A team of researchers from the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), India, developed biodegradable packaging films by combining pomegranate peel powder (PPP) and pomegranate peel extract (PPE) with sweet potato starch (SPS). The goal was to replace petroleum-based plastics and reduce food spoilage.
The study found that incorporating 20% PPE and 6% PPP produced films with outstanding antioxidant (98.3%) and antimicrobial activity against multiple pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The films demonstrated improved mechanical strength, oxygen and water barrier properties, and maintained flexibility.
When tested on bread, the PPP/PPE films significantly lowered microbial counts and weight loss compared to unwrapped or plastic-wrapped bread, indicating their strong preservation potential.
The research highlights an innovative approach to valorize fruit waste — turning discarded pomegranate peels into a valuable, sustainable packaging material that could replace conventional plastics and enhance food shelf life naturally.
Reference
Patil, R. J., Kumar, P., Goswami, S., Kishore, A., Kumar, N., Kumari, K., Upadhyay, A., Chakraborty, G., & Kaur, K. (2025). Valorization of pomegranate peel powder/extract for development of sweet potato starch based active packaging film and application for shelf life extension of bread. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-025-03618-7
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