Prawn shells, fruit waste combine to find new life as food packaging

(From left) Nanyang Technological University research officer Lee Pei Pei, Professor William Chen, director of NTU's food science and technology programme, and PhD student Tan Yun Nian, with the food-grade film packaging created from prawn shells and
(From left) Nanyang Technological University research officer Lee Pei Pei, Professor William Chen, director of NTU's food science and technology programme, and PhD student Tan Yun Nian, with the food-grade film packaging created from prawn shells and grape skins. PHOTO: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
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Prawn shells, orange peels and apple cores get tossed into the bin every day without a second thought.

But scientists here have found a way to turn them into chitin, a biopolymer that can in turn be made into food-grade packaging, using a completely organic process.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on May 10, 2020, with the headline Prawn shells, fruit waste combine to find new life as food packaging. Subscribe