Biowaste: A Potential Source for Sustainable Food Packaging

ABSTRACT Biorefineries are promising to convert biowastes into useful plastic materials, which can replace non‐biodegradable plastics. Environmental and consumer concerns demand bio‐based materials as potential candidates in packing industry to replace conventional fossil fuel‐derived plastics and additives. The sustainable conversion of biowaste into plastics lowers the environmental impacts arising due to biowaste disposal by reducing the carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions. The major intention of food packaging is to maintain the nutrients and to offer extended shelf life to avoid spoilage of the food during storage and transportation. To reduce the environmental impacts of one‐time use food packaging plastic wastes, sustainable and bio‐based packaging materials are highly recommended. In the current review, the conversion of biowaste materials into value‐added food packaging materials is discussed. This review outlines the origin and performance of biopolymers (including cellulose, chitosan, starch and lignin), bio‐based monomers and additives derived from biowaste as advanced food packaging materials. We also reviewed the role of nanoparticles and nanofillers from various biowastes in fabricating advanced food packaging materials to keep freshness of the foodstuffs. Food safety can be enhanced by incorporating antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the bioderived systems, which help to extend the shelf life of the food during storage and transportation and thereby maintain the food quality.