Researchers at South Dakota State University (SDSU) have developed plastic-like films from grapevine canes — the woody stems removed during annual pruning. The material is stronger than conventional plastic and decomposes in soil within 17 days, leaving no harmful residue.

Reducing Plastic Waste

Single-use packaging, such as carrier bags, is a major source of pollution. Most plastics come from fossil fuels and take centuries to break down. Only a small percentage is recycled. Meanwhile, tiny fragments called micro- and nano-plastics now pollute oceans, soil, and even the human body, creating growing environmental and health concerns.

Turning Vineyard Waste into Packaging Films

Associate Professor Srinivas Janaswamy specialises in turning agricultural byproducts into value-added materials. After a presentation on his work, grapevine expert Professor Anne Fennell suggested using pruned canes as a cellulose source. These canes are normally composted, mulched, or burned, but they contain high levels of cellulose and have low water content — ideal for film production.

The team dried and ground the canes, then extracted the cellulose fibres. They cast the fibres into transparent films that match commercial packaging in clarity. In tensile strength tests, the films outperformed standard plastic bags.

Benefits for Designers

The films’ high transparency makes packaged products more visible and easier to inspect without opening. Their rapid biodegradation offers a sustainable, circular alternative to petroleum-based plastics. For packaging designers, the material combines strength, clarity, and compostability. It also reduces vineyard waste, linking agriculture with material innovation.

Towards Circular Material Solutions

Using underutilised biomass such as grapevine canes helps cut waste and develop bio-based packaging solutions. This research, published in Sustainable Food Technology, brings Janaswamy closer to his goal of producing compostable plastic-like bags. Funding came from the US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the National Science Foundation.

By transforming waste into high-performance materials, the project shows how design disciplines from packaging to consumer products can benefit from sustainable alternatives that support a circular bioeconomy.

Source & photos: South Dakota State University