Functionality and Applicability of Starch-Based Films: An Eco-Friendly Approach

Abstract

The accumulation of high amounts of petro-based plastics is a growing environmental devastation issue, leading to the urgent need to innovate eco-safe packaging materials at an equivalent cost to save the environment. Among different substitutes, starch-based types and their blends with biopolymers are considered an innovative and smart material alternative for petrol-based polymers because of their abundance, low cost, biodegradability, high biocompatibility, and better-quality film-forming and improved mechanical characteristics. Furthermore, starch is a valuable, sustainable food packaging material. The rising and growing importance of designing starch-based films from various sources for sustainable food packaging purposes is ongoing research. Research on “starch food packaging” is still at the beginning, based on the few studies published in the last decade in Web of Science. Additionally, the functionality of starch-based biodegradable substances is technically a challenge. It can be improved by starch modification, blending starch with other biopolymers or additives, and using novel preparation techniques. Starch-based films have been applied to packaging various foods, such as fruits and vegetables, bakery goods, and meat, indicating good prospects for commercial utilization. The current review will give a critical snapshot of starch-based films’ properties and potential applicability in the sustainable smart (active and intelligent) new packaging concepts and discuss new challenges and opportunities for starch bio composites.

Soybean Oil Enriched with Antioxidants Extracted from Watermelon (Citrullus colocynthis) Skin Sap and Coated in Hydrogel Beads via Ionotropic Gelation

“…However, the extraction process used for phenolic compounds is a major factor in the antioxidant properties of the sap, along with the power, solvent, and time, which all significantly the composition of phenolic compounds in the sap [65]. The variability depends on the differences in the inner affinities of these compounds, especially the polarity of the forming molecules of the solvent [66]. Therefore, the type of solvent and extraction time are very important factors in the extraction process.…”

Bioactive Edible Films and Coatings Based in Gums and Starch: Phenolic Enrichment and Foods Application

“…While active polysaccharides films have an active function for enhancing food quality and preventing food spoilage, intelligent polysaccharides films monitor food conditions inside packaging, providing information about food safety and quality [125]. Unlike active packaging, intelligent packaging does not release its compounds into food [126].…”

“…Unlike active packaging, intelligent packaging does not release its compounds into food [126]. Bio-based smart packaging present environmental and economic advantages and allow real-time monitorization, assuring food safety and quality [125]. Intelligent packaging can be classified as indicators, sensors and data carrier.…”

“…Polyphenolic compounds and others present in plant extracts (e.g., chlorophyll and carotenoids) have a proper colour that, due to pH variations, change to another colour [125]. However, the type of phenolic compounds chosen is important for intelligent film packaging development due to their physico-chemical properties and pH-sensitive capacity.…”

Upcycling Biodegradable PVA/Starch Film to a Bacterial Biopigment and Biopolymer

“…The current cost of starch-based packaging films is not cost-competitive compared to petroleum-based plastics; however, starch blends significantly reduce the costs of bio-based biodegradables and, with the rising costs of petroleum, may be competitive in the near future [15]. Potential applications in food packaging and recent advances in the production of starch-based films are high and have been reviewed recently [16]. For comparison, the current cost of PVA/TPS pellets used in this work is between EUR 3/kg and 4/kg, while the cost of PHB is estimated to be between EUR 10/kg and 24/kg which is still multiple times more than petroleum-based plastics such as PET [17].…”