Bioplastics for Food Packaging: Environmental Impact, Trends and Regulatory Aspects
Rui M. S. Cruz,
Victoria Krauter,
Simon Krauter,
Sofia Agriopoulou,
Ramona Weinrich,
Carsten Herbes,
Philip B. V. Scholten,
Ilke Uysal-Unalan,
Ece Sogut,
Samir Kopacic,
Johanna Lahti,
Ramune Rutkaite,
Theodoros Varzakas
Affiliations
Rui M. S. Cruz
Department of Food Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Campus da Penha, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Victoria Krauter
Packaging and Resource Management, Department Applied Life Sciences, FH Campus Wien, University of Applied Sciences, 1100 Vienna, Austria
Simon Krauter
Packaging and Resource Management, Department Applied Life Sciences, FH Campus Wien, University of Applied Sciences, 1100 Vienna, Austria
Sofia Agriopoulou
Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Peloponnese, 24100 Kalamata, Greece
Ramona Weinrich
Department of Consumer Behaviour in the Bioeconomy, University of Hohenheim, Wollgrasweg 49, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Carsten Herbes
Institute for International Research on Sustainable Management and Renewable Energy, Nuertingen Geislingen University, Neckarsteige 6-10, 72622 Nuertingen, Germany
Philip B. V. Scholten
Bloom Biorenewables, Route de l’Ancienne Papeterie 106, 1723 Marly, Switzerland
Ilke Uysal-Unalan
Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
Ece Sogut
Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
Samir Kopacic
Institute for Bioproducts and Paper Technology, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 23, 8010 Graz, Austria
Johanna Lahti
Sustainable Products and Materials, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Visiokatu 4, 33720 Tampere, Finland
Ramune Rutkaite
Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilenu Rd 19, 50254 Kaunas, Lithuania
Theodoros Varzakas
Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Peloponnese, 24100 Kalamata, Greece
The demand to develop and produce eco-friendly alternatives for food packaging is increasing. The huge negative impact that the disposal of so-called “single-use plastics” has on the environment is propelling the market to search for new solutions, and requires initiatives to drive faster responses from the scientific community, the industry, and governmental bodies for the adoption and implementation of new materials. Bioplastics are an alternative group of materials that are partly or entirely produced from renewable sources. Some bioplastics are biodegradable or even compostable under the right conditions. This review presents the different properties of these materials, mechanisms of biodegradation, and their environmental impact, but also presents a holistic overview of the most important bioplastics available in the market and their potential application for food packaging, consumer perception of the bioplastics, regulatory aspects, and future challenges.
