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Review
. 2022 Aug 26;15(17):5899.
doi: 10.3390/ma15175899.

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

Vatsla Gupta  1 , Deblina Biswas  1 , Swarup Roy  1
Affiliations
Review

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

Vatsla Gupta et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

Food sectors are facing issues as a result of food scarcity, which is exacerbated by rising populations and demand for food. Food is ordinarily wrapped and packaged using petroleum-based plastics such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and others. However, the excessive use of these polymers has environmental and health risks. As a result, much research is currently focused on the use of bio-based materials for food packaging. Biodegradable polymers that are compatible with food products are used to make edible packaging materials. These can be ingested with food and provide consumers with additional health benefits. Recent research has shifted its focus to multilayer coatings and films-based food packaging, which can provide a material with additional distinct features. The aim of this review article is to investigate the properties and applications of several bio-based polymers in food packaging. The several types of edible film and coating production technologies are also covered separately. Furthermore, the use of edible films and coatings in the food industry has been examined, and their advantages over traditional materials are also discussed.

Keywords: active packaging; biopolymers; edible packaging; films and coatings.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Different sources of biomaterials.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Grain and legume flours used to produce films and coatings [13].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Step-by-step showing fabrication of edible films by solvent casting method.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Extrusion technique used for the formation of films.
Figure 5
Figure 5
(a) Air spray atomization, (b) Air-assisted airless atomization [187]. (Reprinted with permission).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Panning method of edible coating.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Mechanism of active packaging on a tangerine.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Application of edible coatings on perishable foods and its benefits.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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