Projects in Maine aim to replace “forever chemicals” in food packaging with natural coatings derived from tree pulp and seaweed.
Lori Valigra reports for Bangor Daily News.
In short:
- Researchers at the University of Maine are developing coatings made from tree pulp and seaweed to replace PFAS, chemicals linked to health issues that are used in food packaging.
- A Portland-based startup, Everything Seaweed, is collaborating with the university to create PFAS-free coatings from seaweed, which could degrade into garden nutrients.
- The coating technology still needs to be scaled up for commercial production, but both researchers and industry leaders see strong potential.
Key quote:
“The problem is, PFAS does a really, really good job, so people will have to change their expectations for alternatives."
— Colleen Walker, director of the Process Development Center at the University of Maine
Why this matters:
PFAS chemicals have been linked to severe health problems, including cancer, and are commonly found in food packaging. Finding safe, sustainable alternatives could significantly improve health outcomes by reducing human exposure to these chemicals. Read more: Burgers and fries with a side of PFAS.
