Elkhan Shabanov, a tenth-grader at Moscow School No. 2010, has developed a prototype of biodegradable packaging that changes color when a product begins to spoil. This film is designed to draw the consumer's attention to the problem in advance, before they focus solely on the expiration date indicated on the label.
The development is based on food gelatin, glycerin, and anthocyanins from red cabbage. It is the natural pigment that acts as an indicator: when meat or fish spoils, the packaging changes color from purple to blue, and then to emerald green. If a dairy product sours nearby, the film turns pink.
The idea is that if storage conditions are violated, the expiration date does not always reflect the actual state of the product. The new packaging should react to changes in its internal environment and directly signal that the product is better not to eat.
Unlike ordinary plastic, which can decompose for hundreds of years, gelatin film is completely recycled in the soil in approximately 14 days. It is non-toxic and consists of food components.
The technology can even be replicated at home. In the future, the schoolboy wants to replace gelatin with natural wax to make the packaging more moisture-resistant, and then test it on real samples of meat products. The development could become the basis for "smart" labels on perishable goods.