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

In The Media:

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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.

On the Web

Jeffery Catchmark Agricultural Sciences Profile Page

Jeffery Catchmark Rock Ethics Institute Profile Page

jeffrey-catchmark-1821661

In The Media

Is there life after plastic? The new inventions promising a cleaner world

from The Guardian May 2, 2018

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.”

Biodegradable Material Could Replace Most Plastic Used To Wrap & Preserve Food

from Clean Technica September 22, 2017

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