Eco-friendly Packaging Materials Research Articles

Bionanocomposites films applied as active and smart food packaging: A review

AbstractFood packaging is used worldwide and is a common technique for protecting food safety and quality while increasing shelf life. Environmental issues caused by using polymers in packaging derived from petroleum are becoming more significant and more well‐known. Interest in ecofriendly packaging materials made of renewable resources (biopolymers) has steadily increased, particularly for temporary and throw‐away packaging applications. However, biopolymers frequently have poor processability, poor mechanical, and poor barrier characteristics, restricting their industrial application and scalable manufacturing. Researchers have created bionanocomposites with improved packaging qualities like antibacterial function, mechanical toughness, optical clarity, and gas and water barrier properties to overcome these restrictions. This review seeks to inform readers about recent advances in active food packaging that use biopolymers and bionanocomposite materials. The difficulties and possibilities presented by such resources for the food packaging sector have been examined. This review is timely given the recent spike in interest in research projects both in academia and industry seeking to create a new group of materials for packaging based on biopolymer for food with potential uses elsewhere.

Corn starch nanocomposite films reinforced with nanocellulose

Abstract The need for flexible food packaging has increased substantially in recent years around the world due to the unprecedented growth in food consumption. Due to low cost and ease of processing, petroleum-based synthetic polymer packaging materials are being predominantly used for food packaging these days. To avoid contributing to environmental problems caused by ecological risks, consumers have been searching for alternatives to plastic food packaging due to the fact that plastics cannot be recycled and are not biodegradable. Therefore, bioplastics made from corn starch, which are biodegradable, can be one solution to these issues. The starch’s amylopectin and amylase composition has a significant impact on the polysaccharide’s characteristics. Corn starch (CS) is utilized as a food source for humans and other animals, but it also has many other applications in industry. Corn starch, on the other hand, has a few issues that need to be addressed through some modifications. Although starch-based packaging is expensive, they create less waste overall, which helps in the reduction amount of plastic pollution. A variety of natural and synthetic polymers – including polysaccharide-based materials like Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed, collagen, alginate, chitosan, zein, cellulose, gelatin, various amino acids and polymeric materials like acrylic acid, polybutylene (PB), polyacrylic acid, polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and polycaprolactone (PCL) – are used as starch modifiers to produce polymers with a starch base that are completely biodegradable. These biopolymers have the potential to replacing petroleum-based polymers in a variety of commercial and industrial settings. Besides, corn starch nanocomposite films reinforced with nanocellulose have been investigated as a potential eco-friendly packaging material. Consequently, the effects of nanocellulose content on the mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of corn starch-based films will be discussed in this work.

Advancements in Food Processing Technologies: Enhancing Safety, Quality, and Sustainability

Food processing technologies play a vital role in ensuring the safety, quality, and sustainability of the global food supply. This research investigates recent advancements in these technologies and their impact on food safety, product quality, and sustainability. Preservation techniques such as high-pressure processing, pulsed electric field processing, and hurdle technology are shown to enhance microbial safety while preserving nutrition and sensory attributes. Advanced thermal methods like microwave processing, ohmic heating, and radio frequency heating reduce processing time, energy consumption, and maintain product quality. Non-thermal technologies such as ultraviolet light, cold plasma, and ultrasound extend shelf life without compromising nutrition and sensory properties. Innovative packaging systems contribute to freshness, prolonged shelf life, and reduced food waste. The research emphasizes sustainable practices such as energy-efficient equipment, optimized water usage, waste reduction, and eco-friendly packaging materials. Adoption of advancements in food processing technologies can improve consumer confidence, reduce waste, and create a sustainable food supply chain. This research serves as a valuable resource for industry professionals, researchers, and policymakers seeking to implement innovative food processing technologies. Key Words: cutting-edge technologies, hurdle technology, ohmic heating, cold plasma technology

Bioplastic: The Future of Eco-friendly Packaging Materials

Bioplastic: The Future of Eco-friendly Packaging Materials

Physical Quality of Fast Sealing Dissolving Edible Films as Food Packaging Based Glucomannan and Gelatin

The edible film is an alternative that can be used as eco-friendly packaging material (biodegradable) as a plastic substitute. The material that can be used in making edible films is glucomannan, which can dissolve easily but is less elastic. The development of the necessary edibles that can be applied to foodstuffs requires a combination of ingredients that are easy to dissolve in water. These materials can be used derived from hydrocolloids or polysaccharides. The research to obtain edible film formulated glucomannan and gelatin with the best physical quality, fast sealing and fast dissolving. The research material used glucomannan and gelatin with different concentrations designed by 5 treatments and 3 replications consisting of T1: 0,5% gelatin, T2: 0.625% gelatin, T3: 0.75% gelatin, T4: 0,875 gelatin and T5: 1% gelatin. The variables tested were solubility, total soluble matter, swelling, water content, thickness, L*, a*, b* color, browning index and whiteness index. The research method was experimental, analyzed with Analysis of Variance using Completely Randomized Design and if there were differences continued using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The results showed highly significant differences (P<0.01) on swelling and thickness. The results showed significant differences (P<0.05) on total soluble matter, water content and L* color. However, there were no significant differences (P>0.05) on solubility, a* color, b* color, browning index and whiteness index. The results of the data based on physical quality consist of solubility ranging from 11.2-24.5%, total soluble matter 27.6-60.6%, swelling 3.49-7.75%, water content 11.5-12.15%, thickness 0.09-0.14 mm, L* color 91.3-92.5, a* color 0.78-1, b* color 1.52-2.81, browning index 2.23-3.7 and whiteness index 94.51-99.34. In conclusion, the use of edible films formulated with glucomannan and gelatin with a concentration of 0.5% produces the best physical quality, the resulting edible film has high solubility and is easy to seal.

Performance-enhanced regenerated cellulose film by adding grape seed extract

Eco-friendly packaging material with intelligent colorimetric performance has been a requirement for food safety and quality. This work focused on a food packaging material from regenerated cellulose films that added the grape seed extract (GSE) and polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG). FTIR and SEM techniques were employed to prove the compatibility of GSE with cellulose matrix. The composite film showed an enhanced elongation at break (16.61 %) and tensile strength (33.09 MPa). The addition of PEG and GSE also improved the water contact angle of regenerated-cellulose film from 53.8° to 83.8°. Moreover, the composite films exhibited UV-blocking properties while maintaining adequate transparency. The GSE induced the regenerated films with a macroscopic change in color under different pH conditions. Furthermore, the loading of GSE slowed down the decomposition of strawberries and delayed the self-biodegradation compared with the control for more than 3 days and 18 days. The present study showed a regenerated cellulose film with acceptable mechanical and hydrophilia properties, pH-responsiveness, anti-decomposition, and delayed biodegradation performances, indicating a potential color sensor in food packaging.

Bio-based and SO2-generating plastic liners to extend the shelf life of ‘Benitaka’ table grapes

This study evaluates a bio-based laser-perforated and recyclable SO2-generating liners, alone or in combination with ultra-fast SO2-generating before packaging, to extend the shelf life of ‘Benitaka’ table grapes (Vitis vinifera L.). Grape bunches were harvested from a commercial vineyard in Parana, southern Brazil, in 2020 and 2021, and packaged in clamshells organized in cardboard boxes (10 clamshells per box). Boxes were sealed with liners and were stored at 1.0 ± 1 °C and at 70–80% relative humidity. The presence of gray mold was assessed 30 d and 45 d after cold storage, and after 3 additional days at room temperature (22 ± 1 °C); bunch weight loss, stem browning, shattered berries, and bleaching were assessed. Bio-based and SO2-generating liners, in combination with ultra-fast SO2-generating pads applied before packaging ‘Benitaka’ table grapes, were effective in controlling the incidence of gray mold at 45 d of cold storage (< 0.4%) and at 3 d of room temperature (< 0.8%); this extended the shelf life of grapes, with low weight loss, fewer shattered berries, and the maintenance of stem freshness. The bio-based liner alone does not control gray mold effectively, but it has no adverse effect on the physicochemical qualities of ‘Benitaka’ grapes and is an eco-friendly packaging material. Using compostable bio-based or recyclable SO2-generating perforated plastic liners to control gray mold and other postharvest diseases may promote the near future use of sustainable materials in the food industry.

Jackfruit seed starch/tamarind kernel xyloglucan/zinc oxide nanoparticles-based composite films: Preparation, characterization, and application on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits

Agricultural by-products such as jackfruit seed starch (JSS) and tamarind kernel xyloglucan (XG) were extracted, characterized, and utilized to develop biodegradable food packaging materials. JSS/XG nanocomposite films were prepared by reinforcing with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs). The blending of JSS with XG reduces the hydrophilicity of the composite films and improves the material strength. The rheological tests indicate that ZNPs incorporation improved the apparent viscosity and dynamic moduli of the film-forming solutions. The ZNPs-loaded nanocomposites showed enhanced UV and water vapor barrier properties. The addition of ZNPs effectively transferred the stress to the interface and increased the mechanical properties. The stress relaxation study shows that ZNPs-incorporated films exhibited better resistance to stress relaxation and polymer chain breakage. The FTIR spectra revealed the formation of non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding between polymers and nanoparticles. The XRD results demonstrate that ZNPs incorporation increased the crystallinity of the nanocomposites. The SEM micrographs showed an increase in surface roughness and aggregates with the increase in ZNPs concentration. The increased glass transition and melting temperatures in the ZNPs-loaded films indicate enhanced thermal stability. The nanocomposite films demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . The prepared formulations were used to coat tomato fruits, which resulted in delayed quality loss and extended shelf-life. Therefore, the prepared JSS/XG/ZNPs nanocomposites are promising eco-friendly packaging materials that could be used to extend the shelf-life of food products. • Starch/xyloglucan/zinc oxide nanoparticles-based films were prepared. • The ZNPs incorporation improved the mechanical strength and water vapor barrier. • The ZNPs-loaded films showed increased crystallinity and enhanced thermal stability. • The JSS/XG/ZNP nanocomposites exhibited strong antimicrobial activity. • The nanocomposites-based coating reduced the weight and texture losses of tomatoes.

Effects of glycerol and sorbitol on a novel biodegradable edible film based on Malva sylvestris flower gum.

There has been an increasing interest in the investigation of novel eco-friendly packaging materials. An edible film based on Malva sylvestris flower gum was fabricated with 40%, 50%, and 60% glycerol and sorbitol using casting method. FTIR analysis was applied to identify the functional groups of films with different concentrations of plasticizers. The lightness of the samples did not affect upon increasing the sorbitol and glycerol; nevertheless, the samples tended to be green and yellow. SEM images indicated that glycerol-based films enjoy heterogeneous and porous surfaces compared to the sorbitol-based samples. Although Tensile Strength and Young's Modulus characteristics declined considerably (p< .05) upon plasticizer addition, elongation at break increased by more than 10% in glycerol-based samples. A significant (p< .05) decrement was observed in the density of film strips via the addition of glycerol and sorbitol. Moisture content of films incorporated with both plasticizers saw a considerable improvement (p< .05) upon increasing the plasticizer concentration from 40% to 60% and is ascribed to the water-holding capacity of plasticizers. Water contact angle and water solubility increased via plasticizer supplementation, which is attributed to the hydrophilic characteristic of glycerol and sorbitol, are in line with SEM analysis.

Amphiphilic chitosan/carboxymethyl gellan gum composite films enriched with mustard essential oil for mango preservation

In this paper, amphiphilic chitosan and carboxymethyl modified gellan gum were synthesized to develop an active edible fresh-keeping material. The optimal weight ratio of CMCS-g-CA/CMGG was determined as 5:2 through the characterization of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), mechanical and barrier properties of the composite films. In addition, the water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability of CMCS-g-CA/CMGG composite films incorporated with mustard essential oil were all declined, and the antibacterial property of the composite film solutions against E. coli, S. aureus and Bacillus anthracis was distinctly improved with the increase of mustard essential oil (MEO) dosage. Furthermore, the CMCS-g-CA/CMGG + 2.0 μL/mL MEO composite film exhibited an effective preservation on mango fruits during 20 days of storage based on the characterization of surface appearance and quality indexes of fruits. Hence, the multifunctional CMCA-g-CA/CMGG/MEO composite films can be served as a prospective eco-friendly packaging material for fruit preservation.

Bionanocomposite Active Packaging Material Based on Soy Protein Isolate/Persian Gum/Silver Nanoparticles; Fabrication and Characteristics

In this study, nanocomposite active films were fabricated containing silver nanoparticles (SNPs) embedded within soy protein isolate (SPI)/Persian gum (PG) matrices. The physical, mechanical, and antibacterial properties of these composite films were then characterized. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to provide information about the microstructure, interactions, and crystallinity of the films. Pure SPI films had poor physicochemical attributes but the addition of PG (0.25, 0.5, or 1 wt%) improved their water vapor permeability, mechanical properties, and water solubility (WS). The moisture content (MC) of the films decreased after the introduction of PG, which was attributed to fewer free hydroxyl groups to bind to the water molecules. Our results suggest there was a strong interaction between the SPI and the PG and SNPs in the films, suggesting these additives behaved like active fillers. Optimum film properties were obtained at 0.25% PG in the SPI films. The addition of PG (0.25%) and SNPs (1%) led to a considerable increase in tensile strength (TS) and a decrease in elongation at break (EB). Furthermore, the incorporation of the SNPs into the SPI/PG composite films increased their antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus), with the effects being more prominent for S. aureus. Spectroscopy analyses provided insights into the nature of the molecular interactions between the different components in the films. Overall, the biodegradable active films developed in this study may be suitable for utilization as eco-friendly packaging materials in the food industry.

Bio-based polyesters for Ecofriendly packaging materials

Bio-based polyesters for Ecofriendly packaging materials

Innovative natural antimicrobial natamycin incorporated titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2)/ poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) /poly (lactic acid) (PLA) biodegradable active film (NTP@PLA) and application in grape preservation

Poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)/polylactic acid (PLA) blended with compatibilizers (polycaprolactone, PCL; poly (ethylene glycol), PEG; titanium dioxide, nano-TiO2) (TP@PLA composites) were developed by melt processing. Natamycin incorporated into TP@PLA blend composites formed NTP@PLA films, which exhibited high tensile strength (24.1–43.5 MPa) and elongation at break (85.8–258.2 %), and exhibited good oxygen permeability, water vapor permeability, surface hydrophobicity and biodegradability. The in vitro results revealed that inhibition of Penicillium expansum cell growth of the NTP@PLA films with addition of 1.0 wt% natamycin reached 95.72 %. The NTP@PLA film with natamycin effectively reduced incidence of decay (1.52 %) on grapes, maintained their quality, and inhibited the growth of pathogenic fungi to up to 0.42 log cfu·g−1. This study generates new insights into the preservation properties of antimicrobial NTP@PLA film, which endow it with great application potential as a novel and eco-friendly packaging material for the food industry.

Biodegradable PLA-based Biocomposites with Spent Coffee Grounds as Degradation Accelerator : Hydrolytic Degradation and Characterization Research

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of spent coffee grounds (SCG) biofiller on the morphological, thermal, mechanical and hydrolytic degradation characteristics of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) based biocomposites. The PLA-based biocomposite films were fabricated by using a high-viscosity kneading and hot-pressing machine. The PLA/SCG biocomposites were analyzed with SEM, DSC, TGA, UTM and hydrolytic degradation test. Aggregation in the PLA matrix is a result of increasing SCG concentrations. In the thermal properties, it was described that the cold crystallization temperature (Tcc) decreased as SCG was added to PLA. When SCG was incorporated to PLA, the degradation onset temperature (Tonset) revealed a diminish. The elastic modulus increased while tensile strength of PLA diminished as SCG was applied. Through hydrolysis analysis, the decomposition of PLA was accelerated with the addition of SCG. This research confirmed the possibility of devloping an eco-friendly packaging material with high degradability as SCG hasten the breakdown of PLA.

Nonwoven viscose fabric‐polyvinyl alcohol based flexible composite

AbstractDevelopment of ecofriendly packaging materials is still a challenging area. Researchers are continuously working to improve the mechanical and barrier properties of the different polymers which are used in the packaging industry. Selection of reinforcement and matrix for any composite are based upon end use applications. The novelty of the work is development of fully biodegradable, flexible, lightweight biocomposite by reinforcing needle punched flexible nonwoven viscose fabric to the PVA solution. The effect of PVA concentration and areal density of viscose fabric on the properties of prepared composite is examined. The composite thus prepared is assessed in terms of mechanical, thermal, breathability, and UV blocking properties. The nonwoven viscose‐PVA composite shows excellent improvement in tensile strength of 100% to 300% with respect to PVA film of equivalent concentration for two different areal densities of viscose fabric. The composite also exhibits improved thermal stability and UV blocking property with respect to parent components. However, a reduction in flexibility (with respect to PVA film) as well as breathability (with respect to viscose fabric) of the composite is observed. Based upon the improved performance of the viscose‐PVA composite in terms of mechanical properties, UV and water vapor permeability, it seems that the composite has a strong potential for application in the packaging sector as a flexible as well as biodegradable composite.

Preparation of green film with improved physicochemical properties and enhanced antimicrobial activity using ingredients from cassava peel, bamboo leaf and rosemary leaf

Persistent petroleum based plastic polymers are posing a threat to the environment and human health. Hence, preparation of eco-friendly packaging materials from natural sources is innovative idea to replace persistent plastic films. However, biodegradable films from biomass absorb water that can promote bacterial growth and affect lifetime of film as well as the packed products. In this work, new biodegradable film with improved antimicrobial activity, physicochemical property and less water absorbing and holding property is prepared from modified blend of cassava peel starch (CPS), silica nanoparticle (SNP), glycerol plus rosemary essential oil (REO). The mixture (blend) of CPS, SNPs and glycerol in measured amount of distilled water was treated with acetic anhydride to reduce hydrophilic nature of the blend before adding REO. The content of SNPs in the biofilm was optimized by varying the concentration of SNPs (0.2–0.8%; w/w) keeping other factors constant. Based on the characterization results, the physicochemical property of the biofilms was dependent on the content of SNPs and the best result (film) has been found with 0.6% SNPs which was considered as optimum amount for further experiments. The film prepared from modified blend with 0.6% SNP had shown low water absorption, low water vapor transition rate, improved thermal stability, and less biodegradability. Based on the image from profilometer, the modified blend had shown better homogeneity with REO than unmodified blend and the film with REO had shown better antimicrobial activity as compared to the film without REO (control). The antimicrobial activity of the film with REO was also compared with reference (gentamicin) and its activity was comparable and promising. In general, the prepared film had shown improved physicochemical properties and enhanced antimicrobial activity.

Role of rubrene additive for reinforcing the structural, optical, and dispersion properties of polyvinyl alcohol films towards optoelectronic applications

A conventional casting method was used to produce promoted polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films via rubrene additive. The 1.2 g of PVA dissolved in 120 ml of distilled water and doped with various concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.4 wt%) of rubrene dye. The influence of rubrene dopants on the structural properties of PVA was studied using FTIR and XRD techniques. The semicrystalline nature of the PVA polymer was established by the XRD pattern. FT-IR analysis shows changes in peaks intensities of PVA and their widths are expanded in the presence of rubrene dopants which indicates the interactions between the functional groups of PVA and the rubrene dopants. XRD patterns exhibit the existence of rubrene inside the PVA structure leads to form cross-linking which enhances the amorphous nature within the doped PVA samples. The optical characteristics were investigated using spectrophotometric measurements of transmittance T(λ), reflectance R(λ), and absorbance A(λ) in the spectral range of 200–2500 nm. The indirect and direct optical band-gap values of PVA films decreased from 5.15 eV and 5.69 eV to 3.63 eV and 4.50 eV as rubrene doping ratio was increased from 0 to 0.4 wt%, respectively. The refractive index dispersion region was explained using the single oscillator (Wemple–DiDomenico) model. The extracted values of dispersion energy (Ed), dielectric constant at infinite frequency (ε∞) and lattice dielectric constant (εL) of PVA/rubrene composite films increased from 0.74 eV, 1.31 and 1.35 to 5.35 eV, 3.47 and 4.35; respectively, whereas oscillator energy (Eo) decreased from 2.41eV to 2.17 eV as rubrene contents increased from 0 to 0.4 wt%, respectively. Indeed, these changes in values of dispersion parameters is evidence to the cross-linking bonds between the host polymer and the rubrene dopants. The improvement of optical properties of PVA/rubrene films demonstrates their applicability as eco-friendly packaging materials, particularly in flexible optoelectronic and microelectronic devices.

해조류 바이오매스로부터 Lactic acid를 제조하는 방법에 관한 연구

With the spread of COVID-19 worldwide, non-face-to-face services have grown rapidly, but at the same time, the problem of plastic waste is getting worse. Accordingly, eco-friendly policies such as carbon neutrality and sustainable circular economy are being promoted worldwide. Due to the high demand for eco-friendly products, the packaging industry is trying to develop eco-friendly packaging materials using PLA and PBAT and create new business models. On the other hand, Ulva australis occurs in large quantities in the southern seas of Korea and off the coast of Jeju Island, causing marine environmental problems. In this study, lactic acid was produced through dilute acid pretreatment, enzymatic saccharification, and fermentation processes to utilize Ulva australis as a new alternative energy raw material. In general, seaweeds vary in carbohydrate content and sugar composition depending on the species, harvest location, and time. Seaweed is mainly composed of polysaccharides such as cellulose, alginate, mannan, and xylan, but does not contain lignin. It is difficult to expect high extraction yield of the complex polysaccharide constituting Ulva australis with only one process. However, the fusion process of dilute acid and enzymatic saccharification presented in this study can extract most of the sugars contained in Ulva australis. Therefore, the fusion process is considered to be able to expect high lactic acid production yield when a commercial-scale production process is established.

Selective Localization of Nanofiller on Mechanical Properties of Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Nanocomposites via the Surface Energy and Melt Blending Technique

The dispersion and localization of nanofillers at the interface in immiscible polymer blends to prevent phase separation and voids are the most important factors for fabricating nanocomposites with outstanding mechanical properties. However, these factors are limited to conventional industrial applications, such as melt blending and extrusion due to the aggregation/agglomeration of the nanofillers during processing. Here, the effects of the melt blending technique and nanofiller surface energy on dispersion and selective localization of the nanofillers in poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) nanocomposite were studied. Consequently, we confirmed that the localization of modified silica (m-SiO2) in the nanocomposite could be determined by controlling the PBAT mixing time. Furthermore, the m-SiO2, located at the PLA/PBAT interface with modified cellulose nanofiber, improved the morphology of the PLA/PBAT nanocomposites, thereby significantly improving the tensile strength and elongation at break by approximately 7% and 16%, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate a novel approach to control the dispersion and localization of nanofillers in immiscible polymer blends, thereby paving a new possibility to fabricate eco-friendly packaging materials industrially.

Perceiving and believing The subjective persuasiveness of graphic design elements and eco-friendly packaging materials on consumers' environmental consciousness

To foster environmentally responsible consumption, it is essential to understand how packaging elements guide consumers in evaluating the environmental-friendliness of a product, particularly information from non-verbal, executional packaging design elements that are elusive and not related to the product's actual environmental-friendliness. We used a 2 × 2 experimental design to investigate how participants (N = 276) inferred differences in a product's environmental-friendliness and greenwashing tendency by taking their environmental consciousness (EC) into account and using two important non-verbal packaging design elements. The results showed no difference in the information utility but rather in the credibility of the design elements, which guided the evaluation of product environmental-friendliness. Participants with high EC (HEC) focused on the type of material, while graphic design elements signalled a strong greenwashing tendency. Participants with low EC (LEC) considered both graphic and material elements, with a tendency towards graphics highlighting. Further effects and practical implications of the results are discussed.