Value-added utilization of fruit and vegetable processing by-products for the manufacture of biodegradable food packaging films

The strategic applications of natural polymer nanocomposites in food packaging and agriculture: Chances, challenges, and consumers’ perception

“…The cellulosic and hemicellulosic, starch, lignin which are abundantly available from waste-derived organic matter (e.g., wood, potatoes, maize, and wheat), are examples of low-cost substrates for the production of biopolymers. Extraction technologies ( Figure 2 ) offer several advantages, such as cost efficiency, low energy requirements, and non-toxic waste, but there are some challenges, such as low efficiency and prolonged processing time ( Jha and Kumar, 2019 ; Karimi Sani et al, 2023 ). For instance, the degradation of hemicellulose and transformation of lignin by the steam explosion is a low-cost process, but additional steps, such as ethanol extraction and purification, are required for complete biomass fractionation ( Hongzhang and Liying, 2007 ).…”

“…In turn, non-biodegradable synthetic polymers can be categorized into high-density (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) including e.g., ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) ( Mathew and Radhskrishnan, 2019 ). In fact, non-degradable polymers have created several environmental problems and therefore biodegradable polymers are gaining ground ( Clarinval and Halleux, 2005 ; Karimi Sani et al, 2023 ). For instance, the recently debated topic of micro- and nano-plastics which are responsible for adverse effects on soil, microbes, plants, animals, and humans.…”

“…The higher molecular weight, crystallinity or melting temperature, the lower biodegradability of the polymer. Similarly, the branched-chain polymers degrade slower than non-branched ones ( Saini, 2017 ; Ganapathy et al, 2019 ; Karimi Sani et al, 2023 ). Moreover, at temperatures above the glass transition temperature, the polymer is soft and rubbery and the polymer film becomes highly permeable to gases.…”

“…The basis of this technology is nanomaterials that are in the range of 1–100 nm ( Rai et al, 2021a ). Natural polymers also known as biopolymers are abundantly available in nature, and are biodegradable and thus eco-friendly ( Ashfaq et al, 2019 ; Karimi Sani et al, 2023 ). These include but are not limited to starch, cellulose, chitosan, and alginate resulting from plants, animals or microbes including fungi, algae, and bacteria.…”

“…Similarly, natural polymers such as proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and their combinations or composites with nanoparticles (e.g., ZrO 2 ) can be used as biodegradable and/or edible films in food packaging that can be alternatives to non-biodegradable packaging materials ( Karimi Sani et al, 2023 ).…”