Foods · 6 authors, 4 centres
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This review examines sustainable food packaging design innovations, including biobased materials and active/intelligent systems, to reduce food waste and environmental impact. A key limitation is the lack of consensus on the most sustainable alternative and challenges in waste management and recyclability.
Food packaging is essential for protecting and transporting food, but it contributes to food waste and plastic pollution, especially with urbanization and population growth. Methods: This narrative review synthesizes literature from the last decade on sustainable food packaging design, focusing on biobased materials, active and intelligent packaging, and circular economy principles. Key Results: Innovations include biobased materials such as bioplastics and composites from agri-food by-products, active packaging with natural antioxidants and antimicrobials to extend shelf-life, and intelligent packaging with sensors and indicators for real-time monitoring. Design strategies enhance barrier properties, hydrophobicity, and UV-light protection. The review notes a rapid increase in research, with a focus on improving biopolymers and developing nanocomposites. Limitations: The environmental impact of packaging is complex and depends on factors like food type, logistics, and end-of-life scenarios, with no consensus on the most sustainable alternative. Challenges include recyclability of multi-layer packaging, waste management issues, and consumer acceptance. Implications: Sustainable packaging design can reduce food waste and environmental impact, but requires holistic approaches, better waste management, and consumer education. Future research should optimize materials, scale up production, and ensure safety and recyclability.
