Brunel University London design student Denny Handley developed a material with waste orange peels, which could be used to keep food fresh.

Bio-Peel, as the material is called, blends waste orange peels from industrial juicing with a mixture of other biodegradable products, including bio-polymers, vegetable glycerine ( a by-product of bio-diesel), and water. The material is malleable until it is baked and dried.

Initially, Handley wanted to make a carton for a litre of orange juice out of the waste material of said juice. However, the Bio-Peel material steadily degrades in water, so it is unsuitable as packaging for liquid. In addition, because the material is opaque and rustic, it is also unlikely to be adopted for selling goods in supermarkets. It could, however, be used on farmers’ markets or delis.

The material is very strong, able to take more than half a tonne of compressive strength, so other applications could be packing crates or hard surfaces, like table tops. According to Handley, the material even survived being shot at with a shotgun.

Photos: Brunel University London / Denney Handley