The contamination and risks from microplastic particles and PFAs in America's food supply may soon become a thing of the past, thanks to a joint venture between Northwestern University's INVO Lab and engineering firm Chang Robotics. The newest initiative to emerge from the company's IP Studio, GOEco™, is a scientific breakthrough that infuses microscopic amounts of graphene oxide into paper products or any compostable barrier property. The first objective of GOEco is to replace the pervasive use of plastics in food packaging, paper plates, and disposable utensils.

As recently reported in SmartTechDaily, experts are increasingly alarmed about the dangers of "forever chemicals" -- the microplastic particles and PFAs (poly-fluoroalkyl substances) that have been proven to accumulate in our bodies and our food supplies such as the fish we consume. Consumer protection agencies are increasingly pressing suppliers to keep PFA substances out of our environment, away from our clothing, and out of our bodies.

However, a patent-pending innovation from Northwestern University's INVO Lab and Chang Robotics will make disposable tableware much more environmentally friendly by infusing paper packaging and other barrier materials with small amounts of graphene oxide, a naturally occurring nanomaterial comprised of carbon with some oxygen and OH ions. Through a development initiative by Dr. SonBinh Nguyen of Northwestern University and Dr. Tim Wei, a former dean of engineering at a Big 10 university, the company discovered how to formulate and manufacture graphene oxide and tested its use on disposable tableware with the goal of becoming the leading sustainable replacement for plastic packaging.

"The technology behind GOEco is a breakthrough that could impact not only our food supply but could play a critical role in protecting our reproductive ability and substantially increasing our health," said Chang Robotics CEO Matthew Chang.

Interestingly, the testing also shows the new packaging to be highly superior to plastic in maintaining food freshness as it inhibits the transfer of moisture, oil, or gases between the food and the surrounding environment.

Next Steps

According to Dr. Wei and Chang Robotics, the company's own laboratory testing and review of scientific literature are pointing to the safety and sustainability of the company's implementation. The company is working with industry partners to pursue regulatory evaluations to determine and document the safety of graphene oxide for food packaging use and obtain FDA approvals. The company is welcoming commercial partnerships in the advancement of this discovery.

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