Agricultural By-Product Proteins: Emerging Source for Packaging Applications

Abstract

Regular use of petroleum-based plastic packaging films has led to environmental impact due to their total non-biodegradability. Substantially, the food industry generates waste and agricultural-based raw materials have recently been applied to produce biodegradable, renewable and safe to eat packaging materials as a viable alternative to aforesaid dire consequences. Agro packaging concept has emerged where valuable compounds from by-products such as proteins are extracted from animal or plant sources to produce biofilms. Proteins are generally superior to the qualities of other biological compounds available in agricultural by-products. Their ability to form films with better mechanical and barrier properties has been studied and researches are in the process of exploring novel technologies in developing sustainable food packaging materials that are edible and active. This review explores possible applications of animal and plant protein sources from the agricultural by-products in bio-based film production and the inherited properties of these films. Moreover, selected animal by-product proteins such as collagen, gelatin, casein, myofibrillar proteins, keratin as well as plant by-product proteins including soy protein, wheat gluten, corn-zein, canola protein are discussed in details with special reference to available redundant protein types, technologies applied to obtain films, mechanical properties, functions of films and their applications.

Turning Food Protein Waste into Sustainable Technologies

“…Therefore, they have been studied intensively for their use in the development of edible films − and biocomposite materials. − These works demonstrated that soy proteins could be successfully transformed into bioplastics with satisfactory mechanical properties by solvent casting, as well as by thermoplastic techniques, such as compression and injection molding. The mechanical properties can be further improved by the addition of other ingredients, such as polysaccharides and lipids. , These soy-based materials, however, are characterized by low water resistance and solubility, which can be further enhanced by acetylation or decreased with cross-linking and post treatments. ,, …”

“…The mechanical properties can be further improved by the addition of other ingredients, such as polysaccharides and lipids. 369,446 These soy-based materials, however, are characterized by low water resistance and solubility, which can be further enhanced by acetylation or decreased with cross-linking and post treatments. 369,447,448 Additionally, some studies focused on using byproducts of the soy industry, such as soy whey and okara, and valorized them with minimal pretreatments by producing edible films, functional coating, or films for packaging.…”

Mapping Post-Harvest Waste in Perishable Supply Chains through System Dynamics: A Sri Lankan Case Study

“…Ultimately it will be a reason to attract a new generation of farmers that have new business concepts to increase the quality level of the local market as well as to capture new export markets. As the third step, giving financial support through lenders to farmers and intermediaries will encourage them to use appropriate packaging materials and refrigerated vehicles and it will be a long-term investment for the industry as well as the country ( Uthpala et al, 2021). Implementing new infrastructures like vehicles that have cold storage facilities, cold storages located at critical DECs will bring more sustainable value addition towards the industry by controlling the natural process of respiration and transpiration of vegetables along the supply chain.…”