Advances in development of biodegradable food packaging material from agricultural and agro‐industry waste

Abstract

AbstractThe preferment for farm mechanization and advancement in industrialization has augmented the agro‐industrial waste generation. The management of such numerous waste is a challenging and resource‐intensive task. The current practices involve releasing this waste into the water bodies and open landfills which causes water, air, and soil pollution. These wastes have the potential to be used as a raw material for the development of value‐added products, generation of renewable energy, extraction of food‐use compounds, and manufacturing of packaging material. In the current scenario, agro‐based materials are captivating the packaging industries toward the development of renewable, biodegradable, and sustainable packaging materials. These agro‐based materials have great capability to replace petrochemical‐based plastic materials in packaging industries because of their ample availability and biodegradability. Biodegradable packaging materials can be derived from agro‐industrial waste either directly or by chemical synthesis or by genetically modified organisms. Agro‐based polymers have a scintillating future for a wide range of applications in the food industry and pharmaceuticals, including advances in active and smart packaging with bio‐functional characteristics. The present review comprehensively discusses the potential of different agricultural and agro‐industrial wastes that can be used for extracting different natural biopolymers and their further use in manufacturing biodegradable food packaging.Practical ApplicationsInformation about the potential agricultural and agro‐industrial waste suggests development, optimization, customization, and scale‐up of production of biodegradable packaging material to promote its commercial usage. The major patents granted in biodegradable packing, properties of these materials, and the current status of their commercial availability will provide a compiled source of information, start‐ups, innovation, research, and future advancements to the industrialists, students, researchers, and entrepreneurs. As an alternative to plastics, biodegradable packaging materials open opportunities for sustainable and environment‐friendly solutions to industries and help in fulfilling their corporate social responsibility.