Advances in the Food Packaging Production from Agri-Food Waste and By-Products: Market Trends for a Sustainable Development

Abstract

Agricultural waste has been a prominent environmental concern due to its significant negative impact on the environment when it is incinerated, disposed of in landfills, or burned. These scenarios promoted innovations in the food packaging sector using renewable resources, namely agri-food waste and by-products such as bagasse, pulps, roots, shells, straws, and wastewater for the extraction and isolation of biopolymers that are later transformed into packaging materials such as bioplastics, biofilms, paper, and cardboards, among others. In this context, the circular bioeconomy (CBE) model is shown in the literature as a viable alternative for designing more sustainable production chains. Moreover, the biorefinery concept has been one of the main links between the agri-food chain and the food packaging industry. This review article aimed to compile recent advances in the food packaging field, presenting main industrial and scientific innovations, economic data, and the challenges the food packaging sector has faced in favor of sustainable development.

Transitioning of petroleum-based plastic food packaging to sustainable bio-based alternatives

“…While aerobic biodegradation appears as a promising solution for these materials, the effectiveness of this degradation method and the consistency of biodegradability enhancement from added materials during experimentation remain variable. 157 More research is needed into the practicality and efficiency of these disposal methods to ensure that they are feasible on a large scale and do not create new environmental problems, as highlighted by Cristofoli et al 89 Market acceptance and consumer preferences also play a critical role in the success of bio-based packaging solutions. Even when scientific research leads to innovative products, a gap often exists in market acceptance.…”

“…Agro-waste, a by-product from the food industry, is gaining considerable attention as an eco-friendly alternative to enhance the properties of biodegradable food packaging. 89,90 This agrowaste, encompassing a diverse range from straw, stems, and fruit peels to shrimp shells and animal skins, has shown promising potential in augmenting the mechanical and various other material properties of sustainable packaging solutions. These materials can be broadly categorised into two primary sources for extraction: plant-based and animal-based.…”

Agro-Food Waste Valorization for Sustainable Bio-Based Packaging

“…This sustainable-oriented transformation will also require more investment and optimization of physical infrastructure systems for the collection and processing of agro-food waste, and human infrastructure, covering the front-line workers until reaching governance, industry, and institutions [76]. Moreover, the current methods of processing and converting agro-food wastes and by-products into feasible packaging materials are still at a laboratory scale, so there is an urgent appeal for advancements in waste treatment and conversion technologies [77].…”

Consumer perception and acceptance of edible packaging for various food products

“…Edible food packaging is made of edible materials, which can be cast into a film and then engineered into different forms, such as pouches, wraps, or liners (Horská et al, 2021). The food packaging industry is also consistently trying to utilize food processing byproducts and to develop circular bioeconomy and carbon neutrality (Cristofoli et al, 2023). Hence, research into this novel technology has encompassed creating edible food packaging that has functional properties like heat sealability and water resistance, but can also extend the shelf life of products and reduce avoidable waste.…”