Bio-sourced polymers as alternatives to conventional food packaging materials: A review

Background: The role of plastic packaging in protecting food is quite appreciable, but the problems like non biodegradable nature, recycling issues, and leaching of harmful chemicals to food and soil create serious concerns for human health and the environment. The global packaging protocols and awareness about plastic packaging also necessitate to develop new packaging material focusing on the environment, food quality and safety. Thus, urgent attention is required for alternatives of non-biodegradable food packaging materials from bio-sourced polymers. Scope and approach: This paper highlights the different plastic packaging substitutes, opportunities, and challenges associated with biodegradable environment-friendly packaging. The paper also summarized different biosourced polymers with the application, biodegradability, and prospects for commercial applications in food packaging. Key findings and conclusions: Bio-sourced packaging materials are an emerging alternative to conventional polymers. Natural feedstocks rooted biopolymers are economically competing with conventional ones due to their wide availability, easy processing, biodegradable, compostable nature, good mechanical and barrier properties. Bio-based polyesters produce diverse alternatives from stiff to soft material with properties ranging from partially to fully biodegradable. However, bio-based primitive drop-in plastics are yet the market leader because of their excellent physical properties, cost-effectiveness and durability.