Edible packaging

[3][4] About 50 billion single-use plastic water bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are produced in the United States each year, and most are discarded.

Alginates are the natural product of brown algae and have been used extensively in wound dressing, drug delivery and tissue engineering, as well as food applications.

Many bacterial species produce an enzyme (alginate lyase) which can break the molecule down into single sugar components, which can act as an energy source for the organism.

[15] In 2025, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee developed Kodo millet-based edible cups as an innovative solution to reduce plastic waste.

The combination of guar gum and hibiscus powder improves the mechanical strength and moisture resistance of the cups, making them viable for real-world applications in the food and beverage industry.