Consumer Nanoproducts Based on Polymer Nanocomposites for Food Packaging

Abstract

Polymers are one of the main materials of choice in food packaging applications because of their performance, cost effectiveness, and durability. Recently, changes in consumer concerns about sustainability and environmental impact have led to the development of new bio-based polymer materials as alternatives to the traditional plastics derived from non-renewable sources. A food container has to be lightweight to reduce the cost of production, but at the same time must be resistant to withstand handling, transport and storage. It also must protect the food from external agents such as microorganisms, and should avoid the migration of small particles for maintaining quality foodstuff. In this sense, biodegradable polymers are very promising for food packaging applications but present lower mechanical and barrier properties. Scientific community applied innovative strategies in order to enhance the performance of biobased polymers for food packaging applications. Several reports have demonstrated that nanotechnology could improve physical properties of biopolymers, including mechanical strength, thermal stability, and high barrier properties against the permeability of oxygen, carbon dioxide, flavor compounds, and water vapor. Additionally, several nanostructures present antimicrobial and antibacterial properties useful to provide active nanotechnology-based consumer products for food packaging systems.This chapter focuses on how the use of nanotechnology can improve the performance of environmentally friendly packaging materials and promote the use of biopolymers in food packaging applications.