Chapter 8 - Algae-based bioplastics: Expanding algal polymers as materials for industrial applications

Abstract

Nowadays, plastic industries are responsible for a very high amount of plastic dispersed in aquatic environments and lands: tons of plastic waste are dispersed into oceans every year, causing global environmental pollution, and corrupt the right functioning of ecosystems. The growing necessity to decrease the use of petroleum-based plastic products led the research to look for new sources of raw material with the same characteristic of plasticizers, but biodegradable and not toxic for human health and the environment. Biodegradable and biobased polymers are in development and are emerging on the market. The current state of research regarding biodegradable materials is oriented toward the incorporation of seaweeds into the formulation of food or pharmaceutical packaging. Some seaweed-based packaging already developed possess optimal mechanical characteristics, such as petroleum-based plastics, such as tensile strength, elongation at break, thermic resistance, and water vapor permeability. Additionally, biological activities evidenced by seaweeds polysaccharides can led to the development of “active packaging,” where antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, photoprotection properties exhibited by algal polymers can minimize the spoiling of wrapped food or pharmaceuticals. Industrial production of seaweed-based packaging may reduce the rapid accumulation of plastic in environments and create a more sustainable approach toward food packaging, also giving health benefits to costumers. This chapter aims to display seaweeds and algal bioactive compounds involved in bioplastic production, with particular attention to the development of active packaging.