Biodegradable, strong, and clear wood package for plastic alternative

Using biodegradable material derived from renewable resources as petroleum-based plastics replacement is a promising way towards sustainable development. However, the insufficient mechanical properties and complex manufacturing process of bioplastics still need to be improved for high-quality food packages. Herein, we report a top-down strategy to transform natural wood into a clear wood packaging film through scalable delignification and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) infiltration. The wood packaging film demonstrates a laminated structure with completely collapsed cell walls and PVA intertwined together after energy-saving air drying, resulting in high light transmittance with low haze, good mechanical performance, and high barrier performance for oxygen and water vapor. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal the underlying fracture mechanism between cellulose and PVA, which effectively enhances the Young’s modulus and strength of the wood packaging film. These findings contribute to the development of biodegradable and strong packaging materials, as well as other food-related applications, using sustainable wood.