Polysaccharide-Based Membranes in Food Packaging Applications

Abstract

Plastic packaging is essential nowadays. However, the huge environmental problem caused by landfill disposal of non-biodegradable polymers in the end of life has to be minimized and preferentially eliminated. The solution may rely on the use of biopolymers, in particular polysaccharides. These macromolecules with film-forming properties are able to produce attracting biodegradable materials, possibly applicable in food packaging. Despite all advantages of using polysaccharides obtained from different sources, some drawbacks, mostly related to their low resistance to water, mechanical performance and price, have hindered their wider use and commercialization. Nevertheless, with increasing attention and research on this field, it has been possible to trace some strategies to overcome the problems and recognize solutions. This review summarizes some of the most used polysaccharides in food packaging applications.

Prospect of Polysaccharide-Based Materials as Advanced Food Packaging

“…Cellulose is a linear homopolysaccharide composed of Dglucopyranosyl units linked by β-(1→4) glycosidic bonds ( Figure 5). The most commercially exploited sources of cellulose are wood pulp and cotton fibers [41]. However, recent studies have shown that various plant-based waste materials such as peel, husk and The most commercially exploited sources of cellulose are wood pulp and cotton fibers [41].…”

“…The most commercially exploited sources of cellulose are wood pulp and cotton fibers [41]. However, recent studies have shown that various plant-based waste materials such as peel, husk and The most commercially exploited sources of cellulose are wood pulp and cotton fibers [41]. However, recent studies have shown that various plant-based waste materials such as peel, husk and shell, and sugar cane bagasse present suitable sources of cellulose, which is important from both economic and ecological point of view [42][43][44].…”

Cellulose fatty acid ester coated papers for stand‐up pouch applications

“…Oxygen and moisture barrier properties are critical parameters for good packaging materials . Generally, bio‐based packaging materials have relatively good resistance against nonpolar permeants, such as oxygen and grease, whereas they are, in most cases, very sensitive toward moisture …”

Starch-protein active films for food preservation

“…More specifically, worldwide annual plastic production was estimated to exceed 300 million tonnes by 2015 (Reddy et al, 2013), Of plastic materials, petroleum-based plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and polyamide (PA), are widely used as packaging material due to their ready availability at relatively low cost, good mechanical and barrier properties, thermo-processing ability and their chemical characteristics, making them suitable for food packaging . In terms of food packaging, it is mainly lightness and the ability to keep the food fresh and free of contaminant that are the reasons for the real success of petroleum-based plastics (Ferreira et al, 2016). However, despite the good properties of traditional plastics for food packaging, their use and accumulation imply huge environmental problems and dependence on fossil fuels, which are highly polluting .…”

“…However, despite the good properties of traditional plastics for food packaging, their use and accumulation imply huge environmental problems and dependence on fossil fuels, which are highly polluting . As much as 63 % of the current plastic waste comes from packaging applications (GreenFacts -Report highlights), and it is estimated that less than 14 % of plastic packaging materials are recyclable (Ferreira et al, 2016), since food packaging is often contaminated with foodstuffs or biological substances, which makes recycling either impractical or economically inconvenient . More precisely, the amount of plastic packaging generated in the municipal solid waste is on the rise and has severely damaging effects on the eco-system, water supplies, and sewer systems as well as the rivers and streams (Majeed et al, 2013).…”