Engineering's Changyong “Chase” Cao and Gary Wnek develop biodegradable plastic food packaging

How Northeast Ohio’s polymer industry is confronting backlash on plastic

cleveland.com: Changyong “Chase” Cao, assistant professor, and Gary Wnek, the Joseph F. Toot Jr. Professor of Engineering, both at Case School of Engineering, discussed their USDA-funded project to develop biodegradable plastic food packaging that preserves freshness and safety while reducing environmental harm. The effort reflects broader Northeast Ohio innovation aimed at making plastics more sustainable through recycling, decomposition and alternative materials, as further explained by Nick Barendt, assistant vice president of research for technology and ecosystem growth.