Characteristics of Bioplastics with Addition of Beeswax and Glucomannan

Abstract

Packaging for cheese products usually uses plastic with a polymer base. Plastic is divided into two types: plastic made from synthetic polymer raw materials (difficult to decompose) and plastic made from natural polymer raw materials. The impact of using plastic with synthetic polymer materials, or what is usually called commercial plastic, will cause a buildup of waste and result in environmental pollution, so a solution for packaging using bioplastic is needed. This research was conducted to determine the characteristics of bioplastics with the addition of beeswax and glucomannan. By examining the variables of thickness, water resistance, water vapor permeability, biodegradability, tensile strength, and elongation, we will analyze the characteristics of bioplastics that have been enhanced with beeswax and glucomannan. The results showed that the addition of beeswax and glucomannan had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on thickness, water vapor permeability, biodegradability, tensile strength, and elongation. However, the addition of beeswax and glucomannan had a significant effect (p > 0.05) on water resistance. The addition of beeswax and glucomannan also increased (p <0.05) the results of water resistance and tensile strength while reducing (p <0.05) the results of thickness, water vapor permeability, biodegradability, and bioplastic elongation. It can be concluded that beeswax and glucomannan are able to provide strong bioplastic characteristics and have protective properties for products with a longer shelf life at room temperature.