A novel fully biobased material composite for cosmetic packaging applications

Abstract The extensive production and use of fossil-based plastics have led to their ubiquity worldwide, causing growing concern and environmental problems. Consequently, developing biobased polymers and biobased composite materials, aligned with circular economy principles, is now the focus as a su...

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Main Authors: Fátima Santos, Pedro Rodrigues, Patrício Vargas, Anabela Massano, Luís Miguel Oliveira, Catarina Batista, Vasco Cruz, Artur Mateus, Geoffrey R. Mitchell, Abílio J. F. N. Sobral, Telma Encarnação
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10426-y
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author Fátima Santos
Pedro Rodrigues
Patrício Vargas
Anabela Massano
Luís Miguel Oliveira
Catarina Batista
Vasco Cruz
Artur Mateus
Geoffrey R. Mitchell
Abílio J. F. N. Sobral
Telma Encarnação
author_facet Fátima Santos
Pedro Rodrigues
Patrício Vargas
Anabela Massano
Luís Miguel Oliveira
Catarina Batista
Vasco Cruz
Artur Mateus
Geoffrey R. Mitchell
Abílio J. F. N. Sobral
Telma Encarnação
author_sort Fátima Santos
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The extensive production and use of fossil-based plastics have led to their ubiquity worldwide, causing growing concern and environmental problems. Consequently, developing biobased polymers and biobased composite materials, aligned with circular economy principles, is now the focus as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics. This work aimed to develop and characterise a new, fully biobased, and biodegradable material composite with properties similar to traditional fossil-based plastics, allowing its use in cosmetic product applications as an alternative to commonly used fossil-based plastics. A novel biobased composite comprising poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV), polylactic acid (PLA) chitosan (CS), acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) plant essential oils, and phycocyanin was successfully developed and processed using various techniques confirming its processability and versatility. Characterisation of the developed composites showed a reduction in mechanical properties with the addition of ATBC, essential oil and phycocyanin, with tensile results within the typical behaviour for PP (polypropylene) and PE (polyethylene). The thermal properties of the developed composites showed working temperatures in the same range as PP and PE. The results obtained are promising and, to the best of our knowledge, this work presents the first green material composite comprising PHBV, PLA, CS, essential oil, ATBC, and phycocyanin specifically designed for cosmetic packaging as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics.
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spelling doaj-art-7f1de735b8614fdcbb64b4f59295b07e2025-08-20T03:45:57ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111910.1038/s41598-025-10426-yA novel fully biobased material composite for cosmetic packaging applicationsFátima Santos0Pedro Rodrigues1Patrício Vargas2Anabela Massano3Luís Miguel Oliveira4Catarina Batista5Vasco Cruz6Artur Mateus7Geoffrey R. Mitchell8Abílio J. F. N. Sobral9Telma Encarnação10PTScienceIPC, University of MinhoCentre for Rapid and Sustainable Product Development (CDRSP), Polytechnic Institute of LeiriaCentre for Rapid and Sustainable Product Development (CDRSP), Polytechnic Institute of LeiriaAMCubed LdaCentre for Rapid and Sustainable Product Development (CDRSP), Polytechnic Institute of LeiriaIPC, University of MinhoCentre for Rapid and Sustainable Product Development (CDRSP), Polytechnic Institute of LeiriaCentre for Rapid and Sustainable Product Development (CDRSP), Polytechnic Institute of LeiriaCoimbra Chemistry Centre-Institute of Molecular Sciences (CQC-IMS), Department of Chemistry, University of CoimbraPTScienceAbstract The extensive production and use of fossil-based plastics have led to their ubiquity worldwide, causing growing concern and environmental problems. Consequently, developing biobased polymers and biobased composite materials, aligned with circular economy principles, is now the focus as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics. This work aimed to develop and characterise a new, fully biobased, and biodegradable material composite with properties similar to traditional fossil-based plastics, allowing its use in cosmetic product applications as an alternative to commonly used fossil-based plastics. A novel biobased composite comprising poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV), polylactic acid (PLA) chitosan (CS), acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) plant essential oils, and phycocyanin was successfully developed and processed using various techniques confirming its processability and versatility. Characterisation of the developed composites showed a reduction in mechanical properties with the addition of ATBC, essential oil and phycocyanin, with tensile results within the typical behaviour for PP (polypropylene) and PE (polyethylene). The thermal properties of the developed composites showed working temperatures in the same range as PP and PE. The results obtained are promising and, to the best of our knowledge, this work presents the first green material composite comprising PHBV, PLA, CS, essential oil, ATBC, and phycocyanin specifically designed for cosmetic packaging as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10426-yBiobased polymersBiocompositesPHBVPLAAdditive manufacturingCosmetic packaging
spellingShingle Fátima Santos
Pedro Rodrigues
Patrício Vargas
Anabela Massano
Luís Miguel Oliveira
Catarina Batista
Vasco Cruz
Artur Mateus
Geoffrey R. Mitchell
Abílio J. F. N. Sobral
Telma Encarnação
A novel fully biobased material composite for cosmetic packaging applications
Scientific Reports
Biobased polymers
Biocomposites
PHBV
PLA
Additive manufacturing
Cosmetic packaging
title A novel fully biobased material composite for cosmetic packaging applications
title_full A novel fully biobased material composite for cosmetic packaging applications
title_fullStr A novel fully biobased material composite for cosmetic packaging applications
title_full_unstemmed A novel fully biobased material composite for cosmetic packaging applications
title_short A novel fully biobased material composite for cosmetic packaging applications
title_sort novel fully biobased material composite for cosmetic packaging applications
topic Biobased polymers
Biocomposites
PHBV
PLA
Additive manufacturing
Cosmetic packaging
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10426-y
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