Progress in Biopolymer Coatings for Achieving Sustainable Paper and Paperboard Packaging for Food Applications: A Brief Review

Abstract

Paper and paperboard are cellulosic materials used to manufacture food packaging. However, their low resistance to water and fat, as well as their poor barrier properties have limited their packaging applications as food contact materials. The current review analyses the use of biopolymeric coatings as an alternative to improve surface and barrier properties in paper and paperboard with focus in food sector application. Advances in coated paper (board) can be classified into three groups: (1) coatings manufactured with a single biopolymer; (2) coatings manufactured with composite biopolymers; and (3) biopolymeric coatings incorporated with bioactive molecules or nanoparticles. The use of a single or composite biopolymer coating improved the mechanical, barrier properties, and grease resistance. In contrast, the use of chemical compounds and nanoparticles has imparted active properties (antibacterial and ethylene scavengers) in the resulting coating paper (board). The water vapour transmission rate has been reduced with the use of biopolymeric coatings. Future studies should focus on applying coated paper (board) in foods with a special interest in food self‐life, migration, and toxicity.