Researchers at IIT-Madras develop agricultural waste-based packaging material

IIT-Madras Develops Sustainable Packaging Material Using Agricultural Waste

📍 Location: Chennai

🗓️ Date: August 1, 2025 ; 11:55 AM IST

📰 Source: The Hindu

• Innovation by IIT-Madras:
  Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) have developed a biodegradable packaging material from agricultural and paper waste as a sustainable alternative to plastic foams.
• Fungi Used:
  • Ganoderma lucidum (medicinal mushroom)
  • Pleurotus ostreatus (edible mushroom)
  These fungi were cultivated on agro-waste to form a composite material that is both sturdy and eco-friendly.
• Start-up Initiative:
  A start-up called NatureWrks Technologies has been launched under IIT-M incubation to develop and commercialise the product.