Sustainable and Bio-Based Food Packaging: A Review on Past and Current Design Innovations.

Food loss and waste occur for many reasons, from crop processing to household leftovers. Even though some waste generation is unavoidable, a considerable amount is due to supply chain inefficiencies and damage during transport and handling. Packaging design and materials innovations represent real opportunities to reduce food waste within the supply chain.

Biobased composites from agro-industrial wastes and by-products.

The greater awareness of non-renewable natural resources preservation needs has led to the development of more ecological high-performance polymeric materials with new functionalities. In this regard, biobased composites are considered interesting options, especially those obtained from agro-industrial wastes and by-products. These are low-cost raw materials derived from renewable sources, which are mostly biodegradable and would otherwise typically be discarded.

Bio-Packaging Material Impact on Blueberries Quality Attributes under Transport and Marketing Conditions.

Blueberries are highly appreciated for their high antioxidant content but are also particularly susceptible to fungal deterioration. In this work, corn starch and chitosan, byproducts of the fishing industry, as well as active compounds obtained from citrus processing waste were used to obtain active biodegradable film packaging. Blueberries were packed in corn starch-chitosan (CS:CH) films and in active films containing lemon essential oil (LEO) or grapefruit seed extract (GSE).

Eco-compatible cassava starch films for fertilizer controlled-release.

As an attempt to tackle the environmental issues derived from the use of non-degradable plastic and fertilizers overuse, such as irreversible soil pollution, this work focuses on the development of a fertilizer controlled-release, bio-based and biodegradable composite films for agricultural applications. Cassava starch and bagasse composite materials containing urea as active compound and plasticizer were prepared to achieve this purpose, analyzing their properties and stability during storage. Moreover, their biodegradation rate and urea release in soil were also assessed.