Structure-property correlations and environmental impact assessment of sustainable antibacterial food packaging films reinforced with fungal chitin nanofibrils

This study develops sustainable, antibacterial food packaging films using carboxymethylcellulose and fungi- derived chitin nanofibrils (ChNFs) reinforced with clay to enhance mechanical strength, moisture resistance, and gas barrier properties. ChNFs significantly improve tensile strength and permeability by forming a dense, hydrogen-bonded network within the carboxymethylcellulose matrix. However, excessive ChNF content led to agglomeration, reducing mechanical performance slightly. At 30% ChNFs content, films demonstrated antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes and also presented a 52.1 +/- 3.2% degradation rate in four weeks. Life cycle assessment revealed a reduced carbon footprint (5.0-5.3 kg COQ-equiv. per kg film) and low plastic litter generation (35-44 g/kg), underscoring environmental benefits compared to conventional packaging. These carboxymethylcellulose/ChNF-based films are a promising, ecofriendly alternative for food packaging applications, offering antibacterial properties and enhanced sustain- ability in the packaging of perishable food products.