Bio-based Films and Coatings: Sustainable Polysaccharide Packaging Alternatives for the Food Industry

Polymers used as raw materials for synthetic packaging, i.e., those obtained from petroleum-derived sources, are resistant to degradation. Because of this, there is a growing concern in the world for the replacement of conventional packaging by renewable and biodegradable polymers. Polysaccharides are biopolymers commonly used as energy reserve by plants, but they can also be obtained from animals, algae, and microbes; regardless of the origin, their thermoplastic characteristics, renewability, high availability, low extraction cost, biodegradability, and good film-forming properties highlight their promising role as alternatives for this demand in decreasing the production and accumulation of synthetic plastics. This literature review addresses the main characteristics of film-type packaging and polysaccharide-based coatings for the food industry, emphasizing the main techniques used to obtain and characterize them. It is reported that the barrier and mechanical properties of a packaging composed only of polysaccharides are a challenge for the food industry; however, its quality has been improved with the addition of other biomolecules and reinforcement nanostructures. Using antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds to produce bioactive packaging adds value and is particularly favorable for this industrial field; additionally, the development of techniques for the production of polysaccharide packaging on an industrial scale is promising, and increases the competitiveness with those from non-biodegradable polymers. Therefore, films/coatings based on polysaccharides have the potential to minimize the use of materials of petrochemical origin.