The biodegradable biopolymer polylactic acid (PLA) has been used in the recent past in single-use packaging as a suitable replacement for non-biodegradable fossil fuel-based plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Under FDA and EU regulations, lactic acid (LA), the building block of PLA, is considered safe to use as a food contact material. The mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of PLA are, however, major challenges for this material. PLA is a brittle material with a Young’s modulus of 2996–3750 MPa and an elongation at break of 1.3–7%. PLA has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 60 °C, exhibiting structural distortion at this temperature. The water permeability of PLA can lead to hydrolytic degradation of the material. These properties can be improved with biopolymer blending and composites. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), for instance, increases the thermal stability of PLA while decreasing the water permeability by up to 59%. Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most common plastics in reusable food containers. This study will compare PLA-based blends and composites to the currently used PP as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based plastics. The end-of-life options for PLA-based food containers are considered, as is the commercial cost of replacing PP with PLA.

Dust adhesion is a critical challenge for lunar and Martian surface operations, causing equipment degradation, and reduced operational lifetimes. This study investigated the adhesion of three regolith simulants, Lunar Highlands Dust Simulant (LHS1D), Lunar Mare Simulant (LMS1), and Mars Global Simulant (MGS1), to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polycarbonate using two deposition methods: air deposition and rolling contact. Polycarbonate showed significantly lower area coverage than PDMS across all simulants and deposition methods ( p < 0.001). This was unexpected, as PDMS has lower surface energy, higher hydrophobicity, and higher roughness – properties typically associated with reduced adhesion. However, PDMS has a lower Young's modulus (3.2 MPa vs. 2.9 GPa), which may allow greater surface deformation and increased contact area. Experiments with a stiffer PDMS formulation (4.2 MPa) supported this, showing reduced adhesion with increased modulus. Rolling contact generally produced higher coverage than air deposition, and the finest simulant (LHS1D) showed the highest adhesion, consistent with increased van der Waals interactions for fine particles. Drying significantly increased adhesion on both materials. These findings suggest that substrate stiffness may play a more significant role than surface energy in controlling regolith adhesion, and that rigid, high‐modulus materials warrant further investigation for dust‐exposed surfaces in space environments.