Repurposing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste as an antibacterial packaging material

Abstract Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is widely used for packaging. However, improper disposal of PET has led to substantial environmental concerns, such as plastic pollution, microplastic generation, and considerable amounts of PET waste accumulation in landfills and aquatic environments. To address this issue, we develop a sustainable strategy to repurpose PET waste into antibacterial packaging material by applying polydopamine (PDA) coating and incorporating tannic acid (TA). The incorporation of PDA and TA leads to ~ 97% antibacterial efficacy against S. aureus without affecting the chemical and themral properties of PET. In summary, our work aims to contribute to sustainable waste management practices. Graphical abstract