Packaging material pollution is currently one of the most pressing environmental problems, especially in countries with a low recycling rate. The increased awareness of environmental protection has stimulated the development of different biobased materials as matrix alternatives to petroleum-derived polymers to produce innovative biobased packaging for industrial exploitation.
Biobased packaging materials refer to materials made from renewable raw materials that have a direct or indirect natural origin, for example, paper made from wood fibers and various types of plastic made from biomass.
Properties and Benefits of Biobased Packaging Materials
The following table lists main physicochemical and functional properties of bio-based polymers, generally investigated for their application as components of packaging materials [1]. Noticeably, not all biobased materials are biodegradable, and not all biodegradable materials are biobased.
| Biobased Packaging Materials |
|---|
- Color
- Transparency
- Thickness
- Manipulability
| - Tensile strength
- Elongation at break
- Young's module
| - Water vapor barrier
- Gas Barrier
| |
- Biodegradability
- Composability
| - Molecular structure
- Thermal behavior
- Heat sealing
| - Solubility
- Swelling
- Contact angle
| - Surface & cross-section morphology
|
Biobased packaging materials present several key benefits to both the producer and the consumer, including but not limited to:
- Contributing to reducing fossil fuel dependency.
- Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Most biobased packaging materials produce less and cleaner emissions during their manufacturing processes. In addition, a large majority of biobased packaging materials are biodegradable.
- Changes in textures, shapes, coatings, and substrate thicknesses of biobased packaging materials make them more adaptable and cost-effective.
Common Biobased Packaging Materials
Biobased materials can be produced using different methods: either directly from natural substances that include polysaccharides and proteins, or by polymerization of monomers derived from biomass, such as polylactic acid (PLA). Other biopolymers can be produced by microorganisms such as polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). The following table summaries the main characteristics of bio-based materials for packaging and textile applications.
Bio-Based
Material | Synthetic/
Non-Synthetic | Classification | Common Feedstock or Source | Monomer/
Sub-Unit |
|---|
| Polylactic Acid (PLA) | Synthetic | Aliphatic Polyester | Corn, Corn Stover, Sugarcane, Bagasse, Sugar beet, Rice hulls | Lactic Acid (L- and
D-Isomers) |
Polyethylene
Furanoate (PEF) | Synthetic | Aliphatic Polyester | Corn, Wheat | 2,5-FurandicarboXylic Acid, Monoethylene Glycol |
Polybutylene
Succinate (PBS) | Synthetic | Aliphatic Polyester | Sugar Cane, Sugar beet, Corn, Potato, Wheat | Succinic Acid and
1,4-Butanediol |
| Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) | Non-Synthetic | Aliphatic Polyester (Family) | Sugars and emerging trials with waste biomass | Depending on the Sub Type |
| Cellulose | Non-Synthetic | Polysaccharid | Plant material | β-D-Glucose |
| Starch | Non-Synthetic | Polysaccharid | Potatoes, Corn, Wheat, Rice, Tapioca | D-Glucose |
| Protein | Non-Synthetic | Proteins | Plants and animals | Amino Acids |
| Lipids and Waxes | Non-Synthetic | Lipids | Plants and animals | Fatty Acids and Other Hydrocarbons |
Application areas
Alfa Chemistry is a professional supplier of biobased products used in packaging materials. For high quality products, professional technical service, use suggestion and latest industry news, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Porta R., Sabbah M., Di Pierro P.. Bio-Based Materials for Packaging. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 3611.
- Reichert C.L., Bugnicourt E., Coltelli M.-B., et al. Bio-Based Packaging: Materials, Modifications, Industrial Applications and Sustainability. Polymers 2020, 12, 1558.
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