In 2024, Cheng Fang and a team from the University of Newcastle, Australia, studied micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) released from self-sealing Ziploc bags used for food storage. Using scanning electron microscopy and Raman imaging, they found that opening and closing bags creates friction, releasing thousands of MNPs per use, ranging from hundreds of nanometers to millimeters.

A 2024 study from MIT and SMART introduced microneedle patches that inject melatonin directly into fruits and vegetables to delay spoilage. While the researchers claim this method reduces food waste by extending shelf life, it also involves piercing your produce with hormone-loaded needles—something never done before on a wide scale for fresh food.