Jeffrey Catchmark

Jeffrey
Catchmark

Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering,
Affiliated Faculty of the The Rock Ethics Institute

Expertise:

  • Sustainability & Environment
  • Engineering & Technology
  • Politics & Policy

Focus Areas:

  • Biological Materials Engineering
  • Biomedical Materials Engineering
  • Food Materials Engineering
  • Materials Science
  • Nanomaterials Engineering
  • Packaging Materials Engineering
  • Ethical Leadership and Decision-Making
  • Ethics Education

About

  • Applications of his research include sustainable packaging, construction materials, food products and biomaterials for healthcare
  • Among his discoveries are a replacement for plastic film — an innovation that potentially can eliminate millions of tons of plastic used in laminates for packaging

Jeffery Catchmark’s research focuses on polysaccharide composite materials for healthcare, tissue engineering, food engineering and as a sustainable barrier material/adhesive alternative to synthetic polymers for packaging, food handling and construction materials. He also conducts research on cellulose and nanocrystalline cellulose formation and production, particularly from bacteria. Applications of his research include sustainable packaging, construction materials, food products and biomaterials for health care.

Among his discoveries are a replacement for plastic film — an innovation that potentially can eliminate millions of tons of plastic used in laminates for packaging — and barrier coatings designed to improve food performance by extending the freshness of bread and the crispness of fried foods.

In The Media

Among those exploring alternatives to traditional plastics is Jeffrey Catchmark, professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Penn State University, who is plumbing the potential of naturally occurring polymers.

Academe pursues plastics replacement goals

from Plastics Today November 13, 2017

Catchmark said the goal of his research is to “take the last step now and make a real impact on the world, and get industry people to stop using plastics and instead use these natural materials” and give consumers a choice. “After the biomaterials are used, they can be recycled, buried in the ground or composted, and they will decompose. Or they can continue to use plastics that will end up in the oceans, where they will persist for thousands of years.”

Jeffrey Catchmark, a professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State, has a better idea. After 10 years of research, he says he has come up with a biodegradable material that can be used in place of all that plastic packaging.

Penn State creates food packaging material from wood and shells

from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette October 24, 2017

Asset Downloads

These assets are available for use. All rights reserved. Credit Penn State University.

Biofoam

Biofoam


Credit: Michelle Bixby/Penn State

Jeffrey Catchmark in lab

Jeffrey Catchmark in lab


Credit: Penn State

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