Desarrollo de un material biodegradable a partir de borra de café para su aplicación en la cadena de suministro alimentario

Abstract

The disproportionate production of single-use plastic packaging in the food industry constitutes one of the greatest environmental challenges facing humanity. Given this problem, the present investigation focused on developing a biodegradable material through the valorization of agro-industrial waste, specifically spent coffee grounds, which are rich in lignocellulosic compounds, to create sustainable alternatives. In this context, a biomaterial was developed from spent coffee grounds for application in the food supply chain. To achieve this, a transformation process was standardized, obtaining post-dried coffee grounds with a low moisture content. The biomaterials were produced from a mixture of potato starch (polymeric matrix), glycerin (plasticizer), and spent coffee grounds (reinforcement) using the casting technique and a room-temperature drying process. Three formulations with different proportions of spent coffee grounds were prepared to evaluate the effect of their addition on the resulting material's physico-mechanical properties. The results indicate a correlation between the amount of coffee grounds added and the material's functionality. Treatment 2 achieved the highest tensile strength, while Treatment 3 exhibited the best water stability. In terms of sustainability, Treatments 1 and 2 demonstrated high biodegradable potential, achieving a mass loss exceeding 40 percent over seven weeks of controlled composting. These data confirm the successful acquisition of biomaterials with real applications that can contribute to mitigating the environmental impact in the packaging sector.