Latest Trends in Sustainable Polymeric Food Packaging Films

Abstract

Food packaging is the best way to protect food while it moves along the entire supply chain to the consumer. However, conventional food packaging poses some problems related to food wastage and excessive plastic production. Considering this, the aim of this work was to examine recent findings related to bio-based alternative food packaging films by means of conventional methodologies and additive manufacturing technologies, such as 3D printing (3D-P), with potential to replace conventional petroleum-based food packaging. Based on the findings, progress in the development of bio-based packaging films, biopolymer-based feedstocks for 3D-P, and innovative food packaging materials produced by this technology was identified. However, the lack of studies suggests that 3D-P has not been well-explored in this field. Nonetheless, it is probable that in the future this technology will be more widely employed in the food packaging field, which could lead to a reduction in plastic production as well as safer food consumption.

Recent advances on phenothiazine-based oxime esters as visible light photoinitiators of polymerization

“…This point is of crucial importance for applications such as food packaging or for bioapplications. [33][34][35][36] To overcome the problem of migration, different crosslinkable photoinitiators have been designed and synthesized. Besides, compared to the parent structure, chemical engineering has to be carried out in order to introduce these crosslinkable groups, what can furnish costly compounds.…”

Cold Plasma Technology Based Eco-Friendly Food Packaging Biomaterials

“…Polymers are widely used in a variety of industries, including biomedicine, manufacturing, and agriculture due to their strong chemical resistance, flexibility, and low density [ 5 ]. Some polymers have boundaries, which make them inappropriate for some applications.…”

Disordering of Starch Films as a Factor Influencing the Release Rate of Biologically Active Substances

“…Despite all the advances in implementing biodegradable materials, synthetic polymers are currently used most frequently for food packaging; the demand for packaging increases in direct proportion to the rise in the world’s population [ 1 , 2 ]. The use of composites consisting of biodegradable and synthetic polymers is not an optimal trend in the development of packaging materials, since it results in formation of microplastics [ 3 , 4 ].…”