Revamping\nEthylene Absorption Utilizing Brick Ash\nin Packaging for Prolonging the Freshness of Banana Leaves

Banana leaves (BLs), renowned for\ntheir cultural significance\nand\nculinary versatility, serve as indispensable wrappers for food items\nacross tropical and subtropical regions. However, preserving their\nfreshness presents a challenge due to their perishable nature, and\ntraditional preservation methods have limitations. Prompted by this,\nthe studies explore sustainable active packaging solutions to enhance\nthe shelf life of banana leaves. Employing a comprehensive methodology\ninvolving sample selection, screening, and testing of packaging materials,\nand active packing processes, the study evaluates changes in moisture\ncontent, water activity, weight loss, pH, colorimetric analysis, and\nsensory evaluation. With the experimental results, BLs were packed\nin LDPE pouches with a water vapor transmission rate of 5.476 g/m<sup>2</sup>/day and an oxygen transmission rate of 140.569 cc/m<sup>2</sup>/day. Additionally, the BLs were treated with an ethylene scavenger\nsachet, resulting in treated samples. Storage conditions were maintained\nat 27 ± 2 °C with 65 ± 5% relative humidity (RH). Analysis\nrevealed that control samples exhibited deteriorating quality parameters\nafter 5 ± 1 days, while treated samples maintained quality for\n10 ± 1 days under the same conditions, effectively extending\nthe shelf life of BLs by 2-fold. Treated samples showed maintained\nmoisture content, water activity, chlorophyll, pH, and color values\ncompared to controls. The results demonstrate promising outcomes in\nprolonging the shelf life of banana leaves through sustainable active\npackaging, underscoring the potential of these solutions to preserve\ntheir quality while minimizing environmental impact. This study emphasizes\nthe significance of sustainable packaging innovations in upholding\ncultural traditions and advancing environmental sustainability and\nincreasing the value in the food industry both domestically and in\nexport markets.