Natural Macromolecules Used as Bioplasticizer in Polymer Materials for Food Contact Applications

ABSTRACT Synthetic plasticizers are essential additives widely used in polymer‐based products such as food packaging, toys and medical devices. Despite their functional properties, they present significant environmental and human health risks due to their toxicity and migration behaviour. Growing awareness of these adverse effects has driven interest in the development of bio‐based plasticizers derived from natural resources. In recent years, natural plasticizers have emerged as promising alternatives, offering advantages such as low toxicity, biodegradability and reduced migration. Their application is particularly relevant in the food packaging industry, where the transition towards sustainable materials has gained great interest, with the growing use of biopolymers such as starch, poly(lactic acid) (PLA), chitosan and gelatin. Most of these biopolymers exhibit limitations in barrier, mechanical and processing properties, requiring the addition of plasticizers to improve their performance. Natural plasticizers provide a synergistic solution by enhancing the properties of biopolymers while maintaining the sustainability and low toxicity of the resulting materials. Furthermore, their compatibility with biopolymers and reduced migration makes them highly suitable for industrial applications. This review explores the advancements in natural plasticizers, their integration into biopolymer systems and the challenges associated with their industrial‐scale adoption for food packaging applications.