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A review of advancements in chitosan-essential oil composite films: Better and sustainable food preservation with biodegradable packaging
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This review covers how films made from chitosan (a natural material from shellfish) combined with essential oils are being developed as biodegradable food packaging to replace conventional plastics. By reducing reliance on plastic packaging, these alternatives could help decrease the amount of microplastics that migrate into food and are ultimately consumed by people.
In response to the environmental pollution caused by non-degradable and non-recyclable plastic packaging films (PPFs) and the resulting health concerns due to the migration of microplastics into food, the development of biodegradable food packaging films has gained great attention. Chitosan has been extensively utilized in the food industry owing to its abundant availability, exceptional biocompatibility, degradability, and antimicrobial properties. Chitosan-essential oil composite films (CEOs) represent a promising avenue to replace conventional PPFs. This review provides an overview of the advancements in CEOs over the past decade, focusing on the effects of essential oils (EOs) on CEOs in terms of antimicrobial activity, antioxidant effect, gas barrier, light barrier, and mechanical properties. It also offers insights into the controlled release of EOs in CEOs and summarizes the application of CEOs in fresh food preservation.
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This review covers recent progress in developing biodegradable food packaging made from chitosan (derived from shellfish) combined with anthocyanins (plant pigments), which can preserve food freshness while avoiding the microplastic contamination associated with traditional plastic packaging. These films have antibacterial and antioxidant properties and can even change color to indicate food spoilage, offering a promising alternative to single-use plastics.
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Chitosan as a sustainable alternative for fresh food packaging: Structural insights, modification strategies, and innovations for commercial viability
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Researchers reviewed how chitosan — a natural biopolymer derived from crustacean shells — can serve as a biodegradable alternative to single-use plastic food packaging, detailing chemical modification strategies, nanocomposite reinforcement approaches, and recent advances in antimicrobial and antioxidant performance that improve its commercial viability.
An Antibacterial and Antioxidant Food Packaging Film Based on Amphiphilic Polypeptides‐Resveratrol‐Chitosan
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Researchers developed a biodegradable food packaging film made from natural materials including chitosan and resveratrol that kills bacteria and prevents food spoilage. Unlike conventional plastic packaging that breaks down into microplastics, this film is made entirely from biological materials and poses no microplastic contamination risk. This type of eco-friendly alternative could help reduce the microplastics that enter the food supply through traditional plastic packaging.
Biodegradability Studies of Chitosan-Based Packaging
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Scientists tested a plastic alternative made from chitosan (a natural material derived from shellfish shells) and found it breaks down effectively in compost, soil, and water, unlike conventional plastics that can linger for centuries and shed microplastics. This matters because switching to packaging like this could help reduce the plastic pollution that's increasingly found in our food, water, and even our bodies. More research is still needed to fine-tune the material before it's ready for widespread use.
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