Biodegradable

packaging

Report

Prepared by: B.M.N.N Balasooriya

Registration number: GAM/FT/2019/F/ 0078
Department: Food Technology
1. Introduction alternative packaging, which are eco-

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friendly, with a major emphasis to safe
Packaging is any product that is used to guard our environment is the needed
hold, protection, handling, delivery and measure to combat this issue. Such a
presentation of goods, from raw materials packaging must be easily degradable. The
to finished products, from producers to term biodegradable refers to those
consumers. Packaging is usually divided materials that could be easily decomposed
according to the basic raw material of by the enzymatic action of the microbes
which is produced according to the type of within a short period of time.
packaging material can be divided into
metal, glass, polymer, paper cardboard,
wood, textile, multilayered, ceramic and
other types.
Food and beverage packaging must meet a
number of conditions, such as legislation,
safety and many other conditions as well
as functionality since it is required to be
innovative, easy to use and attractive
design, one of the main task of packaging 2. History of bioplastic
in the food industry is to protect the
product of chemical, mechanical, and Historically, the very first plastic materials
microbiological impact, and also allows used industrially by man were of natural
the freshness of the product and keeps all origin before mastering monomers obtain
its nutritional values. The key point in from refining oil, starting from the 1930s,
food packaging is that the packaging is an several objects used in daily life were
integral part of the production, manufactured using bio-based polymers.
preservation, storage, distribution, and at The resources used were natural rubber
the present time and an integral part of the (discovered in the 18th century), cellulose
preparation of foods. The properties of the with Parkesine, Celluloid or even
food product are only possible to maintain Cellophane at the end of the 19th century.
proper selection of the appropriate The beginning of the 20th or even milk
packaging and packing process. components like casein which resulted in
the manufacturing of Galalith in 1897.
Plastic based packaging has been widely Decades later in 1947, Rilsan (or
used since decades. These materials made Polyamide 11) was the first technical
from petroleum-based derivatives take bioplastic introduced on the market, with
many years for decomposing thereby its excellent mechanical properties and
polluting the environment and affecting chemical resistance. It was then followed
the fauna and flora. Dumping plastic waste in the 1990s by bioplastics which are well-
makes the harmful chemicals to leach known today, PLA, PHAs or even
down in the soil affecting the soil fertility plasticized starches which benefited from
and incinerating these wastes emits toxic the rapid technical advances in green
gases which are harmful to the chemistry and white chemistry in recovery
environment. Recycling of plastic waste is of biomass (starches, sugars, cellulose,
not a permanent solution because of the etc). In addition to bio-based and / or
additives and color present. Hence biodegradable polymers which are created
regularly like PEF, the main developments
are based on the diversification of the positive effects on maintaining the quality

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resources used to produce these materials, and content of pectic substances while the
with the essential part of the work been fruits of Solanum muricatum, protective
focused on the reclamation of by-products gel positive effect on maintaining the beta-
or waste material from various biomasses. carotene. Radish gel coat starch-based
proved effective to maintain the content of
3. Biopolymers / biomaterials pectin while the same is not performed
well for content Glucosinolate. It has been
Biomaterials are polymers produced from
found that a combination of hydrogels for
renewable sources. Polymers are
various polymeric materials reduce the
manufactured from plant raw materials, in
service life of certain fruits, probably due
the first place, but in recent times and of
to migration of water from the surrounding
animal. Their main feature is their
area. White extruded ginseng extract has
biodegradability classified in many ways
good potential to maintain the
such as, chemical structure, origin,
concentration of antioxidants if used
methods of synthesis, cost-effectiveness,
together with biodegradable stretch film.
application etc.
Polymers from renewable resources are
different from natural polymers because
4.2 Biodegradable films
Biodegradable films are designed with the
their synthesis is induced intentionally.
intention of replacing the polyethylene
Conventional polymers are not
film used for different purposes, from
biodegradable because of long chains of
various industrial films, packaging
molecules that are too big and too well
products to the bag for the collection of
connected to each other to make them able
organic waste. Such materials have better
to separate the microorganisms to break
properties than traditional non-degradable
down. Unlike conventional, polymers
plastics. They are resistant to moisture,
made from natural plant materials from
warm organic materials for a period of
wheat, potato or corn starches have
several weeks or even months without
molecules that are easily microbiologically
changes in physical properties. This allows
degradable. Thus, biopolymers are used to
greater flexibility composting program.
manufacture various kinds of
Good as a replacement for current films
biodegradable packages.
used in storage, transport and packaging of
4. Bio packaging forms the product and are completely
biodegradable. In addition, do not contain
Biodegradable packaging is produced in polyethylene, do not leave residues after
several different forms to adapt to the composting and are made from renewable
requirements for packaging and storage of biomaterials (polyester derived from corn
various products currently the most dextrose). A comparative study of the
biodegradable gels, films, bags, boxes with permeability of the biodegradable film for
lids and trays. oxygen and carbon dioxide as a form of
packaging for the fruit of tomatoes showed
4.1 Biodegradable gel that films with low permeability negatively
The gels are commonly used to prevent affected the quality of the fruit. However,
microbial contamination, such as a when the permeability of the
hydrogel, the hydrogel chemical and biodegradable films is into line with the
polymeric network (IPN). In lettuce, for respiration of the fruit, the prevention of
example, impregnating gel no visible
contamination by microorganisms and water. By using natural raw materials, are

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insects achieved a positive effect on the not diminished physical properties of this
durability and quality. Compared with product, but on the contrary, they are
polyphenol foil, biodegradable film improved. Biodegradable bags are strong,
permeability is significantly decreased. flexible, resistant to breakage and damage,
Two kinds of experimental films have and resistant to moisture and temperature
been applied to freshly chopped pineapple changes because of its raw material
and melon and observed for their influence composition, the largest application with
on the microbiological quality control of the food industry. Tests show that these
the fruit during storage at 10 °C. The types bags are safe packaging, and can be used
of films that were used in this study are for the storage and packaging of food
commercial plastic stretch film and products. The addition of certain additives,
experimental methyl-cellulose film that the use of bags extends to other industrial
includes vanilla as a natural antimicrobial branches. Prednost application of
agent. Fresh sliced fruit, without any foil biodegradable bags is not only the
wrapping was used as a control. Methyl- functionality but also the fulfillment of all
cellulose film had inhibitory effect against the rules of environmental protection.
Escherichia coli, and the yeast was Upon completion of use bags as
reduced was recorded. Methyl cellulose packaging, the bags when disposing of the
films with vanillin increased the intensity land or compost decomposable to carbon
of the yellow color with pineapple. dioxide and water, over a period of several
Pineapple which was guarded in an weeks, and at the same time does not
ordinary commercial plastic film had a diminish the value of the resulting
larger amount of ethanol. However, with compost, which makes this container
pieces of pineapple coated biodegradable substantially different from previously
film with vanillin recorded a decrease of known polyethylene.
ascorbic acid by 90 %.

4.4 Biodegradable boxes with lids

4.3 Biodegradable bags
Box with a cover made of bi-oriented
The production technology is based on the
polystyrene, produced from corn. Such
use of biomaterials, namely polyester
packaging is biodegradable after 47 days,
obtained from dextrose corn as the main
depending on the conditions, and the
raw material. Thus, was obtained 100 %
process does not release harmful
biodegradable packaging, which is the
substances into the environment. It is
influence of microorganisms in conditions
crystal clear, allowing better visibility of
such as normal composting degraded
contents, and is resistant to grease and
organic material to carbon dioxide and
withstands temperatures from –60 °C to or silver particles have an antibacterial

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+80 °C. PLA containers significantly effect. Silver is used today in the food
better maintain fruit quality blueberries packaging system. Food longer maintains
from standard ventilated switching the quality texture, improve its storage
containers at temperatures between 10 and capacity and maintain food security
23 °C. addition of silver in the packaging. Silver
as an element in the production of
biodegradable packaging has antibacterial
role. It damages the cell walls, cell
membranes and cytoplasm of bacteria.
More recent studies have found that silver
also affects the replication of DNA. Silver
may be incorporated in the biopolymer in
the form of pure silver, silver coated, or in
the form of microparticles. Biodegradable
film with silver is preferred over any other
packaging materials because of its
4.5 Trays for fruits and vegetables suppleness and exceptional adhesion
It was found that salad, and sliced ability to fruit. It is used for packaging
broccoli, tomatoes, sweet corn and fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as for
blueberries can be successfully kept in storage and transportation of food. The
biodegradable trays of pulp wrapped in product meets the requirements on sanitary
foil packaging of poured-caprolactone. objects that come into direct contact with
Such patches are resistant to moisture but food.
brittle. Correspond to the products during
freezing them does not change their 5. Advantages and
structural properties well.
disadvantages of using
biodegradable food packaging
By studying the available literature can be
found arguments for both positive and
negative characteristics of bio-packaging.
The good is the fact that all of the research
leading to the fact that the disadvantages
of bio-packaging and to eliminate its
production continues to grow. There are
many different opinions, different experts
who express their opinions on bio-
packaging as something good or as
something that will become a reality.
4.6 biodegradable packaging with Below are separated some of the
silver advantages and disadvantages of bio-
Silver is used in the fight against infection packaging.
and deterioration even in ancient Greece
and Rome. In the 19th century botanist
von Nagel found that small concentrations
 Advantages Disadvantages 6. The impacts of food

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Easy to recycle Engineering problems packaging materials on the
consume less energy Need for costly environment
during manufacture equipment for both
processing and
recycling The trouble with food packaging begins
Reduce the amount of Risk of contamination at its creation. Each form of packaging
waste produced due to confusion uses a lot of resources like energy, water,
differentiating between chemicals, petroleum, minerals, wood
biodegradable and non- and fibers to produce. Its manufacture
biodegradable often generates air emissions including
packages greenhouse gases, heavy metals and
Lower petroleum Biodegradable particulates, as well as wastewater and/or
consumption packages may produce sludge containing toxic contaminants.
methane in landfills
Composability biodegradable
packages do not solve 6.1 Some food and beverage
ocean pollution packaging materials and their
problems harmful substances
Reduction of CO2 There is a need for
levels more crops and
croplands to produce 6.1.1 Glass manufacturing
biodegradable In glass manufacturing, feedstock
packages material is melted by burning fossil
Reduction of Biodegradable fuels, such as natural gas, light and
emission of packages come at a heavy fuel oils and liquefied petroleum
greenhouse gas levels high cost gas. Air emissions that result from
Do not release Biodegradable combustion of fuels include greenhouse
harmful products packages may contain gases, sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides.
upon decomposing metals Emissions that result from vaporization
Broken down by Need to be disposed of and recrystallization of feedstock
bacteria that occur in very particular material include fine particulates that can
naturally methods
contain heavy metals such as arsenic and
Can mix with Require water to
lead.
traditional products decompose properly
Can be made to Herbicides and
decompose under pesticides are not
specific conditions accounted for
Not toxic The lack of arable land
(future)
Reduced dependence composability
on oil
A single bad property
The awareness of
people
Short lived
Installation for the 6.1.2 Aluminum production
production Aluminum production is the result of
mined bauxite that is smelted into
alumina. This energy-intensive process oxides, volatile organic compounds and

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uses a lot of water and creates a toxic particulates.
sludge that is caustic and may contain
radioactive elements or heavy metals, 6.1.4 Plastic production
making its management complicated. The major source of feedstocks for plastics
Emissions include greenhouse gases, production is natural gas, derived either
sulfur dioxide, dust, polycyclic aromatic from natural gas processing or from crude
hydrocarbons and wastewater. oil refining. There are seven types of
plastics polymers that account for 70
percent of all plastics production,
including: polypropylene, polystyrene,
polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene
terephthalate and polyethylene, all of
which are derived from fossil fuels and are
used in food packaging.
6.1.3 Paper and paperboard
Plastics manufacturing is responsible for a
manufacturing
significant amount of greenhouse gas
The paper and paperboard industry use
emissions. Other air emissions from
wood that is milled into pulp using either
plastics production include nitrous oxides,
mechanical or chemical processes. It also
hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and
uses plant fibers like cotton, linen and
sulfur hexafluoride.
hemp, as well as grasses like straw, wheat
and kenaf (an African fiber plant). The
manufacturing process can create air and
water emissions. Mills use a lot of energy
and water; in the past, this produced large
volumes of toxic wastewater. Now much
of the water is recycled and modern
processes in some mills produce no liquid
effluents. Primary air emissions include
carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen

6.2 Water and land pollution from

the food and beverage packaging
materials

After it is used, most packaging is

discarded and is either buried in a landfill
or becomes litter that is carried along by
wind and water currents into the
environment. Packaging sent to landfills,
especially when made from plastics, does
not degrade quickly or, in some cases, at
all, and chemicals from the packaging
materials, including inks and dyes from
labeling, can leach into groundwater and coffee pods, straws, Styrofoam containers,

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soil. plastic bottles and their caps, plastic
wraps, six-pack holders and plastic
The severe impacts of plastic on the grocery bags, most is designed for single
environment are not limited to ocean use. If it isn’t recycled, it often clogs our
pollution, however. One study estimated waterways, where animals mistake it for
that one third of all discarded plastic ends food or get tangled in it.
up in soil or in freshwater. Some scientists
believe that microplastic (plastics less than All the plastic floating around the oceans
five millimeters) pollution in soils around is incredibly harmful to animals. Stories
the world is an even more severe problem abound of dead birds found with stomachs
than microplastic plastic pollution in our full of plastics, turtles with straws stuck in
oceans-an estimated four to 23 times more their noses, whales with plastic bags in
severe, depending on the environment. their stomachs and animals with plastic
Microplastics in soil have a number of bags and six-pack rings wrapped around
detrimental effects, including impacting their bodies. According to Ocean
the behavior of soil fauna like earthworms Conservancy, “Plastic has been found in
and carrying disease. 59 percent of sea birds like albatross and
pelicans, in 100 percent of sea turtle
Some food packaging materials degrade species and in more than 25 percent of fish
relatively quickly; others will take sampled from seafood markets around the
hundreds to even a million years to world.”
degrade.
It is estimated that there are billions of
How long it takes food packaging to pounds of plastic made up of trillions of
biodegrade pieces swirling around the oceans, carried
along by the currents. Only about five
percent of that plastic mass is visible on
the surface; the rest is floating below or
has settled out onto the ocean floor.

6.4 Air pollution from food and

beverage packaging

Food packaging waste that isn’t recycled

or composted is typically landfilled or
incinerated. While both options have
benefits for waste management, they both
produce air emissions, including
greenhouse gases. Landfills emit ammonia
6.3 The impact of food and beverage and hydrogen sulfide and incinerators can
packaging on birds and marine emit mercury, lead, hydrogen chloride,
Mammals sulfur dioxides, nitrous oxides and
particulates.
Beyond its unsightliness, as it spreads out
to the far reaches of our planet, litter from 7. Conclusion
food packaging poses a threat to marine
life and birds; plastic is the worst offender, Eco-friendly living is becoming more and
by far. Of all the coffee cups and lids, more popular. As a life style, it brings a
new level of environmental responsibility

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to actions of businesses and individuals
around the globe. Using natural
biodegradable packaging is fast growing
trend in the food industry. Thus, it is better
to use eco-friendly packaging which are
made of natural resources for the
betterment of mankind as well as the
nature.

8. References
1. Journal of Food Safety and Food
Quality 68, Heft 2 (2017), Seiten 23–
52

2. Foodpackagingfourum.org-food
packaging materials

3. matmatch.com -materials-used-in-
food-packaging

4. Packagingeurope.com

5. www.agriculturaljournal.org

6. www.slideshare.net/biodegradable-
packaging

7. Biodegradable plastic-Wikipedia

8. Desjardin blog – what is

biodegradable packaging

9. Bioplasticsnews.com

10. Blog.hiperbaric.com -biodegradable

packaging, areal alternative in the
food industry

11. Natureplasr.eu -History of bio plastics

12. Bio-origins.com-Benefits of using

biodegradable food packaging

13. Matmatch.com-Materials used in food

packaging

14. Foodprint.org-The environmental

impact of food packaging