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Biodegradable Protein Films Derived from Pea-Processing By-Products: Matrix Compositions, Properties, and Potential in Active Food Packaging
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Scientists are turning leftover pea protein from food processing into biodegradable packaging films that could replace plastic, this review rounds up what researchers have learned so far about making them sturdy, protective, and even germ-fighting using natural additives like plant oils and antioxidants. Less plastic packaging means less plastic waste breaking down into microplastics that end up in our food, water, and bodies, but this technology still needs more testing on safety, allergen risks, and real-world durability before it hits store shelves.
The extensive use of petroleum-based packaging materials has generated significant environmental concerns because of their poor biodegradability and their contribution to plastic pollution. Growing attention has therefore been directed toward sustainable packaging systems derived from renewable resources. Among these alternatives, proteins recovered from pea-processing by-products have emerged as promising film-forming materials because of their biodegradability, renewability, and compatibility with circular-bioeconomy principles. This review critically synthesises, rather than merely catalogues, the development of pea protein-based films produced with different biopolymer matrices, with emphasis on fabrication methods, film-formation mechanisms, physicochemical and mechanical properties, barrier performance, and antimicrobial/antioxidant functionality. Where the literature reports conflicting or concentration-dependent results—for example, the divergent effect of essential oil type on tensile strength, or the existence of optimal polyphenol-loading thresholds beyond which mechanical and barrier performance deteriorate—mechanistic explanations grounded in protein additive interactions, cross-link density, and matrix polarity are proposed and discussed. Quantitative barrier and mechanical data extracted from the reviewed studies are compiled and compared on a normalised basis, and the regulatory, safety, and scale-up barriers relevant to active pea protein-based packaging (EU food-contact-material compliance, migration testing, allergenicity, and life-cycle assessment) are discussed explicitly given the review’s focus on active food packaging. Overall, pea protein-based biodegradable films represent a promising and scientifically active alternative to petroleum-derived packaging materials, but their translation to commercial active-packaging products will depend on resolving moisture sensitivity, establishing standardised testing protocols, and generating the regulatory and techno-economic evidence base that is currently lacking.
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