School of Packaging Sustainable Materials Group

Biography:

Muhammad Rabnawaz, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized expert in sustainable polymeric materials (fiber and plastic-based), circular packaging, and high-barrier packaging technologies. He is a Full Professor in the School of Packaging at Michigan State University and serves as Fouding Director of the NSF Industry–University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) for Plastic, Paper, and Hybrid Packaging End-of-Life Solutions (C3PS).

Dr. Rabnawaz’s research focuses on advanced, safe, and regulatory-compliant packaging materials, including renewable and biodegradable polymers, circular packaging systems, barrier materials, diffusion and permeation mechanisms, food and fresh produce packaging, and end-of-life solutions. His work addresses critical challenges in plastic waste reduction, recyclable and compostable packaging, paper-based packaging systems, renewable materials, materials circularity, degradation and stabilization, chemical and mechanical recycling, and scalable end-of-life technologies. A defining feature of his research is its strong emphasis on manufacturability, scalability, and industrial adoption, ensuring translation from fundamental materials science to real-world packaging applications.

He is the author of more than 110 peer-reviewed publications, 70+ U.S. and international patents (issued or pending), and multiple widely used books, including the authoritative textbook Plastics Packaging (4th edition) and Sustainable Packaging Materials: Winning Solutions. His innovations have resulted in licensed and commercialized technologies, reflecting strong engagement with industry and impact across the packaging, materials, and manufacturing sectors.

Dr. Rabnawaz is widely regarded as a leading authority in packaging materials and sustainability and has been invited to speak globally at major scientific, industry, and policy forums. His work and expertise have been widely featured and cited by major U.S. and international media outlets, and he regularly provides expert commentary on plastics, packaging sustainability, circular economy strategies, and materials innovation.

He earned his Ph.D. in polymer chemistry from Queen’s University (Canada) in 2013 and completed postdoctoral research at Queen’s University and the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. At Michigan State University, he is a Full professor, and CANR Faculty Laureate and holds affiliated Professor appointments in Chemistry as well as Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at MSU.

As Director of C3PS, Dr. Rabnawaz leads interdisciplinary, multi-institutional research programs supported by federal agencies and industry partners to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation circular packaging solutions. His research portfolio is externally funded by agencies including NSF, USDA, EPA, and DOE, as well as global industry partners.

In addition to research, Dr. Rabnawaz teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Packaging with Plastics, Advanced Polymer Synthesis, Packaging Sustainability, and Recycling, helping to train the next generation of materials scientists, packaging engineers, and sustainability leaders.

His contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the NSF CAREER Award, MSU Innovator of the Year, CANR Faculty Laureate Award, and election as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.

Learn more about his research:

Sustainable Materials Group