This Master Thesis considers that researchers at the University of Pisa, as part of the Plaminpack project, are developing innovative packaging materials made from biopolymer blends reinforced with fillers derived from fruit-cultivation waste, such as pruned branches and leaves. These plant residues are used to enhance material stiffness, lower production costs, improve biodegradability, and give new value to agricultural by-products that would otherwise go unused.

In addition to the solid fillers, antioxidant-rich extracts obtained from the same plant waste are being incorporated into the packaging to test their potential functional benefits. The study evaluates how different variables—such as the type of biopolymer matrix, the condition of the residue before and after extraction, and the presence of the antioxidant extracts—affect the physical properties of the resulting materials. The goal is to identify the most effective formulations for producing sustainable, functional packaging prototypes.