American scientists invent degradable food containers

U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers are using wheat starch to develop lightweight, biodegradable, and takeaway food containers. California plant physicists and crust packaging companies collaborated to complete the development of this environmentally friendly container. Containers made of wheat starch paste, such as cups, bowls and dishes, are treated with a water-repellent coating to maintain the shape and concentration.

Researchers have pointed out that when it is more expensive than polystyrene, choosing wheat and corn starch can reduce manufacturers' flexibility in maintaining competitive pricing. Attractive, durable, easy-to-use wheat containers can degrade into compost after a few weeks, while other petroleum-based polystyrene clamshell containers can only accumulate like garbage.