Eco-Friendly CoCa-Plastics

Over 9 billion tons of plastic have been produced globally since the 1950s, yet only 9% has been recycled. The rest accumulates in landfills, oceans, and ecosystems, taking hundreds of years to decompose. The extensive use of conventional plastic has led to severe pollution due to its non- biodegradable nature and slow decomposition. While biodegradable alternatives exist, they often lack the durability or flexibility needed for practical application. This study addresses this gap by developing organic Eco-friendly CoCa-Plastic, that meet both environmental and functional standards, introducing cassava peel as the starch source, coconut husk as the fibre and aloe vera gel as the plasticizer replacing glycerol. The study presents a novel approach to the preparation of starch- based plastics using coconut husk fibre. The presence of the fibre in the plastics exhibits high water- absorbance, lightweight and strong making it suitable for various applications especially in packaging replacing the conventional plastic, offering an eco-friendly innovative solution to solve tomorrow’s challenge that contributes to global efforts in reducing plastic waste driving sustainability for future generations and economic growth.