Some error occured while loading the Quick View. Please close the Quick View and try reloading the page.
This chapter uses the principles of the circular economy to present alternatives to plastic food packaging in order to face the plastic environmental problem. One of the most promising solutions is the substitution of fossil-based polymers for bio-based and biodegradable polymers, among which polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) stand out. Recent research has shown that it is possible to obtain these biopolymers from agro-industrial and food wastes, thus reducing production costs and increasing sustainability. Bioplastics made from these biopolymers display similar properties to conventional plastic, making them possible to process using currently available technologies. Meanwhile, the design of new packaging items based on biopolymers with improved properties could help reduce both food and plastic waste. The EU-based Usable Packaging project, the objective of which was the development of a circular and vertically integrated value chain in the plastics sector, represents a clear example of efforts being made by the scientific community to bring this research to industry.
- 1 Introduction: the problem of plastic waste
- 2 Bioplastics as a promising alternative
- 3 Types of bio-based polymers
- 4 Bioplastics from renewable feedstocks: the example of polyhydroxyalkanoates from agricultural waste
- 5 Cost evaluation of biopolymers
- 6 Applications of bioplastics in food packaging
- 7 Innovative food packaging
- 8 Packaging production techniques
- 9 Case study: the Horizon 2020 Usable Packaging project
- 10 Conclusion and future research needs
- 11 References