Abstract
The aim of this review is to provide an overview of recent findings related to bacterial cellulose application in bio-packaging industry. This constantly growing sector fulfils a major role by the maintenance of product safety and quality, protection against environmental impacts that affect the shelf life. Conventional petroleum-based plastic packaging are still rarely recyclable and have a number of harmful environmental effects. Herein, we discuss the most recent studies on potential good alternative to plastic packaging—bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), known as an ecological, safe, biodegradable, and chemically pure biopolymer. The limitations of this bio-based packaging material, including relatively poor mechanical properties or lack of antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, can be successfully overcome by its modification with a wide variety of bioactive and reinforcing compounds. BNC active and intelligent food packaging offer a new and innovative approach to extend the shelf life and maintain, improve, or monitor product quality and safety. Incorporation of different agents BNC matrices allows to obtain e.g., antioxidant-releasing films, moisture absorbers, antimicrobial membranes or pH, freshness and damage indicators, humidity, and other biosensors. However, further development and implementation of this kind of bio-packaging will highly depend on the final performance and cost-effectiveness for the industry and consumers.
Highlights
The packaging industry is currently a thriving market that plays an important role in a modern economy
Food and beverages occupy the largest segment of this market (85%) [1]
There is a huge potential laying in bio-based relatives, as they are biodegradable, do not adversely affect the climate, and eliminate the risk of cross-contaminations during recycling, as well as danger of toxicity to consumers [2]
Summary
The packaging industry is currently a thriving market that plays an important role in a modern economy. Several factors, such as globalization, innovative technologies, and increasing consumer requirements highly affect and stimulate the development of this sector. Petroleum-based products (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene) are widely used in food packaging industry, they are well known to have negative impact on ecosystem. The increasing concerns for the environmental pollution and ecological imbalances caused by expansive usage of ecologically nonfriendly materials have led to the growing awareness and the development of new natural, green alternatives to plastic packaging. The growing number of eco-products on the market has opened a new perspective for bio-based products despite their higher price [3]
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