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Activity (Hands-On)Grades 10 - 12

Using Biodegradable Leaves as Nontoxic Packing Material

A photo of a student pointing to a display and explaining the experiment results in graph form.Students investigate what happens to plastic packaging material after it is used and thrown away.

Students investigate what happens to plastic packaging material after it is used and thrown away. They then explore what types of materials biodegrade in the soil and how they can be used in place of plastic. Students test various packaging materials that can handle various amounts of weight. They then explore which materials could optimally be used in packaging.

This activity focuses on testing the strengths and weaknesses of different materials for packaging purposes. This activity falls under materials engineering or mechanical engineering, specifically within the subfield of materials testing or packaging engineering.

Materials engineers are concerned with the structure, properties, and performance of materials, including plastics, paper, and natural materials such as banana leaves and corn husks. They study how materials behave under different conditions, such as stress and strain, and how they interact with other materials.

Packaging engineers, on the other hand, specialize in designing packaging solutions that protect products during storage, transportation, and use. They consider factors such as material strength, durability, environmental impact, and cost-effectiveness.

Both materials engineers and packaging engineers design experiments to test the strength of different materials, determine material suitability for specific packaging applications, and develop biodegradable packaging solutions.

After this activity, students should be able to:

  • Describe how plastic is a real-world environmental problem.
  • Explain the strengths and weaknesses of biodegradable materials.
  • Investigate and create the lab to resolve the issue by using leaves and paper for packaging the products while working on testing to improve the quality and strength of our product.
  • Recognize the importance of working as part of a team to achieve academic growth.

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