Can sustainable packaging help to reduce food waste? A status quo focusing plant-derived polymers and additives
The promotion of sustainable packaging is part of the European Green Deal and plays a key role in the EU’s social and political strategy. One option is the use of renewable resources and biomass waste as raw materials for polymer production. Lignocellulose biomass from annual and perennial industrial crops and agricultural residues are a major source of polysaccharides, proteins, and lignin and can also be used to obtain plant-based extracts and essential oils. Therefore, these biomasses are considered as potential substitute for fossil-based resources. Here, the status quo of bio-based polymers is discussed and evaluated in terms of properties related to packaging applications such as gas and water vapor permeability as well as mechanical properties. So far, their practical use is still restricted due to lower performance in fundamental packaging functions that directly influence food quality and safety, the length of shelf life, and thus the amount of food waste. Besides bio-based polymers, this review focuses on plant extracts as active packaging agents. Incorporating extracts of herbs, flowers, trees, and their fruits is inevitable to achieve desired material properties that are capable to prolong the food shelf life. Finally, the adoption potential of packaging based on polymers from renewable resources is discussed from a bioeconomy perspective.
Main Authors: | Korte, Imke, Kreyenschmidt, Judith, Wensing, Joana, Bröring, Stefanie, Frase, Jan Niklas, Pude, Ralf, Konow, Christopher, Havelt, Thomas, Rumpf, Jessica, Schmitz, Michaela, Schulze, Margit |
---|---|
Format: | Article/Letter to editor biblioteca |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | Active packaging, Bio-based polymers, Bioeconomy, Essential oil, Food waste, Natural additives, Permeability, Plant extracts, Shelf life, Sustainable packaging, |
Online Access: | https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/can-sustainable-packaging-help-to-reduce-food-waste-a-status-quo- |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Similar Items
-
Sandwich-Architectured Poly(lactic acid)-Graphene Composite Food Packaging Films
by: Goh, Kunli, et al. -
Assessing the environmental consequences of shelf life extension: Conventional versus active packaging for pastry cream
by: Settier Ramírez, Laura, et al.
Published: (2021-12-16) -
Coffee by-product cascara as an edible active coating for enhancing hazelnut preservation and packaging
by: Turan, Deniz, et al. -
Valorisation of vine shoots for the development of cellulose-based biocomposite films with improved performance and bioactivity
by: Benito González, Isaac, et al.
Published: (2020-10-03) -
Phytochemical-loaded electrospun nanofibers as novel active edible films: Characterization and antibacterial efficiency in cheese slices
by: Göksen, Gülden, et al.
Published: (2020-01-23)