Sustainable Polymer Biocomposites for Food Packaging: Green Nanotechnology, Circular Plastic Upcycling and Smart Functional Materials

ABSTRACT The fundamental hypothesis behind this review is that the combination of biodegradable polymer‐based biocomposites, which also have incorporated multifunctional nanomaterials, can lead to food packaging that is both sustainable and of high quality. In recent studies, biocomposites that have been made using PLA, PHA and starch mixtures with natural fibre reinforcements and nanofillers have been found to display superior mechanical properties and barrier characteristics, such as a decrease of 25%–50% in oxygen permeability rate. Further, the inclusion of additional additives like nanoparticles that possess antimicrobial properties and antioxidants derived from nature provides for active packaging functionality, with the efficiency of microorganism removal reaching as much as 99.9%. The combination of stimuli‐sensitive sensors along with nano‐components also facilitates intelligent packaging development, which allows real‐time monitoring of freshness.