tech
April 14, 2026
Goodbye to single-use plastics: Sagu-based packaging, a new alternative
Sagu is a tuber used to make achiras, and other preparations Photo: Nicolás Piñeros - researcher
TL;DR
- Colombia's Law 2232 of 2022 aims to eliminate single-use plastics by July 2024 to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Researchers are developing biodegradable packaging using starch from Colombian tubers like yuca and sagú.
- The project leverages local raw materials and aims to create an industry around them, supporting regional consumption.
- Sagú, a tuber that grows in the Andean region, is processed to extract starch for creating thermoplastic packaging reinforced with its own fibers.
- The modified starch-based material aims to be rigid enough for fresh food packaging, addressing issues like water absorption and loss of mechanical properties.