Perspectives on sustainable food packaging:– is bio-based plastics a solution?

Mendes, Ana Carina Loureiro; Pedersen, Gitte Alsing

doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2021.03.049

Cited by 89 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 47 publications

(71 reference statements)

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“…The large gap between market demand and biobased plastics available today clearly shows the complexity of the problem and that all alternatives to approach the problem of plastic use and recycling must be pursued to reduce the environmental impact of polymers and plastic waste. In a recent article by Mendes and coworkers, the benefits of the use of bioplastics for the packaging industry were analyzed with the intent of delivering a guide for the design of more sustainable packaging to food packaging designers and producers [39]. The authors concluded that, from a climate point, the use of biobased plastics contributes to the generation of more sustainable food packaging compared to fossil-based ones; however, on the other hand, the relevance of some environmental problems originating from biobased plastics, such as eutrophication, use of water and pesticides, and effects on biodiversity, significantly reduces their environmental benefits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It should be reaffirmed that not all biobased polymers are biodegradable, while some fossil-based ones are, as clearly reported in Figure 4. Moreover, the recovery and recycling of biobased polymers is a relatively new issue and is still the object of studies compared to fossil-based polymers [39,75]; thus, different strategies will need to be put in place to implement the environmental sustainability of polymer manufacturing and recycling. According to the recent Circular Economy Package EU legislation and a paper by Briassoulis and coworkers, mechanical recycling is the best alternative for the valorization of both post-consumer fossil-based and biobased polymer waste, followed by chemical recycling [75,76].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recent Advancements in Plastic Packaging Recycling: A Mini-Review

et al. 2021

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Today, the scientific community is facing crucial challenges in delivering a healthier world for future generations. Among these, the quest for circular and sustainable approaches for plastic recycling is one of the most demanding for several reasons. Indeed, the massive use of plastic materials over the last century has generated large amounts of long-lasting waste, which, for much time, has not been object of adequate recovery and disposal politics. Most of this waste is generated by packaging materials. Nevertheless, in the last decade, a new trend imposed by environmental concerns brought this topic under the magnifying glass, as testified by the increasing number of related publications. Several methods have been proposed for the recycling of polymeric plastic materials based on chemical or mechanical methods. A panorama of the most promising studies related to the recycling of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS) is given within this review.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Advancements in Plastic Packaging Recycling: A Mini-Review

et al. 2021

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“…Biodegradable, bio-based, renewable, compostable and other, terms are increasing in interest due to their different specific capacities to be degraded by the environment, produced from natural resources, or capacity to be compostable to allow elimination from the environment once their working life has finished [5]. That is the case of polyesters, such as poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), poly(ethylene succinate) (PES), poly(glycolide) (PGA), poly(hydroxyalcanoates) (PHAs) and poly(lactic acid) and their copolyesters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nanoclay Effect into the Biodegradation and Processability of Poly(lactic acid) Nanocomposites for Food Packaging

Oliver-Ortega

Vandemoortele²,

Bala

et al. 2021

Polymers

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One of the most promising expectations in the design of new materials for food packaging is focused on the development of biodegradable systems with improved barrier character. In this sense PLA reinforced with nanoclay is a potential alternative to the use of conventional oil-derivative polymers due to the synergetic effect of the biodegradable character of PLA and the barrier-induced effect derived from the dispersion of nanoparticles. In this work, composite materials based on PLA and reinforced with bentonite nanoparticles (up to 4% w/w) (NC) have been prepared to produce films with improved barrier character against water vapor transportation. Additionally, the biodegradable character of the composites depending on the crystallinity of the polymer and percentage of NC have been evaluated in the presence of an enzymatic active medium (proteinase K). Finally, a study of the capacity to film production of the composites has been performed to determine the viability of the proposals. The dispersion of the nanoparticles induced a tortuous pathway of water vapor crossing, reducing this diffusion by more than 22%. Moreover, the nanoclays materials were in all the cases acceptable for food packing in terms of migration. A migration lower than 1 mg/m2 was obtained in all the materials. Nonetheless, the presence of the nanoclays in decreased biodegradable capacity was observed. The time was enlarged to more than 15 days for the maximum content (4% w/w). On the other hand, the incorporation of NC does not avoid the processability of the material to obtain film-shaped processed materials.

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“…This should include the use of materials that, among other things, produce no greenhouse gas emissions, can be recycled or reused, generate no landfill trash, consume less water, are created with renewable energy, do not pollute the air, and do not impair human health. Although progress has been made in the development of alternative packaging methods, there is still no perfect solution that can meet all of the sustainability criteria and, in the end, fulfills the function of food packaging: to store and transport the packed goods in good condition [13].…”

Section: Transformation From Conventional Packaging To Biogenic Packa...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Advancements in Smart Biogenic Packaging: Reshaping the Future of the Food Packaging Industry

et al. 2022

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Due to their complete non-biodegradability, current food packages have resulted in major environmental issues. Today’s smart consumer is looking for alternatives that are environmentally friendly, durable, recyclable, and naturally rather than synthetically derived. It is a well-established fact that complete replacement with environmentally friendly packaging materials is unattainable, and bio-based plastics should be the future of the food packaging industry. Natural biopolymers and nanotechnological interventions allow the creation of new, high-performance, light-weight, and environmentally friendly composite materials, which can replace non-biodegradable plastic packaging materials. This review summarizes the recent advancements in smart biogenic packaging, focusing on the shift from conventional to natural packaging, properties of various biogenic packaging materials, and the amalgamation of technologies, such as nanotechnology and encapsulation; to develop active and intelligent biogenic systems, such as the use of biosensors in food packaging. Lastly, challenges and opportunities in biogenic packaging are described, for their application in sustainable food packing systems.

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Perspectives on sustainable food packaging:– is bio-based plastics a solution?

Cited by 89 publications

References 47 publications

Recent Advancements in Plastic Packaging Recycling: A Mini-Review

Recent Advancements in Plastic Packaging Recycling: A Mini-Review

Nanoclay Effect into the Biodegradation and Processability of Poly(lactic acid) Nanocomposites for Food Packaging

Recent Advancements in Smart Biogenic Packaging: Reshaping the Future of the Food Packaging Industry

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