Authors : Monika N.; Dr. S. Ponne

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 9 - September

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/4asar43m

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26sep1217

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Food packaging is essential for ensuring food safety, hygiene, shelf life, and convenience; however, the extensive use of petroleum-based plastics has resulted in serious environmental challenges. Conventional plastic packaging persists in the environment, breaks into microplastics, and releases harmful chemicals, causing serious environmental pollution and health concerns. Changing lifestyles and emergency situations have increased the need for ready-to-eat meals that can be heated without fuel or electricity. The objective of the present study is to develop and evaluate an eco-friendly doublelayer self-heating meal pouch that combines environmental sustainability with functional convenience. The proposed pouch consists of a CMC–starch outer layer to provide flexibility, mechanical strength, and biodegradability, and a starch–chitosan inner food-contact layer to offer natural antimicrobial activity and moisture resistance. A calcium oxide (CaO)-based self-heating system is integrated into a separate compartment, where heat is generated through an exothermic hydration reaction upon the addition of water.

Keywords : Biodegradable Packaging; Self-Heating Meal Pouch; CMC–Starch; Starch–Chitosan; Calcium Oxide Heater.

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