A Review of the Current and Future Prospects for Producing Bioplastic Films Made from Starch and Chitosan

Abstract

This review presents a summary of plastic films made from two abundant natural polymers, starch and chitosan. Films possess many useful attributes such as transparency, good physical strength, and barrier properties. Modifications are being investigated to improve the properties of the product such as reinforcement with nanoparticles, strengthening by cross-linking, and applying surface coatings to improve interfacial properties. We provide perspectives on the use of starch chitosan films as a biobased, biodegradable food packaging material. Additionally, a detailed life-cycle assessment compares the production of chitosan-based polymers to other bioplastics and petroleum-based alternatives. Finally, we predict which factors will be important in the future for making the production of chitosan films economically and environmentally sustainable.