Pulikkalparambil Harikrishnan, Varghese Sandhya Alice, Chonhenchob Vanee, Nampitch Tarinee, Jarupan Lerpong, Harnkarnsujarit Nathdanai
Department of Packaging and Materials Technology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Rd., Latyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Center for Advanced Studies for Agriculture and Food, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Rd., Latyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Polymers (Basel). 2023 Mar 10;15(6):1393. doi: 10.3390/polym15061393.
Packaging is one of the major domains in the food processing industry that reduces waste and enhances product shelf life. Recently, research and development have focused on bioplastics and bioresources to combat environmental issues caused by the alarming growth of single-use plastic waste food packaging. The demand for natural fibres has recently increased because of their low cost, biodegradability and eco-friendliness. This article reviewed recent developments in natural fibre-based food packaging materials. The first part discusses the introduction of natural fibres in food packaging, with a focus on fibre source, composition and selection parameters, while the second part investigates the physical and chemical ways to modify natural fibres. Several plant-derived fibre materials have been utilised in food packaging as reinforcements, fillers and packaging matrices. Recent investigations developed and modified natural fibre (physical and chemical treatments) into packaging using casting, melt mixing, hot pressing, compression moulding, injection moulding, etc. These techniques majorly improved the strength of bio-based packaging for commercialisation. This review also identified the main research bottlenecks and future study areas were suggested.
包装是食品加工业中减少浪费并延长产品保质期的主要领域之一。最近，研发工作聚焦于生物塑料和生物资源，以应对一次性塑料食品包装惊人增长所引发的环境问题。由于天然纤维成本低、可生物降解且环保，其需求近来有所增加。本文综述了基于天然纤维的食品包装材料的最新进展。第一部分讨论了天然纤维在食品包装中的引入，重点关注纤维来源、成分和选择参数，而第二部分则研究了改性天然纤维的物理和化学方法。几种植物衍生的纤维材料已被用作增强材料、填料和包装基体应用于食品包装。最近的研究通过浇铸、熔融混合、热压、压缩成型、注塑成型等方法，将天然纤维（物理和化学处理）开发并改性用于包装。这些技术极大地提高了生物基包装的强度，以实现商业化。本综述还确定了主要的研究瓶颈，并提出了未来的研究领域。
