Sustainable active food packaging

The various environmental factors, such as light, oxygen, humidity, heat, temperature, and spoilage bacteria, contribute to significant food loss. Various strategies to safeguard food products, such as proper packaging systems, must be developed to enhance the quality, stability, and shelf-life of food. Considering this, innovative food packaging methods are being researched to improve food safety and quality. Furthermore, the commonly used fossil-derived petroleum-based packaging materials are harmful to human health and the environment. Based on this, the focus has shifted to developing sustainable active packaging films that combine biodegradable polymers and green active compounds as a viable alternative for conventional food packaging materials. Active packaging materials generally interact with food, release active compounds such as antimicrobials and antioxidants, and remove harmful gases that can reduce product quality and shelf life. Based on this discussion, the chapter discusses the potential of various sustainable active ingredients incorporated in eco-friendly polymer matrices, considering their abundance, safety (biocompatibility, biodegradability, and nontoxicity), along with their economic and environmental aspects. Additionally, the role of various additives in delivering additional functional and structural properties to packaging materials has also been discussed.