Multifunctional Packaging Research Articles

Vanillin cross-linked chitosan/gelatin bio-polymer film with antioxidant, water resistance and ultraviolet-proof properties

Cross-linking is the most promising method for preparing high-performance chitosan/gelatin bio-polymer film. In this work, vanillin cross-linked chitosan/gelatin bio-polymer (CGGV) film with good mechanics, water resistance, antioxidant and ultraviolet-proof property was prepared. The micro-structure, physical and functional properties of CGGV film were studied. Results showed that vanillin as a cross-linking agent provided a compact inner micro-structure through Schiff base and hydrogen bond interaction. Moderate cross-linking significantly improved mechanical strength, thermal ability, hydrophobicity of the films and reduced the water vapor permeability, swelling ratio and water solubility. Especially, CGGV films showed stronger ultraviolet-proof properties and possessed potent radical scavenging activity. Therefore, CGGV film is suitable to protect per-mature fruits and could be used as novel multifunctional packaging in the agriculture and foods industry.

Carrageenan-based multifunctional packaging films containing Zn-carbon dots/anthocyanin derived from Kohlrabi peel for monitoring quality and extending the shelf life of shrimps

Carrageenan-based active/intelligent packaging films containing anthocyanin and ZnO-doped CD (Zn-CD) from purple Kohlrabi peels were prepared for freshness monitoring and shelf-life extension of shrimp, and the influence of additives on the films' physical, functional, and structural properties was investigated. The films showed excellent UV blocking ability (85.2% of UV-A and 99.4% of UV-B) and high antioxidant effect (∼99% for ABTS and ∼ 58.6% for DPPH radical scavenging activity) and showed strong antibacterial activity to stop the growth (100%) of L. monocytogenes and to reduce the growth of E. coli by 8.1 log CFU/mL after 12 h of incubation. In shrimp packaging experiments, the films were evident in the freshness monitoring, reduced spoilage, and increased shelf life. This study suggests that next-generation biopolymer films impregnated with biomass-derived CDs and natural colorants will provide broad directions for ensuring safety and extending shelf life to meet the accelerating demand for packaging products.

Developing a pachyman/polyvinyl alcohol-polylactic acid bilayer film as multifunctional packaging and its application in cherry tomato preservation

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a widely used biodegradable material, but its high solubility and water vapor permeability limit its applications in food packaging. To address this issue, bilayer films were developed based on the combination of blending and coating techniques in the study, which consisted of an inner pachyman (PM)/PVA blend layer and an outer polylactic acid (PLA) layer. Blending PVA with PM reduced the solubility and oxygen permeability of the film, and the blend matrix showed rapid self-healing capabilities. Loading of a thin PLA shell onto the PM/PVA layer improved the water resistance, tensile strength, stiffness and water vapor barrier of the developed bilayer films. The best overall performance of the bilayer film was achieved using 40 g/L PLA as the film-forming solution. Infrared spectroscopic and microscopic structure analysis revealed weak interfacial interaction of the bilayer film. Furthermore, this bilayer film showed a better preservation effect on cherry tomatoes compared with PVA, polyethylene, and PM/PVA films. The physicochemical quality of fruits could be effectively preserved for at least 10 days under ambient environment. It is anticipated that the bilayer film developed here serves as a promising candidate for food packaging materials to extend the shelf life.

Visible light-responsive chitosan/sodium alginate/QDs@ZIF-8 nanocomposite films with antibacterial and ethylene scavenging performance for kiwifruit preservation

The deterioration of postharvest fruits and vegetables caused by ethylene and microorganisms leads to global resource waste. Therefore, the development of multifunctional packaging materials that scavenge ethylene and inhibit microorganisms is essential to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables and minimize waste. Herein, the excellent photocatalytic performance of QDs@ZIF-8 nanoparticles (NPs) was incorporated into chitosan (CS) and sodium alginate (SA) matrix by layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly method to obtain CS/SA/QDs@ZIF-8 nanocomposite films. These as-prepared films exhibited excellent antibacterial (antibacterial ratio >99%) and ethylene scavenging properties (scavenging ratio >40%) due to the synergistic effect between visible light-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the higher specific surface area of ZIF-8. The extended shelf life of kiwifruit further confirmed the enhanced preservation performance of CS/SA/QDs@ZIF-8 nanocomposite films. In addition, with the addition of QDs@ZIF-8 NPs, the color, and transparency of the films decreased, but the mechanical strength, thermal stability, hydrophobicity, and barrier properties were improved. In summary, the successful construction of ethylene scavenging and antibacterial films provides new ideas for the innovation of environmentally adaptive and functionalization of films.

Preparation of chitosan/gelatin-based functional films integrated with carbon dots from banana peel for active packaging application

Carbon dots (CDs) were manufactured with banana peels using a hydrothermal method (200 °C for 6 h). The synthesized CDs were spherical particles with a size of 1–3 nm having carboxyl groups and amine groups on the surface. CDs have been impregnated into chitosan/gelatin films to synthesize multifunctional packaging films. The composite film showed a slight decrease in transparency but a significant increase in UV protection properties. The fabricated film displayed strong antioxidant efficacy showing >74 % DPPH and 99 % ABTS radical scavenging potential. The film also unveiled substantial antibacterial activity against the foodborne pathogenic bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes, fully eliminating the growth of these bacteria within 6 h of exposure. The chitosan/gelatin film containing CD was used for minced meat packaging, and the film delayed bacterial growth (< 1 Log CFU/g after 24 h) and maintained the meat color even after 24 h of storage at 20 °C. The CD-added chitosan/gelatin functional film has a high probability of application in active food packaging, especially for extending the shelf life of packaged meat and maintaining its aesthetic quality.

Development of antioxidant and smart NH3 -sensing packaging film by incorporating bilirubin into κ-carrageenan matrix.

Active and smart food packaging based on natural polymers and pH-sensitive dyes as indicators has attracted widespread attention. In the present study, an antioxidant and amine-response color indicator film was developed by incorporating bilirubin (BIL) into the κ-carrageenan (Carr) matrix. It was found that the introduction of BIL had no effect on the crystal/chemical structure, water sensitivity and mechanical performance of the Carr-based films. However, the barrier properties to light and the thermal stability were significantly improved after the addition BIL. The Carr/BIL composite films exhibited excellent 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (i.e. DPPH)/2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (i.e. ABTS) free radical scavenging abilities and color responsiveness to different concentrations of ammonia. The application assay reflected that the Carr/BIL0.0075 film was effective in delaying the oxidative deterioration of shrimp during storage and realizing the color response of its freshness through the change of b* value. Active and smart packaging films were successfully prepared by incorporating different contents of BIL into the Carr matrix. The present study helps to further encourage the design and development of a multi-functional packaging material. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dynamically crosslinked chitosan/cellulose nanofiber-based films integrated with γ-cyclodextrin/curcumin inclusion complex as multifunctional packaging materials for perishable fruit

Robust biomass-derived packaging films with excellent antimicrobial and antioxidative properties are highly desired for preservation of the perishable fruit. However, most reported packaging films rely on introducing artificial antibacterial and antioxidant agents and their abuse could cause severe safety and environmental issues. To address these drawbacks, herein, we developed a dynamically crosslinked chitosan/cellulose nanofiber-based packaging film integrated with γ-cyclodextrin/curcumin inclusion complex where curcumin is an edible natural photosensitizer with excellent photodynamic antimicrobial and antioxidative properties. The resulting composite packaging material can be easily applied as conformal coating or package film on different types of perishable fruits. Adopting banana, tomato and cut apple slices as representative examples, we demonstrate that this material can effectively extend their shelf life by reducing microbial invasion, water loss and oxidation thanks to its excellent photodynamic antimicrobial and antioxidative properties. This work provides a promising strategy to develop sustainable, low-cost and environmentally friendly packaging materials from readily available biodegradable biomass sources to extend the shelf life of perishable produce.

Chitosan/gelatin-based multifunctional film integrated with green tea carbon dots to extend the shelf life of pork

A multifunctional packaging film for extending the shelf life of minced pork was developed by integrating green tea-derived carbon dots (GT-CD) into a chitosan/gelatin (Ch/Gel) polymer blend. The effects of different amounts of GT-CD on the films' antibacterial, antioxidant, and other physicochemical characteristics were investigated. The Ch/Gel film with 3 wt% GT-CD showed high antioxidant activity (99.2% for ABTS and 63.87% for DPPH) and strong antibacterial action (100% eradicating E. coli and L. monocytogenes within 3 h) without significant changes in their film characteristic such as the water vapor permeability. In addition, the prepared film showed excellent UV-blocking properties (∼90.23% of UV-A, 99.65% of UV-B). When packaged with the functional film, the pork showed reduced bacterial growth (less than 1 Log CFU/g after 24 h) and preserved the meat color even when stored at 20 °C for 24 h. The GT-CD-added Ch/Gel-based films with excellent functional properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and UV-barrier properties have a strong probability for active food packaging, particularly for extending shelf life and preserving the visual quality of packaged meat.

Cellulose nanofiber-based multifunctional films integrated with carbon dots and anthocyanins from Brassica oleracea for active and intelligent food packaging applications

A new generation of carbon dot-based active and intelligent packaging films with UV blocking, antibacterial, and real-time sensing potentials was fabricated using Brassica oleracea (BO) extract. The cellulose nanofiber (CNF) was used to prepare the multifunctional intelligent nanocomposite film integrated with BO anthocyanins (BOA) and BO-biowaste-derived carbon dots (BO-CDs). The incorporation of 1.5 % BO-CD and 6 % BOA in the CNF matrix improved the physicochemical and UV blocking (>189 % increase) properties of the fabricated films. The synthesized BO-CD exhibits high fluorescence, UV absorption, antibacterial and antioxidant functions. It showed strong radical scavenging activity against ABTS (~90 %) and DPPH (~80 %) compared to the neat CNF film. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) have shown enhanced compatibility and elemental composition of the BO-CDs/BOA additives in the CNF-polymer matrix. Packaging tests showed that the prepared film worked efficiently and non-destructively and was able to monitor the freshness of minced pork, fish, and shrimp in real-time through a distinct visual change from red to colorless/yellow during storage at 25 °C for 48 h. Active and intelligent films developed based on CNF/BO-CDs/BOA are expected to be applied as multifunctional packaging materials that can indicate quality changes and extend the shelf life of packaged perishable foods.

Gelatin/poly(vinyl alcohol)-based functional films integrated with spent coffee ground-derived carbon dots and grapefruit seed extract for active packaging application

Nanoparticles are attractive, functional additives with great potential to be applied in biomaterial and food packaging. However, these particles are not soluble in water, thus limiting their widespread application. Here, we report a facile fabrication of carbon dots (CDs) using the spent coffee ground as the carbon source through a hydrothermal method. The CD was added to the gelatin/poly(vinyl alcohol) (Gel/PVA) film and grapefruit seed extract (GSE) to prepare multifunctional packaging films. The functional films' physiochemical and functional properties and packaging application were investigated. The composite film showed good UV protection properties with a slight decrease in transparency. The composite film containing CD/GSE showed strong antioxidant activity, scavenging >38 % DPPH and 100 % ABTS radicals. The film also exhibited significant antibacterial activity against the foodborne pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli, completely eradicating the growth of these bacteria within 9 h of exposure. The CD/GSE-incorporated Gel/PVA films were used for pork packaging. The films were able to enhance the pork shelf life by reducing the L. monocytogenes bacterial growth in meat by 2 Log CFU/mL lower than the control wrapping film. The multifunctional Gel/PVA films are expected to be used for the active packaging of meat products.

Active Biohybrid Nanocomposite Films Made from Chitosan, ZnO Nanoparticles, and Stearic Acid: Optimization Study to Develop Antibacterial Films for Food Packaging Application.

Chitosan is a biopolymer with great potential as food packaging due to its ability to create a film without additives and its better mechanical and antibacterial qualities compared to other biopolymers. However, chitosan film still has limitations due to its high moisture sensitivity and limited flexibility. Incorporating ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and stearic acid (SA) into chitosan films was expected to improve tensile strength, water vapor barrier, and antibacterial capabilities. This study aims to find the optimal formula for biohybrid nanocomposite films composed of chitosan, ZnO-NPs, and SA. The full factorial design approach-4 × 2 with 3 replicates, i.e., two independent variables, namely %ZnO-NPs at 4 levels (0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 3%, w/w) and %SA at 2 levels (0% and 5%, w/w)-was utilized to optimize chitosan-based biohybrid nanocomposite films, with the primary interests being antibacterial activities, water vapor barrier, and tensile strength. The incorporation of ZnO-NPs into chitosan films could increase antibacterial activity, while SA decreased it. The addition of SA had a good effect only in decreasing water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) values but a detrimental effect on other film properties mentioned above. The incorporation of ZnO-NPs enhanced all functional packaging properties of interest. The suggested solution of the optimization study has been validated. As a result, the formula with the inclusion of 1% ZnO-NPs without SA is optimal for the fabrication of active antibacterial films with excellent multifunctional packaging capabilities.

Development of multifunctional packaging films based on arginine-modified chitosan/gelatin matrix and betacyanins from weed amaranth (A. hybridus)

Active and intelligent films with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and pH-responsive properties were developed by incorporating betacyanins-rich weed amaranth (A. hybridus) extract (AE) into chitosan/gelatin (Cs/Gn) and arginine-modified chitosan/gelatin (MCs/Gn) blend films. The microstructures, physical and functional properties of Cs/Gn, MCs/Gn, Cs/Gn-AE, and MCs/Gn-AE films were compared. Results showed the addition of AE into MCs/Gn film produced a compact inner microstructure through H-bonding and electrostatic interactions. Meanwhile, AE remarkably changed the colors of the film under alkaline pH mediums. However, AE significantly reduced the water vapor permeability of the films. By comparing different films, MCs/Gn-AE film presented the best UV–vis light and barrier ability as well as the highest mechanical strength. Moreover, MCs/Gn and MCs/Gn-AE films showed stronger microbial growth inhibition than Cs/Gn and Cs/Gn-AE films. Cs/Gn-AE and MCs/Gn-AE films possessed more potent free radical scavenging activity than Cs/Gn and MCs/Gn. Notably, MCs/Gn-AE film is suitable to monitor fish freshness and could be used as novel multifunctional packaging in the seafood industry.

Lotus leaf inspired sustainable and multifunctional Janus film for food packaging

Multifunctional and sustainable packaging materials applicable to changeable conditions are in high demand as alternatives to petroleum-based polymers. Soybean polysaccharides (SPS) with remarkable antioxidation and film-formation properties are great candidates for sustainable packaging materials. However, the poor water resistance and mechanical properties of SPS hinder their further application. Inspired by the Janus properties of lotus leaf, we developed asymmetric multifunctional packaging films by addressing the problems of SPS while keeping their merits. Specifically, SPS-stabilized silver nanoparticles were incorporated with gelatin and wax to enhance the mechanical properties and water tolerance of the resulting film. Moreover, hierarchical micro-/nano-structures consisting of carnauba wax were feasibly fabricated on one side of the film, resembling the natural front lotus leaf. This Janus film has outstanding water resistance, outperforming all other SPS-based materials reported to date. In addition, the excellent antibacterial activity (>95 % against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus), antioxidation properties (2-fold enhancements), and UV-blocking performance (∼100 % at 200–400 nm) were well retained. By virtue of these multifunctional properties, the resulting film has been successfully applied in food packaging, as evidenced by meat and fruit preservation experiments. This biomimetic strategy provides a reference for the fabrication of sustainable high-performance food packaging.

Chitosan quaternary ammonium salt/gelatin-based biopolymer film with multifunctional preservation for perishable products

The postharvest physiological and metabolic activities caused fruits and vegetables (F&V) quality deterioration. Therefore, developing an efficient preservation strategy is a promising approach to relieve this issue. In this study, a modified metal-organic framework (MOF; i.e., Cer@MHKUST-1) was encapsulated into a blended matrix of chitosan quaternary ammonium salt (CQAS)/gelatin to fabricate a multifunctional (water-locking, ethylene-removing, and antibacterial) packaging biopolymer-based film (i.e., CMCGF), the characteristics and preservative effects of the packaging were investigated. Results indicated that the physicochemical (e.g., mechanical, gas/light barrier, wettability) properties of CMCGF were improved compared with the control film (i.e., CGF). CMCGF have a higher ethylene adsorption performance of 65–69 cm3/g STP compared with CGF (7.8 cm3/g STP). Cu ions released from CMCGF destroyed the cell wall and membrane, resulting in the death of bacteria, and the antibacterial efficiency of CMCGF against E. coli and S. aureus was 97–100 % and 98–100 %, respectively. Postharvest storage experiments on tomato and winter jujube confirmed the high-efficiency preservation effect of CMCGF packaging. Therefore, CMCGF provides a multifunctional approach to extending the shelf-life of perishable products to decrease food wastage.

Antimicrobial and antioxidant AIE chitosan-based films incorporating a Pickering emulsion of lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) essential oil

Films based on chitosan (CS) and Lemon Myrtle ( Backhousia citriodora ) essential oil (LEO) were prepared that exhibited novel dose-dependent fluorescent patterns owing to aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effects. Specifically, chitosan-coated alkali lignin (CS@AL) colloid particles were obtained by a facile one-pot ultrasonication, and were used to prepare LEO-loaded Pickering emulsions (CS@ALPE). Different amounts of CS@ALPE were incorporated into CS-based film-forming solutions. The composite (CS@ALPE-CS) films contained LEO/CS (w/w) ratios around 0%, 5.9%, 14.8%, 29.6% and 59.2% after solution casting. The microstructures, optical properties, water affinity, mechanical attributes, fluorescent characteristics, as well as antimicrobial and antioxidant efficacies of CS@ALPE-CS films were assessed for multifunctional food packaging. 0.5% (w/v) of CS@AL particles (pH ∼4.3 to 4.6) enabled stabilization of CS@ALPE (φ = 0.4) for at least 35 days. Adding CS@ALPE with appropriate LEO/CS (w/w) ratios modified the properties of the composite films. The 0.5CS@ALPE-CS film (with LEO/CS (w/w) around 29.6%) was the most promising candidate for multifunctional packaging considering its optimal optical properties, resistance to moisture and mechanical stress, characteristic fluorescent attributes along with antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. A schematic illustration of a dose-dependent AIE fluorescence pattern correlating to the relative contents of CS@ALPE to CS within CS@ALPE-CS films. • Emulsions of lemon myrtle essential oil stabilized by chitosan-coated lignin. • Facile one-pot scheme for chitosan-based films incorporating the essential oil. • Films with improved UV-shielding, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. • Reactions between chitosan and essential oil yielded Schiff base products. • Correlations between fluorescence emission spectra and essential oil content.

Development of Pomegranate Peel Extract and Nano ZnO Co-Reinforced Polylactic Acid Film for Active Food Packaging.

The multifunctional packaging used for fresh food, such as antioxidant and antimicrobial packaging, can reduce food waste. In this work, a polylactic acid (PLA)-based composite film with antioxidant and antibacterial properties was prepared by using nano-zinc oxide (ZnONPs) and pomegranate peel extract (PEE) via the solvent-casting method. Different amounts of PEE (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 wt%) and 3 wt% ZnONPs were added to PLA to produce the active films. The results of various characterizations (SEM, XRD, etc.) showed that ZnONPs and PEE were uniformly dispersed in PLA film. Compared to PLA films, the PLA/ZnONPs/PEE films showed an increased UV barrier, water vapor permeability and elongation at break, and decreased transparency and tensile strength. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the composite film was evaluated based on DPPH and ABTS. The maximum DPPH and ABTS scavenging activities of PLA/ZnONPs/PEE were 96.2 ± 0.8% and 93.1 ± 0.5%. After 24 h, PLA/ZnONPs/PEE composite film inhibited 1.4 ± 0.05 Log CFU/mL of S. aureus and 8.2 ± 0.35 Log CFU/mL of E. coli, compared with the blank group. The results showed that PLA/ZnONPs/PEE composite film had good antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Therefore, the composite film showed great potential for food packaging.

Triple-layer composite nanofiber pad with directional liquid absorption and controlled-release chlorine dioxide for postharvest preservation

Microbial infection, juice overflow, and water condensation from respiration and transpiration can cause premature spoilage of fresh produce. Here, a cellulose acetate/polyvinyl alcohol-g-polyacrylic acid/polyurethane (CA/PVA-g-PAA/PU) triple-layer nanofiber pad loaded with sodium chlorite and citric acid was prepared by electrospinning technique and thermal crosslinking, which possessed excellent liquid transfer, absorption, barrier, and antimicrobial properties. Depending on the wettability difference between the CA transfer layer and PVA-g-PAA absorbent layer, this pad could directionally transfer and absorb produce-generated liquid, preventing fresh produce from being wetted. Meanwhile, the PU barrier layer protected the paper packaging from being soaked. More importantly, absorbed liquid activated the reaction between sodium chlorite and citric acid for moisture-controlled releasing chlorine dioxide, thus inhibiting Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Aspergillus niger. In addition, the pad showed desirable biocompatibility, fresh-keeping effect, and sensory influence. Therefore, the antimicrobial absorbent pad with three functional layers provided an innovative strategy for designing multifunctional packaging.

One stone two birds: Multifunctional flavonol nanocrystals enable food packaging to both preserve freshness and visually monitor freshness

Food packaging with both active and intelligent components is critical for reducing food waste and ensuring food safety. However, concerns about the toxicity of components or detecting results prevent their commercialization. Herein, we report three flavonol nanocrystals with aggregation-induced emission characteristics that have been individually composited with a flexible film to form three multifunctional food packaging systems. The nanocrystals are derived from quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol, respectively; they all exhibit antibacterial properties, antioxidant abilities, and alkaline pH sensitivities in both colorimetric and fluorescent modes. Among them, myricetin nanocrystals with more phenolic hydroxyl groups are the most sensitive to alkalinity. Hemolysis and acute oral toxicity tests ensure their biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. Just incorporating any one of the prepared nanocrystals into packaging can simultaneously extend the shelf life of bananas and provide dual-mode monitoring of shrimp freshness. Moreover, the addition of these nanocrystals can improve the mechanical, water vapor barrier, and thermal performances of packaging. This work demonstrates that the design of natural-derived nanocrystals as both active and intelligent components offers an opportunity to construct multifunctional packaging systems toward simultaneously food preservation and freshness monitoring.

Chitosan-cinnamon essential oil/sodium alginate-TiO2 bilayer films with enhanced bioactive retention property: Application for mango preservation

The bilayer anti-ultraviolet preservation films were developed successfully by incorporating the cinnamon essential oil (CEO) to chitosan (CH) as the bioactive layer, and incorporating the TiO2 to sodium alginate (SA) as the protective layer. The addition of CEO improved the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of the films. The addition of TiO2 enhanced the bioactive retention property of the films. Remarkably, CS-0.6 film had better water vapor permeability (WVP) and mechanical properties, but CS-1.2 film had better antioxidant and antibacterial properties. After 10 d of storage, the CS-0.6 group of mangoes maintained the highest firmness of 17.62 ± 0.85 N and the highest total phenol content of 254.40 ± 4.14 mg/100 g. It also had the lowest lipoxygenase activity of 5.00 ± 1.66 10−3 U/kg. The obtained research results revealed that the developed CH/SA based bilayer film incorporated with CEO and TiO2 could be used as a multifunctional packaging material to maintain the freshness of harvested mangoes.

UV-protective and high-transparency poly(lactic acid) biocomposites for ecofriendly packaging of perishable fruits

The past decades have witnessed the archetypal shift from petroleum-based to bioplastics including poly(lactic acid) (PLA) for multifunctional packaging. Here we disclose a microwave-assisted functionalization (MAF) approach to functionalize wood fibers (FWFs) at minute level and high yields (approaching 99 %), conferring high affinity to PLA matrix and significant promotion of mechanical properties. By incorporating of 10 wt% FWFs, the tensile strength and toughness of PLA composite films were elevated to 54.5 MPa and 1.6 MJ/m3, increasing nearly 28 % and over 45 % compared to those of the counterpart loaded pristine wood fibers (PWFs), respectively. It is of significance to note the FWF-enabled unique optical properties for PLA, as exemplified by approximately 100 % UV-blocking ratio (UVR) in the whole UV region with the addition of 20 wt% FWFs. By contrast, the UVR values of PWF-filled PLA (5 %–20 %) gradually decreased as the fiber contents increased, mainly ascribed to the UV reflection at the poorly bonded interfaces and relatively inferior functionality of PWFs. This distinction allowed us to fabricate UV-barrier packaging for preservation of fresh fruits, which were perishable under the UV light of sunshine. The impressive mechanical robustness and high UVR, may prompt affordable and ecofriendly PLA/FWF composites appropriate for packaging.