Investigating Antimicrobial Characteristics/Advantages of Australian Wood Species for Use in Food Packaging—A Feasibility Study

Maryam Shirmohammadi

doi:10.3390/f13020334

Abstract

The antimicrobial characteristics of Australian commercial timber species were studied using a direct screening method and two different microorganisms. The effectiveness of timber samples was compared with plastic and paper samples during an incubation period of 24 h at 37 °C. The initial data with E. coli and S. aureus showed no difference in performance between the plastic and paper samples and the softwood samples tested. Hardwood samples, however, showed an inhibition zone when tested with S. Aureus. The data showed similar trends of inhibition zones developed for sterilised and non-sterilised samples of spotted gum and shining gum species. The observed data showed promising antimicrobial characteristics for both veneer and solid samples of hardwood species. Further studies investigating the type of extractives, their role in antimicrobial characteristics and differences in the type of surface exposed to the microbial contamination from the point of view of timber’s anatomical properties are proposed.

Highlights

Forests 2022, 13, 334. https://There is an increasing consumer demand to move away from traditional food packaging systems because they are generally non-renewable, less sustainable and have other disadvantages [1]
2, the only material to produce an against E. coli was the antibiotic disc, while the plastic, paper, and timber samples showed inhibition zone against E. coli was the antibiotic disc, while the plastic, paper, and timber no resistance activities
Tested hardwood species, spotted gum between the samples to the agar surface sawdust wasgum, packed tightly into theexposed wellabilities to produce a flat surface the and shining showed antibacterial when tested on S.similar aureus to butthat notoffor

Summary

Introduction

Forests 2022, 13, 334. https://There is an increasing consumer demand to move away from traditional food packaging systems because they are generally non-renewable, less sustainable and have other disadvantages [1]. There is an increasing consumer demand to move away from traditional food packaging systems because they are generally non-renewable, less sustainable and have other disadvantages [1]. Many European countries currently favour wood-based packaging systems, especially for premium food products, due to the many environmental and health benefits [2]. Australia is uniquely positioned with a significant, sustainably managed, and certified plantation estate, and the Australian hardwood species are known for their high extractive content, durability, and strength. Whilst a significant wood food packaging industry exists in other parts of the world Pallet and Packaging Manufacturers), in Australia the use of alternative food packaging to plastics is a relatively new trend.

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