Clemson Researcher Rethinks Plastic Packaging From Start to Finish

Plastic plays a role in nearly every part of daily life. It protects food, cushions products during shipping and helps keep goods affordable and accessible. But once those products are used, many plastic materials end up in landfills, where they can persist for decades. James Sternberg, an assistant professor in Clemson University’s Department of Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences, is working to help change that. His research focuses on creating packaging materials that not only perform well during use but also have a more sustainable future after disposal. Supported by a five-year award from the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program, Sternberg is leading a project that aims to develop biodegradable plastics, improve recycling technologies and prepare the next generation of scientists to create more sustainable materials.

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