Production and Characteristics of Composite Edible Films Based on Polysaccharides and Proteins

Abstract

The use of plastic materials as food packaging materials has caused environmental problems, namely the accumulation of plastic waste. The presence of innovation in making food packaging with organic materials in the form of edible films can minimize plastic waste because organic materials can be degraded by decomposing microbes in a relatively short time. This review examines the production and characteristics of composite edible films based on polysaccharides and proteins. Several characteristics of the material that this film must meet, such as resistance to water and evaporation, are the standards that must be met for edible films. Starch-based materials are still too brittle to be the base material for making films because the hydrophilic nature of starch makes it easy to dissolve in water. The functional properties of starch need to be improved, including mixing it with other ingredients such as proteins, plasticizers, and essential oils in formulations. The mixing of these ingredients can form a formulation that forms an edible film with characteristics suitable for various food products.