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Innovative Packaging Solutions from Agri-food Wastes and By-products
Summary
This review examined biodegradable bio-packaging materials derived from agri-food wastes as alternatives to petrochemical plastics, covering their preparation, properties, and use in food industries. While bio-packaging reduces microplastic accumulation and carbon footprint, the authors noted ongoing challenges in mechanical performance and cost.
Synthetic plastics of petrochemical origin pose serious health risks to humans and animals, along with creating unwarranted stress on the environment. Recent years have witnessed the enormity of the depletion of natural resources to produce synthetic plastics. Of late, biodegradable bio-packaging materials are gaining attention due to stringent regulations against the usage of single-use plastics and microplastic deposition in the environment. This has led to the development of sustainable, eco-friendly, cost-effective biopackaging materials (mainly biodegradable bioplastics). Though certain drawbacks persist, the use of bio-packaging materials in food industries offers a lower carbon footprint, presents an environmentally friendly solution, and is cost-effective, especially when sustainable sources of raw materials are used. In this regard, agri-food industry-generated biomass/feedstock (wastes and processing by-products) has been explored and efficiently valorized to produce biodegradable plastics. Packaging solutions derived from agri-food wastes and by-products represent an innovative approach to address both resource efficiency and environmental-friendliness and support the circular economy concepts. This chapter aims to provide information on current developments in packaging solutions available in food industries, challenges, and opportunities for the future.