WEBSITE
Website: https://www.canr.msu.edu/auras/index
BIOGRAPHY
Rafael Auras is an Associate Professor with the School of Packaging at Michigan State University. Rafael leads a research group of undergraduate and graduate students interested in mass transfer in polymers, biodegradable and compostable polymers, life cycle assessment, packaging waste, and sustainable packaging systems. He has conducted research projects for Fortune 500 companies and government sponsored research projects. He is a regular speaker at national and international conferences regarding biodegradation and compostability of packaging systems, the environmental footprint assessment of packaging using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, and the creation and design of sustainable packaging systems. He has authored or coauthored more than 150 publications. Rafael graduated with an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from the National University of Misiones, Argentina, an MS in Materials Science and Technology from the National University of San Martin in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a PhD in packaging from Michigan State University. He lives in Okemos, Michigan with his wife and 2 sons.
AREA OF EXPERTISE
- the creation of new sustainable packaging. We are focusing on the development of new biobased polymer blends and composites, and their modifications.
- the design of new active packaging systems.
- the evaluation of the end of life scenario of different packaging systems. We consider different end of life scenarios such as composting and recycling, and evaluate the environmental footprint of packaging systems using state of the art laboratory techniques and tools such as life cycle assessment and systemic sustainability analysis.