Consumer food waste upcycled into lignocellulosic materials that are utilized in polyethene biocomposites

The plastics industry is interested in reducing the percentage of oil-based resin content in their products to reduce costs and improve the environmental impact. Waste food material can be diverted from landfills and processed into cellulose fibers to produce biocomposite products. However, current technology of how low energy waste lignocellulosic materials can be used as a bio-filler is relatively unknown. Here, we show how the relationships between material, concentration, and polymer performance are related. We found in lab experiments that waste lignocellulosic material has the ability to act as a useful bio-filler material up to a 7% component in biocomposite materials with minimal effect on polymer performance in lab testing and in product performance. Our results demonstrate that there is a need to improve the melt temperature of the material which could lead to commercial viability.