Imagine, for a moment, a world wherein the very essence of what we discard — agricultural byproducts and natural polymers — forms the solution to one of our most pressing environmental crises: plastic waste.

This is not a distant dream but an emerging reality, thanks to the diligent efforts of researchers around the globe. At the forefront of this innovation is a team from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, peeling the layers of possibility hidden within the shells and seeds of everyday fruits.

Under the leadership of associate professor Dr Preetam Sarkar, the Department of Food Process Engineering is giving new life to the materials that have long been sidelined as waste.

With a touch of human ingenuity, agricultural waste has been transformed into biodegradable films that hold the promise of revolutionising food packaging. The seeds of jackfruit, jamun, and litchi are stepping into the limelight.

The innovation was a collective effort of Dr Santhosh Ravichandran, Rahul Thakur, Bindhu Sravanthi, and Souvik Giri under the guidance of Dr Preetam. What treasures lie within these humble kernels? We sat down with Dr Preetam and one of the students, Dr Santhosh Ravichandran, whose efforts led to this innovation.

Unveiling the potential of seeds

The ubiquity of plastics in the global food industry is undeniable. Synthetic plastics such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polystyrene (PS) are widely used due to their durability and flexibility. However, their environmental........

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