Sustainability on the UT Campus: A Symposium Edible Essays 80 There are several approaches that aim to aim to that approaches several are There is going essay This the plastic problem. solve packaging and on food-based focus to than all packagingplastic rather and plastic we and foremost, First concept. as a larger of recyclable the percentage can increase can also we Similarly, use. we that materials of compostable the percentage increase are traditionally made from petroleum-based petroleum-based made from traditionally are plastics. many a great surely the problem: to Now knowbig of a problem how people already and our our environment plastic is for takes a millennium Plastic surroundings. is it of where regardless down break to into and is most often thrown discarded, all of the plastic means that That landfills. is still around, been created has ever that the miniscule amount for except somewhere, Only about 5% of all has been recycled. that plastic is actually and every recycled, year the circle to enough plastic is discarded several worse, Still earth times. entire four of in the generation involved are additives toxic have to been shown have plastic that One of the most effects on hormonal balance. in found was Bisphenol A (BPA), notorious, the bodies of 93% of Americans ages six or older. sources when we are creating new items that that new items creating are when we sources vitamins to powerful antioxidants such powerfulvitamins to antioxidants brain off fight to shown as quercetin, skins even The are tissue damage in rats. against Gram- of antimicrobials not have we bacteria. a species, As negative the produce coat all peels that disregarded consume. we of our in foods see edible containers even We the tortilla, cone, cream ice The creation. own of edible all examples the pizza, are even carry to created have we that containers can take great We within them. other foods and artificial both natural from inspiration and questions like: “Isn’t the point of the point “Isn’t and questions like: or inside?” packaging the food protect to In fact, it is probably it get dirty?” “Won’t to understand for people difficult more even in comes their food that the eating take a moment insects. But if we eat as it is to consumed think, as humans have to we as long as our existence. containers “edible” our treat we that the way us look at Let been eating have We fruits and vegetables. with their skinsapples and kumquats since skinThe of an apple is their cultivation. fiber and from filled with vital nutrients At first thought of the concept, edible concept, of the thought first At reactions packaging interesting incite might Sarah MunirSarah Saef Ahmad Biochemistry [email protected] Edible Food Packaging Food Edible Edible Food Packaging

Sustainability on the UT Campus: A Symposium Essays 81 any food related trash in the first place (both in the first place trash related food any packaging and related and food waste food deals Our research disposable containers). be more effective on a smaller scale, but this but on a smaller scale, effective be more there where areas difficult in urban is more its own have to each area for is little space smaller scale compost. the most eco-friendly that It can be inferred related food any not generate method is to containers Reusable in the first place. waste in implement not an easy solution to are the relative be seen by as can world, today’s grocery inefficiencies of packagingfree end of always are there Furthermore, stores. of them as so many issues with reusables, life plastic based and not properly already are recycled. the most practical brings us to solution That just not generate to able were of all: if we food production, if none of it was wasted, wasted, production, was if none of it food feed than enough to be more would there still has compost everyone). Furthermore, footprint. Most ecological a significant only compostable are current and must be collected in industrial systems the carbon example, and transported. For transporting, and of collecting, footprint is roughly of compost distributing 5 tons and handling, of growing, the cost equal to may transporting Compost of bananas. 5 tons processes are actually are significantly processes recycling with cost their and do not offset expensive their benefits. which issue arisesAnother with compost, is actually the solution to still a fantastic are most bioplastics that Firstly, problem. actually are and compostable biodegradable an ethical creating feedstock, taken from dilemma (although this argument and moral with our current as even has its drawbacks, properly disposed of, sending unnecessary disposed of, properly In these situations, landfills. to waste be effective. However, Austin Resource Austin Resource However, be effective. within Austin, even that Recovery has found not are can be recycled that 40% of materials dependent on a -by-casedependent If these basis. is and there maintained well are programs a very going into material little recycling can eventually then these programs landfill, disposal. Of course, there are energetic energetic are there Ofdisposal. course, versus a material recycling from savings but this is materials, virgin from generating significantly more than landfill disposal. disposal. than landfill more significantly Scotia Nova a case study in instance, For cost there programs recycling that found than landfill per year $18 million more potential issues with both of these solutions. of these solutions. issues with both potential in itself Recycling cost high energetic has a of sortingin terms and transportation, and it costs that found studies have case many and/or biodegradable materials used in our materials and/or biodegradable are But there packaging and containers. Edible Food Packaging

Sustainability on the UT Campus: A Symposium Essays 82 Ultimately, the goal is to be able to create create be able to the goal is to Ultimately, packaging can encase single serve that foods Of course, in the future. (not exclusively) this type challenges in creating are there with concerns of packaging are as there as well must be addressed that and bacteria. against mold as protection with must be incorporated material The it is so that proteins various antimicrobial those who will to as a food still attractive the bacteria it but not to may that consume take inspiration able to are If it. surround we can that something and create nature from the reduce and/or prevent significantly a can create we packaging food, need for for the future. benefit significant opportunity for fast food restaurants to get to opportunity restaurants fast food for with this kind of product. involved being other initiatives currently are There surrounding this movement begin taken to is a LoliWare instance, For edible packaging. edible agar based cups, creating company can that a shell is creating WikiCells while food from and drinks created hold foods their drawbacks, particles. Both of these have and rarer as their primary are ingredients end product, of the the expense to contribute making scalability with the processes challenging. used more currently creating edible tableware materials such as materials edible tableware creating with sleeves and bowls, plates, cups, utensils, get to in order cones cream ice similar to This concept. the public used to the general amounts significant can reduce material such as events during outdoor of waste waste or sportsmarathons where events and expensive often be challenging may a reduction In in this case, clean up later. to As can actually economical. waste more be cost packed and the more landfills become an this also provides disposal rises, of waste to some, especially in those in Western Western especially in those in some, to start the goal is to with Thus, countries. can have significantly lower energetic costs. costs. energetic lower significantly can have factor packagingEdible gross still has that of the ethical dilemma involved in of the ethical dilemma involved at is processed material The production. than petro- temperatures lower substantially and its actualbased chemicals, production able to incorporate industrial byproducts as industrial byproducts incorporate able to the primary thus polymer within the material, industrial such as whey and casein, which are much helps defer This of dairy. byproducts goal is to incorporate this produce into the into this produce incorporate goal is to nutritious packaging and create base material be goal is to Another as tableware. as well incorporates materials that are likely to go likely to are that materials incorporates 40% of currently instance, For waste. to landfills, to and sent is wasted all produce The footprint. carbon a significant leading to a range of tableware as well as containers as containers as well of tableware a range such as sandwich and food of foods polymer itself The and packaging. wrappers with creating an edible polymer that can be an edible polymer that with creating similar plastic materials into thermoformed includes This exist. currently that those to