Gizmodo Science Fair: A Non-Toxic Alternative to ‘Forever Chemicals’

A pair of engineers has won the 2025 Gizmodo Science Fair for creating a non-toxic, recyclable, and compostable replacement for plastic and toxic “forever chemicalsâ€â€”per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—in food packaging.

The question

Can we reduce plastic and PFAS pollution by replacing it with a non-toxic alternative?

The results

Northwestern University professors Timothy Wei and SonBinh Nguyen teamed up to create a water- and oil-resistant material called “GO-Eco.†It’s well on its way to becoming a viable replacement for plastic and PFAS in food packaging.

Wei is an adjunct professor of mechanical engineering at Northwestern and chief scientist of Chang Robotics. He worked at the intersection of advanced manufacturing and food systems for years before he began co-developing GO-Eco with Nguyen, a professor of chemistry at Northwestern and a leading expert on a nanomaterial called graphene oxide.

“[Nguyen] came to me, and he said, ‘I’ve done all this work, and I’ve published all this stuff, but I really want to do something. I want to make a difference. I think graphene oxide could be really helpful in food packaging,†Wei told Gizmodo.

Graphene is an atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal, honeycomb-like matrix. When this super-strong nanomaterial is enriched with oxygen and hydroxyl ions to create graphene oxide, it bonds firmly to paper fibers, forming a microscopic yet highly effective barrier against water, oils, and gases. This is the basis of GO-Eco.

GO-Eco isn’t a coating—it’s integrated directly into paper to create strong, non-toxic packaging that can still be recycled and even composted. “I firmly believe this is a completely biodegradable, biocompatible material,†Nguyen said. What’s more, this nanomaterial has proven to be more effective at enhancing strength and barrier properties than current industry-standard, certified-sustainable alternatives to plastic and PFAS.

Recent third-party testing showed that paper treated with GO-Eco absorbed 47% less water and that it took significantly longer for hot oil to soak through, according to Wei and Nguyen. Furthermore, strength tests showed that GO-Eco gives paper a 27% boost in tensile strength and a 56% boost in burst strength. These properties could also have applications outside of food packaging, such as rainproofing cardboard shipping boxes, Nguyen said.

But when it comes to storing food, it’s not just about protection. It’s also about freshness. Preliminary testing suggests GO-Eco packaging keeps food fresh for longer periods than plastic by inhibiting the transfer of moisture, oil, or gases between food and the surrounding environment.

Why they did it

Most food packaging relies on plastics and toxic PFAS coatings. Nguyen and Wei estimate that the U.S. alone produces approximately 15 million tons (14 million metric tons) of paper-based food packaging and corrugated cardboard per year, and these products are often coated with plastic, foil, or PFAS to achieve water- and oil-resistance.

Mounting evidence points to significant environmental and health consequences from plastic and PFAS pollution. Microplastics have been detected nearly everywhere on Earth, including inside the human body. PFAS is similarly ubiquitous, turning up in air, soil, water, homes, animals, and humans around the globe.

The health effects of exposure to these substances remain uncertain. Some studies have linked microplastics to oxidative stress, DNA damage, organ dysfunction, and other risks, while certain types of PFAS have been associated with conditions such as high cholesterol, decreased birth weight, and some cancers.

Though GO-Eco has yet to receive FDA approval, Wei and Nguyen are confident that it is non-toxic and completely biocompatible. They hope it could reduce the amount of plastic and PFAS infiltrating our bodies and the environment, in addition to reducing food waste. “That’s one of the other big motivators behind what we’re trying to do,†Wei said.

In recent years, several federal and state governments have banned or begun phasing out plastic and PFAS food packaging. As such, the demand for alternatives is growing substantially. Nguyen and Wei hope GO-Eco can help fill that need, guiding the world’s food systems toward more sustainable and safer materials.

Why they’re a winner

While some commercially available alternatives—such as bio-based and non-fluorinated synthetic coatings—are already on the market, the market volume of plastic and PFAS packaging continues to rise. The U.S. fluoropolymer coating market alone reached 23,400 tons (21,200 metric tons) in 2024 and is expected to grow to 39,970 tons (36,260 metric tons) by 2034, according to market research and consulting firm Towards Chemicals and Materials.

A better solution is clearly needed, and early tests suggest GO-Eco could offer superior performance at an affordable price. While the technology has yet to be proven at scale, Wei and Nguyen have made significant strides toward commercialization over the past two years.

As of April, at least 10 companies were testing samples of GO-Eco, and three were preparing pilot-scale production trials, according to Innovation News Network. By August, more than 20 companies had signed NDAs with GO-Eco, Wei said. With this growing commercial traction, GO-Eco stands out as one of the most viable next-generation alternatives to plastic and PFAS packaging.

What’s next

For their commercial launch, Nguyen and Wei hope to offer GO-Eco disposable tableware and trays—like the styrofoam tray that holds a packaged fish at the grocery store. Wei is confident that a GO-Eco-enhanced paper tray will perform just as well as styrofoam.

“We’re basically a step away from commercialization,†Wei said. To get there, GO-Eco still needs to complete additional regulatory testing, including FDA approval. If it clears those hurdles, graphene oxide packaging could soon appear on grocery shelves.

The team

Timothy Wei and SonBinh Nguyen have been assisted by four interns: Deborah Han, Meredith Bacine, Stella Kerwin Derrick, and their current intern, Mackenzie Lanning.

Click here to see all of the winners of the 2025 Gizmodo Science Fair.