Researchers at Universitas Negeri Malang engineered a biodegradable food packaging material by blending Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) with Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA).
The team, led by Professor Heru Suryanto, reported that a 5 percent PVA concentration improves the film's mechanical integrity compared to pure cellulose-based alternatives.
The study, conducted under a 2026 research grant from the university’s Institute for Research and Community Service, measured a tensile strength of 152.19 MPa for the optimized film. This marks a 59 percent increase over the 95.94 MPa recorded for pure CMC film.
The material’s modulus of elasticity reached 8,077 MPa, according to the research team. Beyond structural gains, the film’s water vapor transmission rate dropped by 47 percent to 2.06 g/m*hour, enhancing its ability to protect food from ambient humidity.
| Material Composition | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Water Vapor Transmission (g/m*hr) |
|---|---|---|
| Pure CMC Film | 95.94 | N/A |
| CMC + 5% PVA | 152.19 | 2.06 |
The team utilized a doctor blade method to cast the film, drying the samples at 50 degrees Celsius. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis indicated that the CMC and PVA components interact through physical hydrogen bonding rather than forming new chemical structures.
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations confirmed a dense, homogeneous internal structure at the 5 percent concentration level. The researchers noted that exceeding this concentration leads to phase separation, which subsequently compromises the film’s mechanical properties and moisture barrier efficiency.
The development addresses a global reliance on petroleum-based plastics, of which only 9 percent of the 353 million tons produced annually are successfully recycled, according to data from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). While major global companies like Starbucks have transitioned toward biopolymers derived from sugarcane or bamboo, the Indonesian industrial sector faces pressure to adopt similar sustainable innovations under Government Regulation Number 29 of 2018.
Research from the university suggests that the CMC-PVA film offers a path toward meeting Sustainable Development Goals by reducing plastic waste, provided that future biodegradation testing confirms the material’s performance in natural environmental conditions.
The team is preparing these findings for submission to the Journal of Polymer Science. The research was supported by the Universitas Negeri Malang under contract number 20.4.89/UN32.5.2/LT/2026. Future efforts will focus on verifying how the material breaks down under varying environmental stressors, a critical step for commercial viability in the food packaging market.
