Review of bioplastics as food packaging materials

Abstract

<abstract> In this paper, food packaging materials and bioplastics applied as materials for food packaging are reviewed. Other possible materials, such as plastics, paper, metal, and glass, are also discussed. The advantages and disadvantages of every material are highlighted. The awareness of sustainability and the depletion of petroleum sources have contributed to the studies or innovations of using green materials, such as starch/polylactide, as food packaging. Bioplastic materials have several weaknesses in terms of their mechanical and barrier properties that have resulted in several studies on composite systems. These weaknesses have been reviewed and analyzed to determine the potential of bioplastic composites for application as food packaging materials. </abstract>