Potential Use of Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) Biopolymers in Edible Food Packaging

The increasing interest in environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and edible packaging materials today has brought the use of agricultural-derived functional biopolymers to the forefront. The carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) pod, with its rich biopolymer components such as carob gum (LBG) in its seeds and pectin and cellulose in its pulp, has high potential in the development of edible packaging matrices. Although these biopolymers exhibit limited water vapor barrier capacity due to their hydrophilic nature, they provide moderate to high barrier properties against oxygen and carbon dioxide. Synergistic effects obtained with different polymer combinations in packaging production can strengthen barrier and durability properties, and the inclusion of plasticizers such as polyethylene glycol and sorbitol in the packaging matrix can improve flexibility, homogeneity, and processability. Furthermore, the inclusion of antimicrobial, antioxidant, and nutritional components in the matrix can impart active functions to the packaging. Carob is of strategic importance in agriculture due to its adaptation to arid climates, its efficient use of water resources thanks to its deep root system, and its erosion-preventing properties. Consequently, the utilization of carob pod and its by-products in edible packaging applications has the potential to significantly contribute to reducing the use of synthetic plastics and promoting ecological and agricultural sustainability.