BIODEGRADATION AND ECOTOXICOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF FOOD FILMS BASED ON POLYCAPROLACTONE AND MODIFIED STARCH

The global issue of plastic pollution necessitates the development of sustainable biodegradable materials. Traditional plastic packaging takes hundreds of years to degrade, accumulating in soil, water bodies, and ecosystems. This study investigates the biodegradation process of food films based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and modified starch, as well as their environmental impact. The degradation rate of these films was analyzed under natural and composting conditions, along with their resistance to microbial exposure. The results demonstrated that biodegradation is directly influenced by starch content: higher concentrations led to faster degradation, making the films more adaptable to natural environmental cycles. In composting environments, decomposition occurred at a significantly accelerated rate compared to natural soil conditions, suggesting their potential for industrial composting. However, a higher PCL content slowed down biodegradation while increasing film stability. Ecotoxicological studies confirmed that the degradation products of these films did not negatively affect soil microbial activity, indicating their environmental safety. These findings highlight the potential of PCL-starch composites as eco-friendly packaging solutions. The study underscores the necessity for further optimization of biodegradable film formulations to enhance their performance in different environmental settings. Implementing these materials in commercial packaging could significantly reduce plastic waste and environmental pollution.