Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Development of sago-based edible plastic as primary packaging for instant food products

Researchers developed a sago-based edible plastic as primary packaging for instant food products as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics that contribute to microplastic pollution. The bio-based packaging was designed to be safe for food contact and to reduce the accumulation of persistent plastic waste in ecosystems.

2025 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science
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

Biodegradable and edible film: A counter to plastic pollution

This paper reviews biodegradable and edible films as alternatives to conventional plastic packaging in the food industry, which contributes a major share of global plastic waste. While not a complete solution, these alternative materials could meaningfully reduce plastic pollution if adopted more widely in food packaging applications.

2020 International Journal of Chemical Studies 18 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

Starch-based edible packaging: rheological, thermal, mechanical, microstructural, and barrier properties – a review

This review examines starch-based edible packaging as an alternative to conventional plastic packaging, looking at how oils and nanoparticles can improve these biodegradable films. While not directly about microplastic health effects, replacing traditional plastic packaging with edible, plant-based materials could significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste that breaks down into microplastics. These alternatives could help decrease human exposure to microplastics from food packaging.

2024 Sustainable Food Technology 72 citations
Article Tier 2

Desarrollo de biopelículas degradables a partir de harina de fruta de pan (Artocarpus altilis), como alternativa al uso de plásticos sintéticos convencionales

Biodegradable biofilms were developed from breadfruit flour (Artocarpus altilis) as a sustainable alternative to conventional synthetic plastic packaging. The biofilms were characterized for physical, mechanical, and barrier properties, offering a compostable food packaging material that reduces microplastic waste.

2024 Tierra Infinita
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

Starch/Pectin as Emerging Renewable Materials for Fabrication of Sustainable Bioplastics for Food Packaging Applications

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper describes the development of biodegradable food packaging films made from plant-based starch, pectin, and chitosan, focused on replacing conventional plastics rather than studying their pollution.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
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

Optimization Methods and Food Safety Consideration of Edible Film: A Mini Review

This mini-review explores edible films made from natural biopolymers like proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastic food packaging. Researchers discuss optimization techniques for improving edible film properties and reducing production costs, along with safety considerations including FDA compliance and toxicity testing. The study highlights the potential of edible films to reduce reliance on non-biodegradable plastics and their associated microplastic accumulation.

2025 The Journal of Experimental Life Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthesis and characterization of a biodegradable film from eggshell and green banana starch

Researchers synthesized and characterized a biodegradable film using eggshell and green banana starch as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, evaluating its material properties as part of an effort to address plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production.

2024 Minerva Digital Library (Universidad EAN)
Article Tier 2

A Review of Recent Developments in Edible Films and Coatings-Focus on Whey-Based Materials

This review examines how edible films and coatings made from whey protein could serve as biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based plastic packaging for food. By replacing conventional plastic wrapping, these materials could help reduce microplastic generation from food packaging, which is a significant source of human microplastic exposure.

2024 Foods 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Study of structure and properties of biodegradable composite films based on thermoplastic starch

Researchers studied the structure and properties of biodegradable thermoplastic starch composites as potential replacements for conventional polyethylene plastics. Using starch — a natural, renewable polymer — as a filler in plastic films could reduce microplastic pollution by enabling faster environmental breakdown.

2023 E3S Web of Conferences
Article Tier 2

Xyloglucan films from tamarind kernels reinforced with chemically modified cellulose nanospheres

Researchers developed biodegradable films from tamarind kernel xyloglucan reinforced with chemically modified cellulose nanospheres as an alternative to conventional plastic food packaging. The bio-based films showed improved mechanical and barrier properties, offering a renewable approach to reducing microplastic and nanoplastic generation from the food packaging sector.

2025 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Advancements in the biopolymer films for food packaging applications: a short review

This review covers advances in biodegradable biopolymer films being developed to replace conventional plastic food packaging, which breaks down into microplastics that contaminate soil and water. While these plant-based alternatives show promise for reducing microplastic pollution, they still need improvements in strength and durability before they can compete with conventional plastics at commercial scale.

2024 Biotechnology for Sustainable Materials 43 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
Article Tier 2

Development and Characterization of Bio-Based Composite Films for Food Packing Applications Using Boiled Rice Water and Pistacia vera Shells

Not a microplastics paper — this study develops and tests biodegradable food packaging films made from boiled rice water and pistachio shell powder as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic packaging.

2023 Polymers 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioplastics Made From Starch as Conventional Plastic Substitutes: Evaluation of Physical Properties and Biodegradation

Researchers developed bioplastic films from Sechium edule and Phaseolus vulgaris starches using the casting method and evaluated their physical properties and biodegradation under in vitro, over-soil, and soil burial conditions, identifying formulations with suitable properties for replacing conventional plastics.

2024
Article Tier 2

Food packaging Bio-based plastics: Properties, Renewable Biomass resources, Synthesis, and Applications

This review covers bio-based plastics made from renewable biomass sources as alternatives to petroleum-based packaging, aiming to reduce plastic pollution and extend food shelf life. While bio-based plastics can reduce environmental impact at end of life, their behavior after disposal and whether they generate microplastics still requires careful evaluation.

2023 Proceedings of the Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies
Article Tier 2

Novel and Facile Synthesis of Biodegradable Plastic Films from Cornmeal by Using the Microwave Polymerization Technique

Researchers developed a novel method to synthesize biodegradable plastic films from cornmeal using microwave polymerization, combining cornmeal, glycerin, and vinegar to produce a biodegradable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics with measured rheological and mechanical properties.

2022 Journal of Chemistry 4 citations