Papers

61,005 results
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Systematic Review Tier 1

A Review on Biopolymer-Based Biodegradable Film for Food Packaging: Trends over the Last Decade and Future Research

This systematic review explores biodegradable packaging made from natural materials like starch and proteins as alternatives to conventional plastics. Reducing plastic packaging is important because traditional plastics break down into microplastics that contaminate food and the environment.

2023 Polymers 138 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine Biopolymers: Applications in Food Packaging

This review examined the use of marine-derived biopolymers such as proteins and polysaccharides for food packaging applications. The study suggests that these biodegradable materials could significantly reduce reliance on conventional plastic packaging, offering environmental and economic benefits while improving the shelf life of packaged foods.

2021 Processes 78 citations
Article Tier 2

Edible Biopolymers-Based Materials for Food Applications—The Eco Alternative to Conventional Synthetic Packaging

This review examines edible biopolymer-based packaging materials including proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional synthetic packaging, evaluating their mechanical properties, barrier performance, and biodegradability for food applications.

2021 Polymers 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Material and Environmental Properties of Natural Polymers and Their Composites for Packaging Applications—A Review

This review assessed the material and environmental properties of natural polymers including cellulose, starch, chitosan, and protein for food packaging applications, comparing their performance to conventional plastics. The authors found that natural polymer composites can approach the tensile strength and water vapor barrier properties needed for packaging while offering significant environmental benefits at end of life.

2022 Polymers 69 citations
Article Tier 2

A Review on Replacing Food Packaging Plastics with Nature-Inspired Bio-Based Materials

Researchers reviewed bio-based materials inspired by nature as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based food packaging plastics. The study highlights that while conventional plastic packaging is effective for food preservation, its environmental impact has driven research into biodegradable and compostable alternatives that could reduce plastic waste and microplastic generation.

2025 Foods 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent Advances in Biopolymers for Biomedical and Packaging Applications

This review examines recent advances in biopolymers -- including polysaccharides, proteins, and synthetic biopolymers -- for applications in biomedical and packaging fields. The authors highlight the appeal of biopolymers as sustainable, biodegradable, and biocompatible alternatives to conventional petroleum-based materials.

2025 The Bombay Technologist
Article Tier 2

Advances and recent trends in plant-based materials and edible films: a mini-review

This review highlights recent advances in plant-based packaging materials and edible films made from natural polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic packaging. Researchers explored how 3D printing and functionalization strategies can enhance the mechanical strength, barrier properties, and shelf-life extension of these materials. The findings point toward a growing toolkit of biodegradable options that could help reduce plastic waste in food packaging.

2024 Frontiers in Chemistry 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Comprehensive Review of Polysaccharide-Based Materials in Edible Packaging: A Sustainable Approach

This review examined polysaccharide-based edible packaging materials as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic packaging, highlighting their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial properties for food preservation.

2021 Foods 141 citations
Review Tier 2

Current trends in biopolymers for food packaging: a review

This review covers the latest developments in biopolymer-based food packaging, including biodegradable films, edible coatings, and active or smart packaging systems. Researchers found that while these sustainable alternatives show promise, they still face challenges in matching the moisture, heat, and barrier properties of conventional petroleum-based plastics. The study highlights ongoing efforts to improve these materials so they can realistically replace traditional plastic packaging.

2023 Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 130 citations
Article Tier 2

Chitosan with Natural Additives as a Potential Food Packaging

Researchers reviewed the potential of chitosan, a natural polymer derived from chitin, as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic food packaging. Chitosan-based materials combined with natural additives show promising antimicrobial and biocompatible properties while being biodegradable. The study suggests these materials could help reduce plastic packaging waste and the associated microplastic pollution from food industry sources.

2023 Materials 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Seaweed Polysaccharide in Food Contact Materials (Active Packaging, Intelligent Packaging, Edible Films, and Coatings)

This review examines how seaweed-based polysaccharides are being developed as alternatives to conventional plastics for food packaging applications, including active packaging, intelligent packaging, and edible coatings. Researchers found that these natural materials can extend food shelf life by providing antimicrobial and antioxidant properties while being biodegradable. The study highlights seaweed polysaccharides as a promising sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastic packaging in the food industry.

2021 Foods 111 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent trends in the application of films and coatings based on starch, cellulose, chitin, chitosan, xanthan, gellan, pullulan, Arabic gum, alginate, pectin, and carrageenan in food packaging

This review covers the latest advances in using natural polysaccharides like starch, chitosan, and cellulose to create biodegradable food packaging as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics. Replacing conventional plastic packaging with these biopolymer-based materials could help reduce the generation of microplastics that contaminate food and ultimately enter the human body.

2024 Food Frontiers 90 citations
Article Tier 2

An Antibacterial and Antioxidant Food Packaging Film Based on Amphiphilic Polypeptides‐Resveratrol‐Chitosan

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.

2024 Small 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Plásticos biodegradables, una alternativa a los empaques alimentarios actuales

This Spanish-language review examines biodegradable polymers as alternatives to conventional plastic food packaging, covering materials like starch, cellulose, gelatin, chitosan, polylactic acid (PLA), and polyvinyl alcohol. It describes the mechanical and functional properties of packaging films made from each material and discusses their suitability for different food applications. The paper is directly relevant to reducing plastic packaging waste and the downstream microplastic pollution it generates.

2026
Article Tier 2

Structure, Properties, and Recent Developments in Polysaccharide- and Aliphatic Polyester-Based Packaging—A Review

This review examines recent developments in biopolymer-based food packaging made from polysaccharides and aliphatic polyesters as alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Researchers highlight the promising barrier properties and processing versatility of these materials, while noting ongoing challenges in matching the performance of traditional plastic packaging.

2024 Journal of Composites Science 19 citations
Article Tier 2

A Comprehensive Review of Biodegradable Polymer-Based Films and Coatings and Their Food Packaging Applications

This review covers the development of biodegradable polymer-based films and coatings as alternatives to conventional plastic food packaging. While these bio-based materials reduce long-term environmental pollution, the review notes that they can still break down into microplastic particles under certain conditions. The shift to biodegradable packaging may reduce but not eliminate the food packaging contribution to microplastic pollution and human exposure.

2022 Materials 221 citations
Article Tier 2

Bio-based materials for barrier coatings on paper packaging

Researchers reviewed bio-based polymer coatings for paper packaging, evaluating how naturally renewable biopolymers can replace petroleum-derived synthetic coatings to provide effective oxygen, oil, and moisture barriers while reducing environmental impact.

2022 Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery 140 citations
Article Tier 2

Edible and Functionalized Films/Coatings—Performances and Perspectives

This review covers recent advances in edible and biodegradable food films and coatings made from biological materials, examining their performance properties and potential as sustainable replacements for conventional petroleum-based food packaging.

2020 Coatings 116 citations
Article Tier 2

Innovative Packaging Solutions from Agri-food Wastes and By-products

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.

2025
Article Tier 2

Research progress of biomass-based food packaging materials

This review examines biomass-based food packaging materials — including starch, cellulose, proteins, and chitosan — as renewable and biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based packaging, discussing development strategies to address current shortcomings in environmental performance, food safety, and functional diversity in the context of growing global microplastic pollution from packaging.

2025 SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología
Article Tier 2

Use of Alginates as Food Packaging Materials

This review covers the use of alginate-based materials as food packaging, examining how alginate films protect food from physical damage, oxidation, moisture, and microbial contamination. Alginates are highlighted as a natural, biodegradable polymer alternative that avoids the microplastic pollution associated with conventional synthetic food packaging.

2020 Foods 122 citations
Article Tier 2

Structure, Properties and Recent Developments in Polysaccharides and Aliphatic Polyesters-Based Biopackaging – A Review

This review examined the structure, properties, and recent developments in polysaccharide and aliphatic polyester-based biopolymers for food packaging applications, assessing their potential to replace conventional petroleum-based packaging materials. The paper evaluated performance characteristics including barrier properties, mechanical strength, and end-of-life biodegradability.

2024 Preprints.org 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Advancements in Biodegradable Active Films for Food Packaging: Effects of Nano/Microcapsule Incorporation

This review examines how incorporating nano- and microcapsules containing natural antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds into biodegradable packaging films can extend food shelf life. Researchers found that these capsules protect the active compounds during processing and allow their controlled release over time. The technology offers a promising alternative to synthetic preservatives while also reducing reliance on conventional plastics in food packaging.

2022 Foods 135 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent Advances in Chemically Modified Cellulose and Its Derivatives for Food Packaging Applications: A Review

This review examined recent advances in chemically modified cellulose and its derivatives for food packaging applications, highlighting how cellulose-based biodegradable materials can replace petroleum-based plastics while discussing challenges in moisture barrier and mechanical properties.

2022 Polymers 95 citations