BIO WRAP: DEVELOPMENT OF A BIODEGRADABLE SANITARY DISPOSAL SHEET

Vaishnavi Narawade*, Ganesh Lamkhade, Yogita Warghade, Jayashree Zaware, Aayush Lokhande

ABSTRACT

Environmental contamination caused by the excessive use of plastic-based sanitary disposal materials has become an important global concern. Conventional sanitary disposal wrappers are generally prepared using non-biodegradable polymers, which remain in the environment for prolonged periods and contribute significantly to soil and water pollution. Improper disposal of sanitary waste further aggravates ecological imbalance and increases the burden on waste management systems. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for sustainable, biodegradable, and eco-friendly alternatives capable of minimizing environmental damage. The present investigation was undertaken to formulate and evaluate a biodegradable sanitary disposal sheet utilizing naturally available agricultural waste materials such as banana fibre, banana peel, potato peel starch, and orange peel powder. Banana fibre was selected due to its fibrous structure and strength-enhancing properties, while banana peel contributed additional biodegradable cellulose content. Potato peel starch was incorporated as a natural binder because of its film-forming and adhesive properties. Orange peel powder was included owing to its naturally occurring antioxidant and antimicrobial constituents.[1], [2] The biodegradable sheet was prepared by converting selected raw materials into a homogeneous slurry through grinding, followed by manual sheet formation using a wooden frame and drying under sunlight. The prepared sheet was evaluated for physical appearance, flexibility, texture, water resistance, and biodegradation characteristics. The developed formulation demonstrated satisfactory structural integrity, acceptable handling properties, and promising environmental compatibility suitable for sanitary disposal applications.[3] The findings of the study suggest that agricultural waste materials may be effectively utilized for the development of environmentally sustainable sanitary disposal products. Furthermore, future incorporation of microbial biodegradation enhancers may improve degradation efficiency and expand practical applicability.

Keywords: Biodegradable, Banana fibre, Sanitary disposal, Agro-waste, Eco-friendly.