PLASTIC WASTE HAS BECOME A SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN, PARTICULARLY IN FOOD PACKAGING, WHERE MOST MATERIALS ARE SINGLE-USE AND DERIVED FROM PETROLEUM. THESE PLASTICS CONTRIBUTE TO POLLUTION, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, AND CHALLENGES IN WASTE MANAGEMENT. WHILE THERE ARE BIOBASED ALTERNATIVES LIKE POLYLACTIC ACID (PLA) AND POLYHYDROXYALKANOATES (PHA), THESE MATERIALS OFTEN LACK THE BARRIER PROPERTIES NEEDED TO PRESERVE FOOD EFFECTIVELY, LEADING TO LIMITED ADOPTION. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE BY DEVELOPING NEW BIODEGRADABLE COATINGS DERIVED FROM GLYCERIN, A WASTE PRODUCT OF BIODIESEL PRODUCTION.TO ACHIEVE THIS, THE PROJECT WILL USE INNOVATIVE METHODS TO CONVERT GLYCERIN INTO SPECIALIZED BIOPOLYMERS THAT CAN BE APPLIED AS COATINGS FOR FOOD PACKAGING. THESE POLYMERS WILL BE SYNTHESIZED IN WATER-BASED PROCESSES TO MINIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND TAILORED TO ENHANCE THEIR ABILITY TO BLOCK MOISTURE AND GASES, WHICH ARE CRUCIAL FOR FOOD PRESERVATION. TESTING WILL ENSURE THESE COATINGS ADHERE WELL TO BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS LIKE PLA AND PHA AND MAINTAIN THEIR COMPOSTABILITY.THIS PROJECT AIMS TO REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON PETROLEUM-BASED PLASTICS, IMPROVE FOOD PRESERVATION, AND DECREASE PLASTIC WASTE BY CREATING BIODEGRADABLE AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE FOOD PACKAGING MATERIALS. THE SOCIETAL BENEFITS INCLUDE A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT, REDUCED LANDFILL CONTRIBUTIONS, AND NEW ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING INDUSTRIES. ULTIMATELY, THIS RESEARCH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE BY ADDRESSING A CRITICAL GLOBAL CHALLENGE WHILE PROVIDING TANGIBLE BENEFITS TO COMMUNITIES, INDUSTRIES, AND THE ENVIRONMENT.