Ecowrap Team was declared the winner of the Technical University of Kenya Society of Chemists (TUSOC) Sustainable Food Packaging Competition. The competition was supported by the Royal Society of Chemistry and the ceremony was held on January 23, 2026. The winners received cash prizes and certificate of recognition.

Ecowrap Team was comprised of Grace Mwangi, Sherline Wambui both pursuing Bachelor of Technology in Industrial Chemistry and Pauline Wambui pursuing Bachelor of Technology in Applied Biology. The trio developed an environment-friendly frozen food packaging material that is pH responsive and contains an antimicrobial component called chitosan.

Besides being a biodegradable packaging material mainly from sugarcane waste, the ingenious innovation contains a pH responsive component that is able to detect food product spoilage while the antimicrobial component lengthens shelf-life of food products by reducing microbial activities. Other key materials used in developing the packaging material include; bagasse (sugarcane waste), red cabbage or hibiscus flowers. The antimicrobial component may be extracted from mushrooms.

“This is an interesting project that, while striving to eliminate usage of non-biodegradable synthetic polymers that contribute to plastic pollution, we also went ahead to incorporate components that enable detection of spoilage in food such as meat products as well as lengthening of food shelf-life,” explained Grace Mwangi.

According to the student researchers, the bio-degradable meat-wrap is waterproof and can be used in a fridge.

The team looks forward to conducting further reach in collaboration with other research institutions and business investors in the food industry.

Moris Stephen who presented a project in ‘Development of Recyclable mono-material PET with nano-scale gallium oxide barrier layer’ emerged second.

Salome Rasoo and Teresia Kamua who presented their project – ‘Development of biodegradable packaging materials from coconut shells and cassava starch’ emerged third.

The competition judges included; Dr. Simon Mbugua, Dr. Patrick Shem both from the Department of Chemistry and Materials Sciences and Ms. Caroline Koech from the Department of Hospitality and Human Ecology. Some of the university notable alumni who attended the competition included Mr. Adika ladslaus.

Dr. Clare Muhanji, the Chairperson, Department of Chemistry and Materials Sciences commended such innovation clinics noting that they give life to research findings and open up market and entrepreneurship opportunities.

“Innovations come from young minds; I wish to encourage students to take up research opportunities. I wish to make reference to one of our graduates who carried on with an innovation he initiated while in class where he developed environment-friendly shoe polish that is currently retailing in supermarkets,” Dr. Muhanji said.

Mr. Abraham Nyagah, a former student in the Department through his company Eden recyclers now produces Eco Black shoe polish made from paper waste and sells in local shops. His project also received Presidential Innovation Award