Ecological Packaging: Reuse and Recycling of Rosehip Waste to Obtain Biobased Multilayer Starch-Based Material and PLA for Food Trays

This study investigates the valorization of agri-food residues by repurposing industrial rosehip oil waste for sustainable food packaging development. Market demands for environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional packaging materials prompted the development of laminated multilayer materials for trays through thermo-compression, using modified cassava starch with citric acid as a compatibilizer. Physicochemical characterization revealed appropriate surface roughness (Rz of 31-64 μm) and controlled water absorption capacities of the composite materials (contact angle of 85-95°), properties critical for food quality preservation and safety. The incorporation of polylactic acid (PLA) films in the laminates significantly enhanced the mechanical performance, increasing the stress resistance by 5 to 10 times, and improved moisture resistance, showing a 78-82% reduction in the materials' water absorption capacity and an almost 50% decrease in water content and solubility, depending on the processing method. Results indicated that these biocomposite laminates represent a viable alternative to conventional polystyrene foam trays for food packaging. Two distinct multilayer manufacturing processes were comparatively evaluated to optimize production efficiency by reducing the energy consumption and processing time. This research contributes to circular economy principles by transforming agricultural waste into value-added laminated materials with commercial potential.