Biodegradable material options for industrial and goods packaging

Packaging materials for logistical purposes are designed to protect electrical and electronic products and other fragile consumer goods from damages due to shock and excessive vibrations during handling and transportation. There is recently an increased concern for the development of not only well-designed but also sustainable materials. Material sustainability is often associated with the extraction of renewable resources and disposal procedures that would not damage our ecosystem. In this respect, indigenous agro-waste resources would be a smart alternative to fabricate lightweight and disposable green-materials at low cost. This paper highlights some of the key utilities or functions of packaging materials and the commercially available packaging materials in the market at present. The prospect of biodegradable materials including indigenous natural fibers and an example of completely compostable commercial packaging material are outlined. Preliminary results of shock cushioning test on (surface-modified) kenaf filled polypropylene composites prepared in this study indicated that the 20% optimum content was the best cushioning are presented.