Composition of biodegradable tableware and the production process thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses an ecologically friendly disposable product, particularly for packaging and other diverse applications. The matrix of the product is primarily composed of moss and plant materials, offering a significant environmental benefit due to its complete biodegradability, eliminating the issue of plastic pollution and landfill. The unique composition of the product provides antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-fungal properties, thus enhancing its shelf life and mitigating spoilage concerns. The product demonstrates impressive moisture retention capabilities lasting up to 8-12 hours, remarkable durability, remaining resistant to low temperatures, ultraviolet light, and alcohols, ensuring its functionality in a wide range of environmental conditions. This innovative product is not only highly functional but also adaptable, boasting a flexible design that caters to specific use cases. Notably, the production process includes the utilization of minimally processed nature-based ingredients from the food / wood industry side stream, maintaining the manufacturing process with low costs.

Description

[0001]Composition of biodegradable tableware and the production process thereof Description Field of the invention The invention relates to the field of production of disposable biodegradable products, such as packages, tableware, protective layers. Particularly, the present invention relates to disposable products that do not contain synthetic additives and are thus capable of complete degradation under natural environmental conditions, without polluting the environment. Background of the invention CN1146315 (A) 2 April 1997 discloses the method for the production of degradable disposable tableware made of water, wheat, corn, cassava, and potatoes, with the addition of hardener from the following list: acrylamide, and / or bisacrylamide, and / or (divinyl)-sulfobenzene, and / or methylisourea methylbenzene sulfonic acid, and / or bis (vinylsulfonylmethyl) ether, and / or butyrolactone, and / or poly(vinyl-acrylate), and / or poly(vinyl alcohol), and / or polyurea, and / or starch, dialdehyde. In this method, cellulose was used as a filler, while polyols were used as a plasticizer. CN1256905 (A) 21 June 2000 discloses a method of production of tableware from a mixture of rice husk, gelatin, starch, and poly(alkyl-butyrate) with the addition of water. The disadvantages of the compositions disclosed in the prior art: ● Susceptibility of the tableware to fungal and bacterial contamination; ● Decomposition occurs when exposed to water or liquids longer than 20 minutes; ● Thermal instability at low temperatures, while below 0ºC the use of these utensils is limited; ● Sensitivity to ultraviolet light, i.e. due to the long-term exposure to sunlight, this cookware cracks; ● Rigidity, which limits its efficient use; ● High production costs of this kind of tableware. In addition, RU 2725974 discloses the composition of biodegradable disposable tableware containing tree bark – not less than 25 wt%, moss – not less than 10 %, cellulose in form of purified cotton – not more than 15 wt%, straw or cake of sunflower seeds – not less than 10 wt %, starch of oyster plant or potato starch or oat grain – not more than 20 wt%, citric acid – not less than 10 wt%, fructose – not more than 10 wt%. The disclosed utensils have antibacterial and antifungal properties, with no more than 20 wt% of food products in the composition. However, due to the availability of the raw materials, the production of described tableware is mainly limited to the locations where those cultures are grown. Hence, there is an unmet need to develop a new biodegradable composition that would be resilient to microorganism contaminations, temperature, and UV stable, and at the same time can be produced using a wide range of plant materials. Technical problem The biodegradable composition according to the present invention aims to provide a disposable biodegradable product, made from various plant materials, that would reduce the pollution of the environment. The technical problem solved by the present invention is how to produce a disposable biodegradable product having desired mechanical and chemical properties, but also antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties, the product that is made of natural materials, originating from food / wood industrial side streams or plant waste. The natural materials may be selected from ingredients originating from the local flora and fauna of the particular region, and are not dependent on particular raw materials. The invention solves the technical problem, by providing a method of production of a biodegradable product that employs nature-based raw material as a starting material. The disclosed method thus reduces reliance on specific resources, transportation costs, and environmental impact. Compared to the solutions known from the prior art, the solution according to the present invention offers a significant decrease in carbon-footprint and gives a better score in estimation of life cycle assessment and life cycle cost assessment - LCA / LCCA (“cradle-to-grave” approach). In addition, the product according to the present invention is fully degradable in environmental conditions, can be eaten by animals, and hence, does not pollute the environment. Summary of the Invention The present invention discloses a product that is biodegradable and comprises dried plant components, that are rich in carbohydrates, in the total amount of up to 30%, preferably from 25 to 30 wt%, in addition to dried moos in the amount from 4 to 8 wt%, dried leaned paper in the amount from 40 to 60 wt%, organic adhesives from 5 to 10 wt%, citric acid from 2 to 5 wt%, fructose from 10 to 15 wt% and alkali from 2 to 4 wt%. In some embodiments, the alkali is in the form of ash. The biodegradable composition according to the present invention comprises one or more plant components, rich in carbohydrates, selected from the group consisting of: - plant materials such as hemp, bursa, nettle stalks, coffee cake, corn stalks, sunflower stalks, and sugar cane cake; - fruit cakes such as apple, peach, apricot, plum, pear, and raisin cakes; - fruit peels such as orange, pineapple, kiwi, lemon, grapefruit, banana, coconut, mango, or apple peels; - pips such as peaches, apples, or apricots pips; vegetable peels such as potato, carrot, cabbage, turnip, radish, cucumber, or beet peels; - corn cob waste; - hay; - tree waste such as bark, branches, knots, or chips. In a preferred embodiment, the biodegradable composition according to the present invention comprises one plant component, rich in carbohydrates, selected from the group consisting of: - plant materials such as hemp, bursa, nettle stalks, coffee cake, corn stalks, sunflower stalks, and sugar cane cake; - fruit cakes such as apple, peach, apricot, plum, pear, and raisin cakes; - fruit peels such as orange, pineapple, kiwi, lemon, grapefruit, banana, coconut, mango, or apple peels; - pips such as peaches, apples, or apricots pips; vegetable peels such as potato, carrot, cabbage, turnip, radish, cucumber, or beet peels; - corn cob waste; - hay; - tree waste such as bark, branches, knots, or chips. In a preferred embodiment, the biodegradable composition comprises organic adhesive such as: glues derived from protein sources such as chinaberry seeds, soybean seeds, castor seeds, and flax seeds, glues derived from plant roots substratum such as wheatgrass, dandelion, liquorice, comfrey, lotus rhizomes, and muskrat roots, glues derived from a flower substratum such as Althea, Dandelion, Stock rose, Atractylodes, Sossurea, Liquorice, Dudnik, Dioscorea japonica, and Remania, glues derived from a stem substratum such as burdock, dandelion, momordica, fern, okra, and lewesia saphora, protein glues derived from skin, bone, sinew, or ligament of animal or fish, starch-based glues from oatmeal or potato, and dextrin glue. In some embodiments, the biodegradable composition further comprises a natural additive selected from the group consisting of: a coloring agent, a filler, a release agent, a binder, and any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the biodegradable composition further comprises a photocatalyst, such as titanium(IV)–oxide in the amount of 0.5-5 wt%, as a color modifier and as an antimicrobial agent. According to the present disclosure, a product comprising the biodegradable composition is tableware, a package, a protective layer, or any combination thereof. A method for producing a biodegradable composition according to the present invention, includes: i) Drying at least one plant component, moos and cleaned paper, preferably at a temperature from 90 to 120°C, preferably 100 to 105 °C, preferably up to 8 hours, ii) Sterilization of dried materials, obtained in the previous step, preferably at a temperature from 70 to 120°C, preferably 90 to 100 °C, preferably for 30 min up to 1 hour, iii) Further drying the sterilized materials from the previous step preferably at a temperature from 80 to 90 °C, preferably for 4 to 5 hours, iv) Grinding the obtained dried material, v) Preparation of a suspension by mixing organic adhesives from 5 to 10 wt%, citric acid from 2 to 5 wt%, fructose from 10 to 15 wt%, alkali from 2 to 4 wt% and titanium (IV) – oxide from 0.5-5 wt%, followed by boiling of the obtained suspension preferably at a temperature from 90 to 97°C for at least 5 minutes. vi) Cooling the obtained suspension to 70-90°C, vii) Mixing the ground ingredients obtained in step IV with the hot liquid suspension obtained in step VI and homogenizing the obtained mixture. In some embodiments, dried ingredients may be mixed with the suspension by mechanical mixing. In addition, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the product according to the present invention may be shaped using a template comprising a wall defining a cavity. In this embodiment, the biodegradable composition is filled in the template so that the composition at least partially fills up the cavity of the template. Filling of the template may be carried out by casting, injection molding, extrusion, compression, thermoforming, and / or any combination thereof, thereby obtaining the product according to the present disclosure. The product is released from the template. Preferably, the composition is cast under pressure. More preferably, the composition is cast under pressure in the form of dishes. The biodegradable composition according to the present invention may be used as tableware, a package, or even a protective layer for other products (e.g., glass), or any combination thereof. The biodegradable composition may be used as a packaging material for a cosmetic, medicine, food, chemical, or electronic product, or any combination thereof. A product comprising biodegradable composition according to the present invention, may be used as a tableware, a package, a protective layer for other products, or any combination thereof. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and / or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the disclosure, exemplary methods and / or materials are described below. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be necessarily limiting. Further embodiments and the full scope of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the disclosure, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. Detailed description of the invention The biodegradable composition according to the present disclosure comprises at least one dried plant, that is rich in carbohydrates, in the total amount of up to 30%, preferably from 25 to 30 wt%, dried moss in the amount from 4 to 8 wt%, dried cleaned paper in the amount from 40 to 60 wt%, organic adhesives from 5 to 10 wt %, citric acid from 2 to 5 wt%, fructose from 10 to 15 wt% and alkali from 2 to 4 wt% of the total weight of the composition. The product according to the present disclosure is biodegradable and can be consumed by rodents. The biodegradable composition according to the present invention comprises dried moss having a moisture content of less than 0.7 wt%, for adequate processability. The term “plant-based component rich in carbohydrates” as used herein refers to a plant- derived material high in carbohydrate content, i.e. comprising from about 50 wt% to about 90 wt% carbohydrates. The biodegradable disposable product made of the biodegradable composition according to the present invention provides several advantages that make it more attractive and sustainable compared to biodegradable disposable products known in the art. The natural ingredients originating from food / wood industrial side streams (which usually end up like waste) are processed by a method according to the present invention. Advantageously, by incorporating up to 30 wt% of these processed natural ingredients in the composition of the product according to the present invention, the production process becomes cost-effective. Additionally, the diverse range of permissible plant materials would allow worldwide production, thus promoting the usage of readily available local resources, which would decrease the carbon footprint of the product and the production costs. Furthermore, the product according to the present invention is entirely biodegradable and can even be consumed by animals, minimizing its impact on landfills and the environment. The product according to the present invention boasts various functional properties that expand its potential applications. The present disclosure is based, in part, on the finding that specific compositions, comprising moss and specific plant ingredients, such as terpenes, essential oils, suberinic acid, which are known to exhibit antibacterial and antifungal properties, can potentially turn this product into an active and functional, and, thus extend the shelf life of the product itself. In some embodiments, the biodegradable composition as described herein is a moisture- retaining composition. In some embodiments, the biodegradable composition as described herein regulates humidity within the confined space, thereby extending a packed product's shelf-life. The present disclosure is based, in part, on the finding that optimization of the composition of the product according to the present invention, such as tableware, dishes, a package, or a protective layer, enables effective retention of moisture for 8 to 12 hours, making the product suitable for various applications, such as food packaging. Furthermore, the product according to the present disclosure retains its shape for at least 8 hours when filled with boiling water, cold water, or hot water up to 100°C. The present disclosure is based, in part, on the finding that the product's structure remains unchanged when heated in a microwave oven, but it becomes more flexible. The present disclosure is based, in part, on the finding that the inclusion of fructose, as a natural antifreeze found in plants, enhances the product's resilience to low temperatures. Similar to the microwave effect, it is confirmed that the product becomes more flexible while maintaining its shape when placed in a refrigerated chamber. The product according to the present invention may be shaped in different forms and have different designs that meet the specific needs of use. In some embodiments, the product according to the present invention may be used as tableware, packaging for various products, or a protective layer. When used as a protective layer on a glass bottle, the product according to the invention retains its properties while enhancing the bottle's resistance to damage, high and low temperatures, and UV light. This contributes to the improved preservation of the contents of the bottle. Preferably, the product described herein is used for food packaging. When used as packaging for vegetables, the product according to the invention demonstrably provides prevention of rotting over a week more compared to its plastic counterparts. The present disclosure is based, in part, on the finding that organic, protein-based glue derived from vegetables or animals provides resistance to ultraviolet light. The present disclosure is based, in part, on the finding that the presence of ash contributes to long-term shape retention. For example, when filled with boiling water, the molded product retains its shape partially for 15 minutes before becoming more flexible. Thus, filling the molded product with hot water is also possible, but the contact with boiling water shall last for not more than 100 minutes in total, as the structure weakens with repeated exposure to boiling water. In addition, the present disclosure is based, in part, on the finding that during the production process pectin is generated, which further enhances the product's unique property of being resistant to alcohol. All these advantages of the product according to the present invention enable its various uses in different environmental conditions. The biodegradable disposable product according to the present invention presents a comprehensive solution due to its cost-effectiveness, environmental sustainability, improved functional properties, and adaptability, making it a promising alternative to traditional disposable products. Method of Production The method for production of a biodegradable composition according to the present invention includes the following steps: 1. Drying of the raw plant-based material, moos, and paper, preferably at a temperature from 90 to 120°C, preferably 100 to 105 °C, preferably up to 8 hours. 2. Sterilization of dried materials, obtained in the previous step, preferably at a temperature from 70 up to 120°C, preferably 90 to 100 °C, preferably up to 1 hour. 3. Further drying the sterilized materials at a temperature preferably from 80 to 90°C for 4 to 5 hours. 4. Grinding and mixing the dried plant ingredients, moss, and cellulose (in the form of cleaned paper) 5. Preparation of a suspension by mixing a selected organic glue with citric acid, fructose, ash, and a photocatalyst, such as titanium(IV)–oxide followed by boiling of the suspension preferably at a temperature from 90 to 97°C for at least 5 minutes. 6. Cooling of the suspension to 70-90°C 7. Combining the crushed ingredients with the suspension obtained from the previous step and homogenizing the resulting mass. In some embodiments, dried ingredients may be mixed with the suspension by mechanical mixing. In addition, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the product according to the present invention may be shaped using a template comprising a wall defining a cavity. In this embodiment, the biodegradable composition is filled in the template so that the composition at least partially fills up the cavity of the template. Filling of the template may be carried out by casting, injection molding, extrusion, compression, thermoforming, and / or any combination thereof, thereby obtaining the product according to the present disclosure. The product is released from the template. Preferably, the composition is cast under pressure. More preferably, the composition is cast under pressure in the form of dishes. The product obtained by the method according to the present invention can be molded into various shapes, such as tableware, packaging, or even a protective layer for other products (e.g., glass). The biodegradable composition may be used as a packaging material for a cosmetic, medicine, food, chemical, or electronic product or any combination thereof. As used herein the term “about” refers to ± 10 %. The terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", "including", “having” and their conjugates mean "including but not limited to". The term “consisting of” means “including and limited to”. The term "consisting essentially of" means that the composition, method, or structure may include additional ingredients, steps, and / or parts, but only if the additional ingredients, steps, and / or parts do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, method or structure. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration”. Any embodiment described as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments and / or to exclude the incorporation of features from other embodiments. The word “optionally” is used herein to mean “is provided in some embodiments and not provided in other embodiments”. Any particular embodiment of the disclosure may include a plurality of “optional” features unless such features conflict. As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “a compound” or “at least one compound” may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof. Throughout this application, various embodiments of this disclosure may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, a description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6, etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range. Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to include any cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range. The phrases “ranging / ranges between” a first indicate number and a second indicate number and “ranging / ranges from” a first indicate number “to” a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and are meant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all the fractional and integral numerals therebetween. As used herein the term “method” refers to manners, means, techniques, and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques, and procedures either known to or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the chemical, pharmacological, biological, biochemical and medical arts. It is appreciated that certain features of the disclosure, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the disclosure, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the disclosure. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements. Examples The biodegradable composition according to the present invention comprises: - one or more dried raw plant components, as a carbohydrate source, present in the composition in a total amount of up to 30 wt% of the total weight of the composition, preferably in the range of 25-30 wt%, selected from the group consisting of: ● Plant materials such as hemp, bursa, nettle stalks, coffee cake, corn stalks, sunflower stalks, sugar cane cake, or fruit cakes such as apple, peach, apricot, plum, pear, and raisin cakes, ● Fruit peels such as orange, pineapple, kiwi, lemon, grapefruit, banana, coconut, mango, or apple peels, ● Pips such as peaches, apples, or apricots pips, ● Vegetable peels such as potato, carrot, cabbage, turnip, radish, cucumber, or beet peels, ● Corn cob waste, ● Hay, ● Tree waste such as bark, branches, knots, or chips, ● Or any combination thereof. - Dried Moss in the amount of at least 4 wt% of the total weight of the composition, preferably in the range of 4 wt% to 8 wt %, - Dried, cleaned paper at least 40 wt% of the total weight of the composition, preferably in the range of 40 wt% to 60 wt%, - Organic adhesives up to 10 wt% of the total weight of the composition, preferably in the range of 5 wt% to 10 wt%, - Citric acid, at least 2 wt% of the total weight of the composition, preferably in the range of 2 wt% to 5 wt%, - Fructose, at least 10 wt% of the total weight of the composition, preferably in the range of 10 wt% to 15 wt%, - Alkali, in the form of ash, at least 2 wt% of the total weight of the composition, preferably in the range of 2 wt% to 4 wt%. In another embodiment, the biodegradable composition according to the present invention may further comprise titanium (IV)–oxide in the amount 0.5-5 wt%. Preferred embodiments of the invention Various trees, plants, fruits, and vegetables, including the well-known deciduous, coniferous and fruit trees, Heracleum sosnowskyi, Urtica dioica (nettles), planted corn, sunflower, grown fruits – apples, plums, pears, grapes, peaches, apricots, and vegetables – potatoes, carrots, cabbage, turnips, radishes, cucumbers, beets and waste thereof may be used in the manufacture of the product according to the present invention. Moreover, potatoes, oats, flax, wheatgrass, dandelion, liquorice, burdock, fern, comfrey, hickory, muskrat root, castor, soybean, dudnik (Angélica), and stem-rose are known to produce organic glue being used as an ingredient in the biodegradable composition. The plants listed are equivalent when added to the product. The possible compositions of the tableware according to the present invention are shown in Table 1 below. The first three components form a dry phase of the composition. They are dried at a temperature of 103°C, preferably for 6 to 8 hours, then undergo thermal treatment, preferably at a temperature of 100°C for 50 minutes, to ensure an aseptic environment, followed by the second cycle of drying, preferably at a temperature of 90°C 3-5 hours. Dried materials were ground and prepared for compounding. The other five components form a wet phase of the composition, i.e. a suspension. The suspension comprising protein glues derived from plant or animal, citric acid, ash, fructose, and titanium(IV)-oxide was prepared and boiled at a temperature of 97°C for 5 minutes, after which hot liquid suspension (70-90°C) was mixed with the dry phase. The obtained composition was homogenized and cast under pressure in the desired form. Preferably, the composition is cast under pressure in the form of dishes. The obtained product demonstrates improved mechanical and chemical properties. Namely, the product according to the present invention has antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties, can be eaten by animals, and provides retention of moisture for 8 to 12 hours, is resistant to low temperatures, exposure to ultraviolet light and alcohol, can be produced in different forms, can be produced locally in the geographical area where the plants, used as ingredients, grow. The composition of the product may equally include any waste from trees, plants, fruits, and vegetables. Combinations of raw materials according to the present invention are shown in Table 1. Table 1. Potential combinations of raw materials COMPOSITION Dry part Suspension Plant Non-liquid Moss, Citric acid, Ash, Fructose, Titanium(IV) – Example component, cleaned paper, Glue, wt% wt% wt% wt% wt% oxide, wt% wt% wt% non-liquid burdock stems Nettle stems 1 4 cleaned paper substrate 2 2 10 2 30 40 10 non-liquid paper dandelion root potato peelings 2 6 peeled substrate 3 3 10 2 25 43 8 non-liquid orange peel momordica stems 3 8 peeled paper 4 2 11 1 25 9 41 non-liquid Banana peel flax seed protein - 4 6 peeled paper 4 3 11 1 28 8 40 protein glue dried apricot non-liquid obtained from 5 fruit cake 8 cleaned paper sheep hides and 2 3 10 2 26 40 bones 9 kiwi peelings non-liquid paper flowers of althea 6 4 2 3 11 2 30 purified - 40 8 protein glue non-liquid Birch branches obtained from 7 8 cleaned paper 3 3 11 2 25 fish bones 40 8 non-liquid sugar cane cake sossyurea flowers 8 4 cleaned paper 2 4 10 2 28 8 42 non-liquid paper lotus rhizomes coconut peelings 9 6 purified substrate 2 4 11 1 26 42 8 non-liquid paper lotus rhizomes hazelnut shells 10 6 purified substrate 2 4 11 1 26 42 8 non-liquid paper lotus rhizomes walnut shells 11 6 purified substrate 2 4 11 1 26 42 8 mixture of protein pineapple non-liquid paper glue, obtained 12 peelings 5 peelings from animal 2 3 11 2 28 41 ligaments 8 Although the present disclosure has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A biodegradable composition comprising: one or more dried plant components rich in carbohydrates up to 30 wt%, dried moss in the amount of at least 4 wt%, dried cleaned paper in the amount of at least 40 wt%, organic adhesives up to 10 wt %, citric acid at least 2 wt%, fructose at least 10 wt%, and alkali at least 2 wt% of the total weight of the composition.

2. The biodegradable composition according to claim 1 further comprising titanium (IV) – oxide from 0.5-5 wt%.

3. The biodegradable composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein plant component rich in carbohydrates comprises more than 50 wt % of carbohydrates of the total weight of the plant component.

4. The biodegradable composition according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the dried plant components are selected from the group consisting of: - Plant materials such as hemp, bursa, nettle stalks, coffee cake, corn stalks, sunflower stalks, sugar cane cake, or fruit cakes such as apple, peach, apricot, plum, pear, and raisin cakes; - Fruit peels such as orange, pineapple, kiwi, lemon, grapefruit, banana, coconut, mango, or apple peels; - Pips such as peaches, apples, or apricots pips; - Vegetable peels such as potato, carrot, cabbage, turnip, radish, cucumber, or beet peels; - Corn cob waste; - Hay; - Tree waste such as bark, branches, knots, or chips; or - any combination thereof.

5. The biodegradable composition according to claims 1 to 4, wherein dried moss is present in the range of 4 wt% to 8 wt % of the total weight of the composition.

6. The biodegradable composition according to claims 1 to 5, wherein dried cleaned paper is present in the range of 40 wt% to 60 wt% of the total weight of the composition.

7. The biodegradable composition according to claims 1 to 6, wherein organic adhesives are present in the range of 5 wt% to 10 wt% of the total weight of the composition.

8. The biodegradable composition according to claims 1 to 7, wherein citric acid is present in the range of 2 wt to 5 wt% of the total weight of the composition.

9. The biodegradable composition according to claims 1 to 8, wherein fructose is present in the range of 10 wt% to 15 wt% of the total weight of the composition.

10. The biodegradable composition according to claims 1 to 9, wherein alkali is present in the range of 2 wt% to 4 wt% of the total weight of the composition.

11. A product made of the biodegradable composition according to claims 1 to 10.

12. Product packaging made of the biodegradable composition according to claims 1 to 11.

13. Food packaging made of the biodegradable composition according to claims 1 to 12.

14. Protective layer for product packaging made of the biodegradable composition according to claims 1 to 13.