Biopackaging and biodegradable materials in the food industry.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63618/omd/revinvlid/v3/n3/55Keywords:
biopackaging, biopolymers, biodegradability, food industry, circular economyAbstract
The generation of plastic waste and the limitations of post-consumption management intensified the need for sustainable packaging alternatives for the food industry in Ecuador and Latin America. The study aimed to analyze the potential of bio-packaging and biodegradable materials, considering their properties, applications, technical performance, environmental impact, economic viability, and conditions for industrial incorporation. A qualitative, documentary, non-experimental, cross-sectional, and exploratory research was developed, based on scientific literature, technical reports, regulations, and sectoral data published between 2020 and 2025. The results showed a predominance of films and coatings made with starch, cellulose, chitosan, proteins, polylactic acid, and polyhydroxyalkanoates, along with advances in flexibility, barrier properties, and biodegradation. However, higher costs compared to conventional polymers, sensitivity to moisture, scalability restrictions, and limited separation and treatment infrastructure were identified. The evidence indicated that sustainability does not solely depend on the biological origin of the material, but on its ability to preserve food and adapt to the territorial context. It was concluded that its adoption requires integrating functional performance, economic viability, agro-industrial utilization, and post-consumption management, thru a systemic relationship between food, packaging, and territory (Ghasemlou et al., 2024).
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