Biodegradable Starch-Based Films Incorporating Banana and Orange Waste for Agricultural Application

Bananas and oranges are widely produced and consumed around the world, but peels and bagasse's are considered inedible and are typically discarded. The development of bioplastics is one way to reuse this waste. This study aimed to produce biodegradable films from thermoplastic starch, banana peel and orange bagasse waste for use in soil mulching and temporary plant packaging. Soluble starch, glycerol and deionized water were used to prepare the films by casting, incorporating different blends of the fruit wastes previously dried and ground. Several analyses were performed on the fresh and powdered wastes and on the developed films. The results suggest the beginning of a degradation process in all films, without negatively influencing seed germination, which ranged from 57 to 100%. Application simulations were satisfactory. Our study demonstrates the benefits of recycling organic waste in the development of biodegradable films, promoting circularity and avoiding resource loss.