Advancements in sustainable food packaging: from eco-friendly materials to innovative technologies

The demand for sustainable food packaging solutions has escalated in response to growing environmental concerns and consumer preferences for eco-friendly products. This review delves into the realm of sustainable food packaging materials and methods, exploring their necessity, applications, and impact on advancing sustainability goals. The review begins by examining commonly used materials in food packaging and their negative environmental impacts, particularly focusing on issues like pollution and non-biodegradability. It then highlights the urgent need for eco-friendly alternatives, emphasizing the necessity to transition towards sustainable materials to mitigate ecological harm. A historical timeline contextualizes the evolution of food packaging materials, leading into an exploration of various sustainable options, from general examples to advanced technologies like bio-nanocomposites and antimicrobial packaging. Greener fabrication processes and recent advancements in sustainable materials are highlighted, showcasing innovative approaches such as hybrid nanoparticle coatings and multifunctional bio-nanocomposite films. Furthermore, the review discusses the role of chemical methods in improving packaging properties and examines recent developments in sustainable food packaging, including allicin-loaded nanofibrous films and humidity-adjustable gelatin hydrogel films. The concluding remarks emphasize the significance of these advancements in mitigating environmental impact and enhancing food safety, while also outlining future outlooks for continued innovation in sustainable food packaging.