KBRN, Jakarta: Packaging is crucial in determining a food product's sales value. Beyond simply wrapping, packaging protects products, facilitates distribution, and conveys essential information about nutritional content and expiration dates to consumers.

However, conventional or plastic food packaging waste seriously threatens environmental pollution. This type of packaging is non-biodegradable and requires hundreds of years to break down into microplastics.

Muslih Anwar, a researcher at the Food Technology and Process Research Center (PRTPP), National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), highlighted this issue.

"If fish consume microplastic waste, and humans then consume those fish, long-term health and hormonal disorders can result," Muslih stated on Friday, March 21, 2025, as quoted by rri.co.id.

To address this problem, BRIN has conducted research on biodegradable food packaging made from natural materials. Currently, Muslih is researching bioplastic food packaging derived from biomass, such as sago palm starch and cellulose.

"This innovation is expected to reduce plastic packaging waste, as these materials decompose more readily," Muslih explained.

In addition to biodegradable food packaging, Muslih and his research team are also exploring ways to extend the shelf life of food products. This includes research on active and innovative packaging.

His innovative packaging research involves embedding pH sensors (acid-alkaline) in food packaging. These sensors detect pH changes caused by alkaline compounds that result from microbial food spoilage.

"The pH sensors will change color when food is spoiled, allowing consumers to determine food quality in real-time without relying on expiration dates," Muslih said.