the last two years, many US states have initiated bans on Styrofoam containers and packaging products. While the awareness towards and desire to utilize Styrofoam alternatives continues to grow, there are very few alternative “carbon neutral” products on the market that can truly compete and provide a long-term viable solution.<br/>WSU has recently developed a new technology for producing biobased foams from cellulose nanomaterials which are ultralight, super strong, and provide excellent insulation, fire resistance, and mechanical properties. Furthermore, these cellulose based biofoams can be molded into different shapes and forms to fit a wide range of commercial applications. This presentation will demonstrate the applications of these biofoams for temperature-controlled packaging used in food and biopharma industry.

Cellulose-based biofoam to replace Styrofoam packaging

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.