Maria Fernanda Caballero

A Colombian inventor creating edible packaging to combat plastic pollution in the Andes region

Maria's Edible Innovation

Maria Fernanda Caballero (b. 1995) is a materials scientist from Bogotá whose company SaborPackaging has pioneered biodegradable food wraps made from Andean plant extracts. Launched in 2021, her ChocloFilm product uses corn protein from native Peruvian maize varieties to create packaging that dissolves in water within 24 hours.

Sustainable Packaging Revolution

Caballero's breakthrough technology has replaced 1.2 million plastic units in Latin American supermarkets by 2024. Her 2022 study in Materials Today demonstrated 98% biodegradation within 30 days. The product line now includes QuinoaWrap and YuccaSheet, all certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute.

Economic Empowerment

Her company employs over 300 Andean farmers through a fair-trade model, paying triple the market rate for raw materials. The Cocina Solidaria initiative trains rural women to produce packaging substrates, creating income streams for 12 indigenous communities. In 2023, SaborPackaging expanded to Mexico and Chile through partnerships with Walmart and Cencosud.

Global Recognition

Caballero was named Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2024 for her environmental innovations. Her TEDx talk "Eating Plastic Pollution" highlights her vision for a circular economy. Current R&D focuses on edible coffee cup liners using Amazonian plantain fibers.