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Plasticor: Smarting Food Packages
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Researchers developed Plasticor, a biodegradable smart food packaging concept designed to monitor food freshness and reduce both food waste and plastic pollution. Replacing conventional non-degradable plastic packaging with biodegradable alternatives could reduce the plastic that breaks down into environmental microplastics.
Food waste that occurs at different stages from food production to transportation and in homes is an economic, social and environmental problem. These food scraps are largely responsible for the generation of greenhouse gases (GHG). In addition, many of these foods are sold in non-biodegradable plastic packaging that results in the accumulation of plastic in the environment, directly and/or indirectly affecting the lives of animals and humans. In order to bring about a possibility of reducing food waste and the accumulation of long-lasting plastics in nature, Plasticor was developed, a biodegradable and sustainable polymer used in the packaging of foods that use biosensors to test the viability for human consumption of food. A smart packaging that involves food and has its color changed when the product is no longer fit for consumption, indicating the presence of harmful microorganisms. Thus, avoiding the early disposal of food in good condition and consequently its impact on the environment, in addition to postponing the consumption of new products, Plasticor contributes to a more sustainable world.
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Biodegradable polymer-based active packaging: role of functional additives in enhancing food quality and sustainability
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Scientists are developing food packaging made from plant-based, biodegradable materials mixed with natural ingredients (like antioxidants and antimicrobial compounds) that can keep food fresher longer while breaking down instead of piling up as plastic waste. This review paper summarizes existing research, showing these "smart" packages can even include sensors that tell you if your food is spoiling, a promising step toward cutting both food waste and plastic pollution, which matters since traditional plastic packaging is linked to microplastic contamination in our food and bodies.
Smart Biodegradable Food Packaging Using Active Nanocomposites: A Sustainable Future for Food Preservation
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Researchers developed a biodegradable food packaging film by embedding active nanocomposites — including antimicrobial and antioxidant agents — into a polysaccharide matrix, finding the resulting smart material significantly extended shelf life of perishables while fully degrading under composting conditions.
Plastics in Food Packaging: Trends, Innovations and Environmental Impact
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This review surveys the landscape of plastic food packaging — from conventional polyethylene and PET to emerging smart and biodegradable materials — examining how plastics protect food, how they degrade into microplastics, and how innovators are responding to mounting environmental pressure. It covers advanced technologies like nanomaterial-based packaging, active systems that extend shelf life, and IoT-enabled smart packaging. The paper contextualizes microplastic pollution as a growing concern driving the packaging industry toward bio-based and circular alternatives.
Bio-Based Smart Materials for Food Packaging and Sensors – A Review
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This review examined bio-based smart packaging materials that combine sustainability with real-time food quality monitoring through integrated sensors. Researchers explored how biodegradable and renewable packaging materials with embedded bio-based sensors could help reduce food waste, increase shelf life, and decrease reliance on conventional petroleum-based plastics in the food industry.
Biopolymer-based solutions for enhanced safety and quality assurance: A review
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Researchers review how biopolymers are replacing petroleum-based plastics across the food industry, covering antimicrobial packaging, edible coatings, bioactive encapsulation, and smart polymer functions such as pH sensing and time-temperature monitoring that reduce food waste and microplastic pollution.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.