Chitin/Chitosan — Safe,Ecofriendly Packaging Materials with Multiple Potential Uses

Increased and indiscriminate use of plastic packaging films, which are petroleum based, has led to ecological problems due to their total non-biodegradability. Continuous use of plastics in any form or shape has to be restricted and may even be gradually abandoned to protect and conserve ecology. Such awareness, of late by one and all, has led to a paradigm shift to look for packaging films and processes that are biodegradable and therefore, compatible with the environment. Such an approach also leads to natural resource conservation with an underpinning on a pollution-free environment. Thus, the concept of biodegradability enjoys both user-friendly and eco-friendly attributes, and the raw materials are essentially derived from either replenishable agricultural feed stocks (cellulose, starch, and proteins) or marine food processing industry wastes (chitin/chitosan). Their total biodegradation to environmentally friendly benign products (CO₂, H₂O/quality compost) is the turning point that needs to be capitalized upon. Polymer cross-linking and graft copolymerization of natural polymers with synthetic monomers are other alternative approaches of value to using biodegradable packaging films. Although complete replacement for synthetic plastics may be impossible to achieve and perhaps even unnecessary, at least for a few specific applications, our attention and efforts are required in the days to come. Though expensive, biopackaging meets tomorrow's need for packaging, especially for a few value added products. It offers an attractive route to waste management, as well. Nonetheless, everyone desires a clean, pollution-free environment in the future.     

Biodegradable films and composite coatings: past,present and future

Food packaging is concerned with the preservation and protection of all types of foods and their raw materials, particularly from oxidative and microbial spoilage and also to extend their shelf-life characteristics. Increased use of synthetic packaging films has led to serious ecological problems due to their total non-biodegradability. Continuous awareness by one and all towards environmental pollution by the latter and as a result the need for a safe, eco-friendly atmosphere has led to a paradigm shift on the use of biodegradable materials, especially from renewable agriculture feedstock and marine food processing industry wastes. Such an approach amounts to natural resource conservation and recyclability as well as generation of new, innovative design and use. Their total biodegradation to environmentally friendly benign products such as CO₂, water and quality compost is the turning point which needs to be capitalized and encashed. Polymer cross-linking and graft copolymerization of natural polymers with synthetic monomers are other alternatives of value in biodegradable packaging films. Although their complete replacement for synthetic plastics is just impossible to achieve and perhaps may be even unnecessary, at least for a few specific applications our attention and needful are required in the days to come. No doubt, eventually BIOPACKAGING will be our future.     

A critical review on biodegradable food packaging for meat: Materials,sustainability, regulations,and perspectives in the EU

The development of biodegradable packaging is a challenge, as conventional plastics have many advantages in terms of high flexibility, transparency, low cost, strong mechanical characteristics, and high resistance to heat compared with most biodegradable plastics. The quality of biodegradable materials and the research needed for their improvement for meat packaging were critically evaluated in this study. In terms of sustainability, biodegradable packagings are more sustainable than conventional plastics; however, most of them contain unsustainable chemical additives. Cellulose showed a high potential for meat preservation due to high moisture control. Polyhydroxyalkanoates and polylactic acid (PLA) are renewable materials that have been recently introduced to the market, but their application in meat products is still limited. To be classified as an edible film, the mechanical properties and acceptable control over gas and moisture exchange need to be improved. PLA and cellulose-based films possess the advantage of protection against oxygen and water permeation; however, the addition of functional substances plays an important role in their effects on the foods. Furthermore, the use of packaging materials is increasing due to consumer demand for natural high-quality food packaging that serves functions such as extended shelf-life and contamination protection. To support the importance moving toward biodegradable packaging for meat, this review presented novel perspectives regarding ecological impacts, commercial status, and consumer perspectives. Those aspects are then evaluated with the specific consideration of regulations and perspective in the European Union (EU) for employing renewable and ecological meat packaging materials. This review also helps to highlight the situation regarding biodegradable food packaging for meat in the EU specifically.     

Global Status of the Production of Biobased Packaging Materials

Bioplastics from renewable origin are a new generation of plastics able to significantly reduce the environmental impact in terms of energy consumption and green‐house ef‐fect in specific applications. Bioplastics perform as traditional plastics when in use and are completely biodegradable within a composting cycle. Today bioplastics and partic‐ularly starch‐based plastics are used in specific industrial applications where bio‐degradability is required. Examples are composting bags and sacks, fast food service‐ware (cups, cutlery, plates, straws, etc.), packaging (soluble foams for industrial pack‐aging, film wrapping, laminated paper, food containers), agriculture (much films, nur‐sery pots, plant labels), hygiene (diaper back sheet, cotton swabs).Moreover new sec‐tors are growing outside biodegradability, driven by improved technical performances of bioplastics versus traditional materials, as in the case of biofillers for tires. The market of starch‐based bioplastics in 1999 has been estimated at about 20,000 t/a, with a strong incidence of soluble foams for packaging and films. Bioplas‐tics from renewable origin, either biodegradable or non‐biodegradable, still constitute a niche market which requires high efforts in the areas of material and application devel‐opment; the technical and economical breakthroughs achieved in the last three years, however, open new possibilities for such products in the mass markets and specifical‐ly in food packaging. This paper will review the recent industrial achievements of bioplastics in the sector of packaging, taking in consideration their in‐use performances, biodegradation behav‐iour and environmental impact.     

Antimicrobial activity of biodegradable polysaccharide and protein-based films containing active agents

Significant interest has emerged in the introduction of food packaging materials manufactured from biodegradable polymers that have the potential to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional packaging materials. Current technologies in active packaging enable effective antimicrobial (AM) packaging films to be prepared from biodegradable materials that have been modified and/or blended with different compatible materials and/or plasticisers. A wide range of AM films prepared from modified biodegradable materials have the potential to be used for packaging of various food products. This review examines biodegradable polymers derived from polysaccharides and protein-based materials for their potential use in packaging systems designed for the protection of food products from microbial contamination. A comprehensive table that systematically analyses and categorizes much of the current literature in this area is included in the review.     

植物基完全可降解生物塑料的现状及展望

当前环境中的塑料污染问题受到全世界关注。用于包装的塑料材料越来越多,产生大量无法降解的固体废物。生物降解塑料被认为是解决塑料废物问题的可能办法,完全可降解塑料可被微生物完全降解,起到很好的保护环境作用。植物在自然条件下可以产生淀粉、纤维素、半纤维素、储藏蛋白等聚合物,是天然的可降解高分子材料来源。以植物为基础,完全可生物降解聚合物具有完全的生物可降解性和可再生性,是替代石油基塑料的可行材料。介绍解决塑料污染问题的可能办法及主要几种植物基完全可生物降解塑料研究现状和发展前景。     

Current status of biobased and biodegradable food packaging materials: Impact on food quality and effect of innovative processing technologies

Fossil-based plastic materials are an integral part of modern life. In food packaging, plastics have a highly important function in preserving food quality and safety, ensuring adequate shelf life, and thereby contributing to limiting food waste. Meanwhile, the global stream of plastics into the oceans is increasing exponentially, triggering worldwide concerns for the environment. There is an urgent need to reduce the environmental impacts of packaging waste, a matter raising increasing consumer awareness. Shifting part of the focus toward packaging materials from renewable resources is one promising strategy. This review provides an overview of the status and future of biobased and biodegradable films used for food packaging applications, highlighting the effects on food shelf life and quality. Potentials, limitations, and promising modifications of selected synthetic biopolymers; polylactic acid, polybutylene succinate, and polyhydroxyalkanoate; and natural biopolymers such as cellulose, starch, chitosan, alginate, gelatine, whey, and soy protein are discussed. Further, this review provides insight into the connection between biobased packaging materials and innovative technologies such as high pressure, cold plasma, microwave, ultrasound, and ultraviolet light. The potential for utilizing such technologies to improve biomaterial barrier and mechanical properties as well as to aid in improving overall shelf life for the packaging system by in-pack processing is elaborated on.     

可生物降解包装材料的性能和应用研究(英文)

目前,可生物降解包装材料已经成为替代传统合成材料的重要环保型材料。早期,已有研究人员将可生物降解聚合物应用于包装材料领域。近年来,随着环境问题,原油储量压力的加剧和普通消费者的偏爱,生物基及可生物降解聚合物得到进一步发展。本文介绍了可生物降解包装材料的发展过程,重点综述了材料的性能和应用。     

Biopolymers as green-based food packaging materials: A focus on modified and unmodified starch-based films

The ideal food packaging materials are recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable. Starch from plant sources, such as tubers, legumes, cereals, and agro-industrial plant residues, is considered one of the most suitable biopolymers for producing biodegradable films due to its natural abundance and low cost. The chemical modification of starch makes it possible to produce films with better technological properties by changing the functional groups into starch. Using biopolymers extracted from agro-industrial waste can add value to a raw material that would otherwise be discarded. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has driven a rise in demand for single-use plastics, intensifying pressure on this already out-of-control issue. This review provides an overview of biopolymers, with a particular focus on starch, to develop sustainable materials for food packaging. This study summarizes the methods and provides a potential approach to starch modification for improving the mechanical and barrier properties of starch-based films. This review also updates some trends pointed out by the food packaging sector in the last years, considering the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Perspectives to achieve more sustainable food packaging toward a more circular economy are drawn.     

食品绿色包装材料的研究进展

绿色包装又可以称为无公害包装和环境之友包装,指对生态环境和人类健康无害,能重复使用和再生,符合可持续发展的包装。近年来随着生活质量的不断提高,人们对食品包装材料的要求也越来越高,因此新型的环保的包装材料也越来越受到重视,目前应用最多的就是纸质包装材料、可降解包装材料、可食性包装材料和其它新型材料。用绿色包装材料包装食品,可以提高食品的安全性,保护人类的健康,同时保护环境,对社会的可持续发展起着重要的作用。     

Biopolymer Coatings on Paper Packaging Materials

ABSTRACT: Increased environmental concerns over the use of certain synthetic packaging and coatings in combination with consumer demands for both higher quality and longer shelf life have led to increased interest in alternative packaging materials research. Naturally renewable biopolymers can be used as barrier coatings on paper packaging materials. These biopolymer coatings may retard unwanted moisture transfer in food products, are good oxygen and oil barriers, are biodegradable, and have potential to replace current synthetic paper and paperboard coatings. Incorporation of antimicrobial agents in coatings to produce active paper packaging materials provides an attractive option for protecting food from microorganism development and spread. The barrier, mechanical, and other properties of biopolymer‐coated paper are reviewed. Existing and potential applications for bioactive coatings on paper packaging materials are discussed with examples.     

Production and characterization of oxidized cassava starch (Manihot esculenta Crantz) biodegradable films

Plastic is one of the most common pollutants in the environment. Therefore, the number of studies on the use of biodegradable packaging is increasing. Starch is the primary material used in the production of biodegradable plastics due to its natural abundance and high biodegradability. Yet, the strong hydrophilic character of starch presents a challenge. Therefore, the modification of its structure through oxidation may yield interesting results as the viscosity reduction. The objectives of this work were to obtain cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) starch oxidized with 0.8 and 2.0% active chlorine, to develop biodegradable films and characterize their mechanical properties, solubility in water, permeability to water vapor, degree of swelling, and sorption isotherms. Biodegradable films were produced with starch concentrations of 2, 3, 4, and 5% w/w and 25% glycerol (g/100 g starch) added as a plasticizer. Images of the films were obtained with an atomic force microscope and allow to observe a smooth surface and the absence of starch granules in the film produced with oxidized starches. The tensile strength of the biodegradable film produced with oxidized starch (0.8% active chlorine) was 80 MPa. The value of permeability to water vapor was 1.613 × 10⁻⁹ kg/day/m/Pa, and the average solubility was 41%. The sorption isotherms showed that biodegradable films made with oxidized starches cannot be used in environments with relative humidity below 35% or above 90%.     

Highly stable, edible cellulose films incorporating chitosan nanoparticles

The need for biodegradable polymers for packaging has fostered the development of novel, biodegradable polymeric materials from natural sources, as an alternative to reduce amount of waste and environmental impacts. The present investigation involves the synthesis of chitosan nanoparticles-carboxymethylcellulose films, in view of their increasing areas of application in packaging industry. The entire process consists of 2-steps including chitosan nanoparticles preparation and their incorporation in carboxymethylcellulose films. Uniform and stable particles were obtained with 3 different chitosan concentrations. The morphology of chitosan nanoparticles was tested by transmission electron microscopy, revealing the nanoparticles size in the range of 80 to 110 nm. The developed film chitosan nanoparticles-carboxymethylcellulose films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis, solubility tests, and mechanical analysis. Improvement of thermal and mechanical properties were observed in films containing nanoparticles, with the best results occurring upon addition of nanoparticles with 110 nm size in carboxymethylcellulose films. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Carboxymethylcellulose films containing chitosan nanoparticles synthesized and characterized in this article could be a potential material for food and beverage packaging applications products due to the increase mechanical properties and high stability. The potential application of the nanocomposites prepared would be in packaging industry to extend the shelf life of products.     

中国白酒生态化包装材料的研究进展

中国白酒包装的突破和发展很大程度上取决于包装材料的创新和升级,白酒包装要实现生态化包装,首先必须选用生态包装材料。文章综述中国白酒包装材料生态化的必要性和基本特性、分类及发展趋势,实现白酒包装材料的生态化,有利于促进消费者的健康和保护生态环境。白酒生态化包装材料的4大基本特性为:优良的产品保护特性,优良的加工使用特性,优良的视觉设计特性,优良的回收利用特性。白酒生态化包装材料可分为3类:可直接自然降解的材料,可回收再循环利用的材料,可回收再制能降解的材料。白酒包装将进入生态包装阶段,包装材料生态化的发展趋势体现在安全无毒化、简朴原生态化、纳米功能化、用材轻量化、塑料可降解化、资源再利用化等6个方面。     

食品包装用生物塑料研究进展

在白色污染和石油危机日趋严重的今天,具有生态友好特征和可持续性的生物基质-生物分解塑料有望替代部分石油基塑料成为一种新型基础原材料,在农业、包装、生物医用等领域已开始显示出巨大的市场潜力。本文介绍了聚乳酸、淀粉基塑料、聚羟基烷酸酯等几类最有可能率先实现产业化并用于食品包装材料的生物基质-生物分解塑料,对其在食品包装材料应用方面所具有的优势和存在的问题进行了评价,并对目前国内外在这几类材料的生产和应用技术及产业化等方面的最新进展进行了归纳。     

Evaluation of Zein Films as Modified Atmosphere Packaging for Fresh Broccoli

ABSTRACT: Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is increasingly used with minimally processed produce. Increased MAP usage coupled with negative environmental views associated with nondegradable synthetic packaging materials creates a need for biodegradable films. Zein films plasticized with oleic acid had been proposed for biodegradable packaging applications. Conversion treatments including lamination and coating films with tung oil were reported to improve water vapor and gas barrier properties of films. In this work, the ability of treated and untreated zein films to perform as MAP for fresh broccoli florets was investigated. Florets were packaged in glass jars sealed with zein films and stored under refrigeration for 6 d. Headspace oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations were monitored during storage. Tested films allowed the development of modified atmospheres inside the packages. Broccoli florets packaged in the test films maintained their original firmness and color.     

淀粉基膜的制备及应用研究进展

淀粉是除纤维素外的第二大可再生原料,淀粉基膜绿色环保、安全无毒、可生物降解,缓解了合成材料的不可降解对生存环境的污染和原料日益枯竭的压力,实现资源的可持续发展,是当今最具有发展前景的新型材料之一。文章对淀粉基膜的制备方法进行了综述,介绍了湿法、干法制备淀粉基膜及其物理化学性质,阐述了淀粉基膜在食品保鲜、包装等领域的应用,并对淀粉基膜的应用前景进行展望。     

Sustainable edible packaging systems based on active compounds from food processing byproducts: A review

The global food processing industries represent a challenge and a risk to the environment due to the poor handling of residues, which are often discarded as waste without being used in further sidestreams. Although some part of this biomass is utilized, large quantities are, however, still under- or unutilized despite these byproducts being a rich resource of valuable compounds. These biowastes contain biopolymers and other compounds such as proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, pigments, micronutrients, and minerals with good nutritional values and active biological properties with applications in various fields including the development of sustainable food packaging. This review offers an update on the recent advancement of food byproducts recycling and upgrading toward the production of food packaging materials, which could be edible, (bio)degradable, and act as carriers of biobased active agents such as antimicrobials, antioxidants, flavoring additives, and health-promoting compounds. This should be a global initiative to promote the well-being of humans and achieve sustainability while respecting the ecological boundaries of our planet. Edible films and coatings formulations based on biopolymers and active compounds extracted from biowastes offer great opportunities to decrease the devastating overuse of plastic-based packaging. It has become evident that a transition from a fuel-based to a circular bio-based economy is potentially beneficial. Therefore, the exploitation of food discards within the context of a zero-waste biorefinery approach would improve waste management by minimizing its generation, reduce pollution, and provide value-added compounds. Most importantly, the development of edible packaging materials from food byproducts does not compete with food resources, and it also helps decrease our dependency on petroleum-based products. Practical Application Almost 99% of current plastics are petroleum-based, and their continuous use has been devastating to the planet as plastic-derived components have been detected in all trophic levels. Besides, the increasing amounts of food by-products are a socioeconomic and environmental challenge, and halving food loss and waste and turning it into valuable products has become necessary to achieve sustainability and economic circularity. The development of new packaging systems such as edible materials could be one of the solutions to limit the use of persistent plastics. Edible films and coatings by-products-based could also enhance food packaging performance due to their compounds' bioactivities.     

Development of Antimicrobial and Controlled Biodegradable Gelatin-Based Edible Films Containing Nisin and Amino-Functionalized Montmorillonite

The utilization of petroleum-derived synthetic materials causes severe ecological problems, such as environmental pollution and soil degradation. Hence, using naturally derived and renewable materials to fabricate novel biodegradable films for safe and effective food packaging has been a subject of interest over the years. Here, the novel antimicrobial and controlled biodegradable gelatin-based edible films were developed using nisin as the antimicrobial agent, amino-functionalized montmorillonite as the nanoparticle filler, and dialdehyde xanthan gum as the crosslinking agent. The results indicate that the ultraviolet barrier ability, water resistance, and mechanical properties of gelatin-based edible films are obviously improved on account of the crosslinking effect. Moreover, the resulting films demonstrate antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus owning to the addition of nisin. Furthermore, the crosslinking can slow down the erosion of the edible films by fungi due to the improved hydrophobicity and compact structure. Particularly, the edible films can be completely biodegraded in soil within 30 days. Meanwhile, the rate of soil biodegradation can be well controlled by adjusting the crosslinking degree. Overall, this novel gelatin-based edible films have potential applications in food packaging.     

Comprehensive review on application of edible film on meat and meat products: An eco-friendly approach

The functions of packaging materials are to prevent moisture loss, drip, reduce lipid oxidation, improve some of their sensorial properties (color, taste and smell) and provide microbial stability of foods. Edible films can be made from protein, polysaccharides and lipids or by combination of any of these to form a composite film. Nanocomposites are composite films made by incorporation of nanoparticles. Edible packaging and coating of the meat and meat products enhances the self-life by the incorporation of the active compound (such as antimicrobial and antioxidant compound) in to the packaging matrix. Incorporation of the some ingredients in the matrix may also improve the nutritional as well as sensory attributes of the packed products. Edible packaging material also reduces environmental pollution by overcoming the burden degradation as edible films are biodegradable and thus eco-friendly.