Current status of biobased and biodegradable food packaging materials: Impact on food quality and effect of innovative processing technologies

Abstract

Fossil‐based plastic materials are an integral part of modern life. In food packaging, plastics have a highly important function in preserving food quality and safety, ensuring adequate shelf life, and thereby contributing to limiting food waste. Meanwhile, the global stream of plastics into the oceans is increasing exponentially, triggering worldwide concerns for the environment. There is an urgent need to reduce the environmental impacts of packaging waste, a matter raising increasing consumer awareness. Shifting part of the focus toward packaging materials from renewable resources is one promising strategy. This review provides an overview of the status and future of biobased and biodegradable films used for food packaging applications, highlighting the effects on food shelf life and quality. Potentials, limitations, and promising modifications of selected synthetic biopolymers; polylactic acid, polybutylene succinate, and polyhydroxyalkanoate; and natural biopolymers such as cellulose, starch, chitosan, alginate, gelatine, whey, and soy protein are discussed. Further, this review provides insight into the connection between biobased packaging materials and innovative technologies such as high pressure, cold plasma, microwave, ultrasound, and ultraviolet light. The potential for utilizing such technologies to improve biomaterial barrier and mechanical properties as well as to aid in improving overall shelf life for the packaging system by in‐pack processing is elaborated on.

Biodegradable Active Packaging as an Alternative to Conventional Packaging: A Case Study with Chicken Fillets

“…In the literature 100× higher oxygen permeability for PLA has been reported compared to PET. [30] For PLA, 216 cm 3 .mm/m 2 .day.atm and for PET, 1.2-2.4 cm 3 .mm/m 2 .day.atm were reported at 23 • C [21]. Similar OTR trends were also reported for PLA and APET/PE [31,32].…”

“…In addition, a sample with both 2% cinnamon oil and 2% citral was made. The EO (cinnamon and citral) concentrations were selected based on previously reported levels in the literature [21,22] and to limitations in processing parameters as reported by others [22].…”

Physicochemical and Microstructural Characterization of Whey Protein Films Formed with Oxidized Ferulic/Tannic Acids

“…Biodegradable packaging materials are being developed as a part of “future food” to partially replace traditional nondegradable materials, to reduce environmental pollution [ 1 ]. Of the different biodegradable materials, whey protein has received considerable attention, due to its film-forming potential [ 2 ].…”

Polylactic Acid/Cerium Fluoride Films: Effects of Cerium Fluoride on Mechanical Properties, Crystallinity, Thermal Behavior, and Transparency

“…Polylactic acid (PLA) is a kind of aliphatic thermoplastic polyester and biodegradable biobased polymer [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. In contrast to traditional fossil-based polymers, it is one of the most promising biobased polymers that plays an important role in the polymer market [11][12][13][14][15][16].…”

“…In contrast to traditional fossil-based polymers, it is one of the most promising biobased polymers that plays an important role in the polymer market [11][12][13][14][15][16]. It can effectively prevent and alleviate environmental problems such as "white pollution" [1][2][3][4]17]. Moreover, PLA is one of the most suitable candidate materials to replace polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) [18][19][20][21][22][23].…”