Alaa Alaizoki, who is studying for an engineering doctorate, has created a meat tray without a separate piece of absorbent plastic padding underneath.
Mr Alaizoki said the technology could be used in other areas, like nappies.
Meat Promotion Wales said consumers wanted to know that food was made in an "environmentally responsible way".
About 800,000 tonnes of UK meat packaging plastic waste is produced each year,
Between 5% and 8% of this waste comes from the absorbent padding.
