MSU Packaging News
Investment in top-ranked MSU School of Packaging will expand building, research
The Michigan State University Board of Trustees today voted to authorize the planning of a major expansion to the MSU School of Packaging. The $25 million investment will double the size of the building and significantly increase research capacity, creating space for more faculty and graduate students. “Positioning Spartans for continued innovation and leadership, this new …
Boosting Degradation of Biodegradable Polymers
Compostability certification of polymers is time-consuming and expensive. Approaches to accelerating the biodegradation of these polymers in simulated composting conditions can facilitate and speed up evaluating potential compostable polymers. Biodegradation of polymers in composting conditions is an alternative end-of-life scenario for contaminated materials collected through the municipal solid waste management system, mainly when mechanical or …
Hydrolytic Degradation of Poly(lactic acid): Unraveling Correlations between Temperature and the Three Phase Structures
Updated from an original article written by Rafael Auras. Hydrolytic degradation of poly(lactic acid): Unraveling correlations between temperature and the three-phase structures Polymer Degradation & Stability, 2023, (217) 110537 Hydrolysis significantly influences both the properties and degradability of poly(lactic acid), PLA. This work investigates the hydrolysis kinetics of PLA films as affected by degree …
Lansmont Corporation to donate product and package testing technologies to MSU School of Packaging
Lansmont Corporation is investing in packaging durability research and testing by donating some of its technology to the MSU School of Packaging. EAST LANSING, MICH. — Lansmont Corporation, part of the Physical Properties Testers (PPT) Group, is extending its investment in packaging durability testing and research by donating some of their test and measurement technologies to …
Breaking It Down: How Thermoplastic Starch Enhances Poly(lactic acid) Biodegradation in Compost─A Comparative Analysis of Reactive Blends
Blending PLA with thermoplastic starch promotes sustainable biodegradation of PLA under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions without creating microplastics. Breaking It Down: How Thermoplastic Starch Enhances Poly(lactic acid) Biodegradation in Compost─A Comparative Analysis of Reactive Blends Pooja C. Mayekar, , Wanwarang Limsukon, Anibal Bher, and Rafael Auras* School of Packaging, Michigan State University, 448 Wilson Road, …
MSU School of Packaging gifted one-of-a-kind packaging collection
EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan State University (MSU) School of Packaging has established new corporate partnerships with Ipsos and Smithers to move, house and curate the NewProductWorks Collection, a “laboratory of innovation” spanning 35 years of packaging history. “The School of Packaging is pleased to accept this one-of-a-kind collection from Ipsos,” said Matthew Daum, Ph.D., director of the MSU School of Packaging …
MSU School of Packaging announces partnership with Trayak, Inc.
The Michigan State University (MSU) School of Packaging (SoP) announces a new partnership with Trayak, Inc. to supply the EcoImpact-COMPASS software licenses for use by SoP faculty, staff, and students. East Lansing, MI — The Michigan State University (MSU) School of Packaging (SoP) is proud to announce a new partnership with Trayak, Inc. to supply the …
Table salt could be the secret ingredient for better recycling
MSU research shows sodium chloride offers a safe, inexpensive and reusable pathway to recovering useful products from plastic waste Muhammad Rabnawaz, an associate professor in Michigan State University’s top-ranked School of Packaging and recent inductee into the National Academy of Inventors, has always believed that the most brilliant solution is also the simplest. That plastic waste belief is …
MSU School of Packaging researchers make a sustainable plastic more compostable
Researchers from Michigan State University’s top-ranked School of Packaging have developed a way to make a promising, sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics more biodegradable. A team led by Rafael Auras has made a bio-based polymer blend that’s compostable in both home and industrial settings. The work is published in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & …
MSU celebrates opening of newly renovated School of Packaging building with ribbon-cutting ceremony
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University celebrated the opening of the newly renovated MSU School of Packaging building on April 20, following a fundraising campaign that raised more than $10 million. “This significant expansion of our facilities, enabled by the generosity of donors and stakeholders, will reinforce MSU’s longstanding leadership in packaging education,” said MSU …
MSU Packaging Professor Named Senior Member of National Academy of Inventors
MSU School of Packaging Professor Muhammad Rabnawaz was named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors this year, an elite group of scientists and faculty members who have demonstrated a legacy of innovations and patents that can positively impact the world. Dr. Rabnawaz, who started his tenure at Michigan State in 2016, has …
MSU School of Packaging launches Packaging Distribution Consortium
The Michigan State University (MSU) School of Packaging has announced the formation of a Packaging Distribution Consortium prompted by its acquisition of two pieces of equipment that represent new package hazard simulation technologies. This group of industry thought leaders will guide cutting-edge research focused initially on multi-axis vibration and lateral acceleration dynamics. The results of …