The increasing demand for eco-friendly and biodegradable plastic materials has attracted considerable interest from both researchers and industries due to growing environmental concerns associated with the accumulation of conventional plastic waste. Eco-composites comprising biodegradable polymers and natural fillers have emerged as promising sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. Natural fillers, particularly agricultural and biomass-derived materials, can be incorporated into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrices to modify their structural, morphological, and functional properties, making them suitable for short-life-cycle applications such as trays, food containers, and disposable cutlery. In the present study, PVA biofilms modified with coconut shell powder (CSP), a readily available agricultural waste material, were prepared and characterized. The structural and morphological properties of the developed PVA/CSP biofilms were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The incorporation of CSP influenced the morphology and structural characteristics of the PVA matrix, while the presence of naturally derived components offers potential advantages in terms of biodegradability and environmental sustainability. The utilization of coconut shell waste as a natural filler also provides a potential approach for waste valorization and the development of biodegradable PVA-based eco-composites. These findings highlight the potential of PVA/CSP biofilms as environmentally sustainable materials for selected short-term applications.

Keywords: PVA; Coconut shell powder (CSP); Ecocomposite; biodegradability