Bio-Based Materials for Food Packaging Applications

Abstract

The environmental insult caused by the non-renewable petroleum-based non-biodegradable packaging materials has fuelled the scientific community worldwide to develop alternative environment-friendly natural biopolymers-based food packaging materials. Biopolymers originating from various natural resources such as starch, cellulose, chitosan, and proteins from plant and animal origins have extensively been used to develop various types of packaging materials. Moreover, food safety must be ensured by food packaging industries, and sustainable ways to extend shelf life and reduce food waste must be sought. These biopolymers could be used as films, coatings, and in a blended form in the food packaging industries. Active food packaging is a fascinating concept used in the food packaging sector for enhancing the shelf life and nutritional status of packed foodstuff. However, high cost and low thermal and mechanical properties of these biopolymers compared to that of conventional petroleum-based plastics restrict their use on a large scale. Blending these biopolymers with bioplastics as well as nanofillers enhances the mechanical properties, water barrier properties, and antimicrobial properties. Combining existing technologies of food packaging with advanced technologies, the large-scale production of biopolymers, and thorough toxicity study are the few aspects that need to be undertaken into consideration for the future development of these bio-based films in food packaging applications. This chapter explores the state of the art of bio-based polymers as food packaging material and highlights the functional properties of various bio-derived polymers used in the food packaging sector.