Abstract
Initiatives to reduce plastic waste are currently under development worldwide. As a part of it, the European Union and private and public organizations in several countries are designing and implementing regulations for single-use plastics. For example, by 2030, plastic packaging and food containers must be reusable or recyclable. In another approach, researchers are developing biopolymers using biodegradable thermoplastics, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), to replace fossil derivatives. However, their production capacity, high production costs, and poor mechanical properties hinder the usability of these biopolymers. To overcome these limitations, biomaterials reinforced with natural fibers are acquiring more relevance as the world of bioplastics production is increasing. This review presents an overview of PHA–vegetal fiber composites, the effects of the fiber type, and the production method’s impact on the mechanical, thermal, barrier properties, and biodegradability, all relevant for biopackaging. To acknowledge the behaviors and trends of the biomaterials reinforcement field, we searched for granted patents focusing on bio-packaging applications and gained insight into current industry developments and contributions.
Highlights
In 2020, the European Parliament approved a strategy for a circular economy in plastics
The Commission proposal urged to ensure that by 2030 all plastic packaging placed in the European Union (EU) market will be reusable and recyclable in a cost-effective manner, improving the design and collection process and reducing single-use plastic, restricting the use of oxo-degradable products, and defining rules for labeling compostable and biodegradable plastics
The first heating process has the objective to erase the thermal history of the polymer matrix and remove moisture because water acts as a plasticizer and modifies the properties of the polymers, and the second cycle identifies melting and crystallinity temperature, and, in heating (Tm1) and the second cycle (Tm2) due to perfect crystal formation because more giant and more ordered crystals need more energy to melt again [51,84]
Summary
In 2020, the European Parliament approved a strategy for a circular economy in plastics. The Commission proposal urged to ensure that by 2030 all plastic packaging placed in the European Union (EU) market will be reusable and recyclable in a cost-effective manner, improving the design and collection process and reducing single-use plastic, restricting the use of oxo-degradable products, and defining rules for labeling compostable and biodegradable plastics. Examples include low-density polyethylene and polypropylene films combined with metal oxides (Fe2O3, CuxO, and ZnO) [5–7] Several international organizations such as the Nations Convention on the Law of Seas (UNCLOS) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have contributed strategies for preventing, reducing, and controlling pollution from land-based sources, waste from vessels, pollution from the exploitation process, and marine plastic litter from ships [8,9]. Biopackaging, in eco-conscious packaging, is any biodegradable packaging conceived for sustainability It involves natural and synthetic biodegradable polymers, called biopolymers, that can include by-products of the agro-industry, such as fibers and inorganic or bioactive compounds, to be more respectful to the environment. This review aimed to analyze the composites made with PHAs and natural fibers as a realistic alternative for biopackaging
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