Research publications on bio-based food packaging

A reading list for anyone who wants to go past summaries to the actual research. Each entry links to the original paper through its DOI and has a short note from us on what the paper is about.

We don't reproduce abstracts. The notes below are our own descriptions of each paper's topic, so always read the original before citing a result. Where a paper is open access, the DOI link takes you to the full text.

Publications from the YPACK project

CORDIS lists 30 peer-reviewed publications linked to the EU-funded YPACK project (2017-2021). Paper's below are a selection of those closest to food packaging. For background on the project see About YPACK.

PHA from food waste

• Development and Characterization of Electrospun Biopapers of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) Derived from Cheese Whey with Varying 3-Hydroxyvalerate Contents
  Melendez-Rodriguez B., Reis M.A.M., Carvalheira M., Sammon C., Cabedo L., Torres-Giner S., Lagaron J.M. (2021). Biomacromolecules.

  PHBV made from cheese whey, turned into thin fibre mats ("biopapers") by electrospinning. The study compares grades with different hydroxyvalerate content. Background in our whey article.

• Preparation and Characterization of Electrospun Food Biopackaging Films of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) Derived From Fruit Pulp Biowaste
  Melendez-Rodriguez B., Castro-Mayorga J.L., Reis M.A.M., Sammon C., Cabedo L., Torres-Giner S., Lagaron J.M. (2018). Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems.

  The same electrospinning approach, applied to PHBV produced from fruit pulp waste.

• Valorization of Municipal Biowaste into Electrospun Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) Biopapers for Food Packaging Applications
  Melendez-Rodriguez B., Torres-Giner S., Lorini L., Valentino F., Sammon C., Cabedo L., Lagaron J.M. (2020). ACS Applied Bio Materials.

  Here the PHBV comes from the organic fraction of municipal waste, a much messier feedstock than whey.

• Reactive Melt Mixing of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate)/Rice Husk Flour Composites with Purified Biosustainably Produced Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyvalerate)
  Melendez-Rodriguez B., Torres-Giner S., Aldureid A., Cabedo L., Lagaron J.M. (2019). Materials.

  Composites of PHB with rice husk flour, a farming residue, compatibilised with PHBV during melt mixing.

Barrier and multilayer films

• High-Oxygen-Barrier Multilayer Films Based on Polyhydroxyalkanoates and Cellulose Nanocrystals
  Melendez-Rodriguez B., Torres-Giner S., Angulo I., Pardo-Figuerez M., Hilliou L., Escuin J.M., Cabedo L., Nevo Y., Prieto C., Lagaron J.M. (2021). Nanomaterials.

  Multilayer films that pair PHA with cellulose nanocrystals to improve the oxygen barrier, the main weakness of PHA for fresh food.

• Development of Active Barrier Multilayer Films Based on Electrospun Antimicrobial Hot-Tack Food Waste Derived Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and Cellulose Nanocrystal Interlayers
  Figueroa-Lopez K.J., Torres-Giner S., Angulo I., Pardo-Figuerez M., Escuin J.M., Bourbon A.I., Cabedo L., Nevo Y., Cerqueira M.A., Lagaron J.M. (2020). Nanomaterials.

  Multilayer films that combine an antimicrobial, heat-sealing (hot-tack) PHBV layer made from food waste with cellulose nanocrystal interlayers for barrier.

• Film Blowing of PHB-Based Systems for Home Compostable Food Packaging
  Teixeira P.F., Covas J.A., Suarez M.J., Angulo I., Hilliou L. (2020). International Polymer Processing.

  An industrial processing question: can PHB-based materials be blown into film on standard equipment for home-compostable packaging?

Active and antimicrobial layers

• Development of electrospun active films of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) by the incorporation of cyclodextrin inclusion complexes containing oregano essential oil
  Figueroa-Lopez K.J., Enescu D., Torres-Giner S., Cabedo L., Cerqueira M.A., Pastrana L., Fuciños P., Lagaron J.M. (2020). Food Hydrocolloids.

  Oregano oil trapped in cyclodextrin, so it is released gradually from a PHBV film.

• Electrospun Antimicrobial Films of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) Containing Eugenol Essential Oil Encapsulated in Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles
  Melendez-Rodriguez B., Figueroa-Lopez K.J., Bernardos A., Martínez-Máñez R., Cabedo L., Torres-Giner S., Lagaron J.M. (2019). Nanomaterials.

  Eugenol, the main aroma compound of clove oil, held in porous silica particles inside PHBV films.

• Electrospun Active Biopapers of Food Waste Derived Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) with Short-Term and Long-Term Antimicrobial Performance
  Figueroa-Lopez K.J., Torres-Giner S., Enescu D., Cabedo L., Cerqueira M.A., Pastrana L.M., Lagaron J.M. (2020). Nanomaterials.

  Looks at how long the antimicrobial effect of food-waste PHBV biopapers lasts.

• Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Performance of Various Essential Oils and Natural Extracts and Their Incorporation into Biowaste Derived Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) Layers Made from Electrospun Ultrathin Fibers
  Figueroa-Lopez K.J., Vicente A.A., Reis M.A.M., Torres-Giner S., Lagaron J.M. (2019). Nanomaterials.

  A screening study comparing several essential oils and natural extracts before adding them to PHBV layers.

• Electrospun Oxygen Scavenging Films of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Containing Palladium Nanoparticles for Active Packaging Applications
  Cherpinski A., Gozutok M., Sasmazel H., Torres-Giner S., Lagaron J.M. (2018). Nanomaterials.

  PHB films that scavenge oxygen thanks to palladium nanoparticles. See our page on active packaging.

• Development of Electrospun Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) Monolayers Containing Eugenol and Their Application in Multilayer Antimicrobial Food Packaging
  Figueroa-Lopez K.J., Cabedo L., Lagaron J.M., Torres-Giner S. (2020). Frontiers in Nutrition.

  Takes an antimicrobial PHBV layer a step further, into a multilayer food packaging structure.

Review from the project

• Recent advances and challenges on applications of nanotechnology in food packaging. A literature review
  Enescu D., Cerqueira M.A., Fucinos P., Pastrana L.M. (2019). Food and Chemical Toxicology.

  A literature review of nanomaterials in food packaging, including the safety questions they raise.

General reviews

Good starting points if you are new to the field.

• Bioplastics for Food Packaging: Environmental Impact, Trends and Regulatory Aspects
  Cruz R.M.S., Krauter V., Krauter S., Agriopoulou S., Weinrich R., Herbes C., Scholten P.B.V., Uysal-Unalan I., Sogut E., Kopacic S., Lahti J., Rutkaite R., Varzakas T. (2022). Foods 11(19):3087.

  Open access. A broad overview of bioplastics used in food packaging, their environmental impact, consumer perception and regulation. Our main guide draws on it.

• A Review of Recent Developments in Edible Films and Coatings: Focus on Whey-Based Materials
  Pires et al. (2024). Foods 13(16):2638.

  Open access. Whey protein films and coatings, their barrier properties and their sensitivity to humidity. Related: edible food packaging.

• Perspective Chapter: Development of Food Packaging Films from Microorganism-Generated Polyhydroxyalkanoates
  Bulantekin O., Alp D. (2022). IntechOpen.

  Open-access book chapter on PHA films for food, including their cost and mechanical limitations. Related: PHA bioplastics.

Know of a paper that should be here? Tell us.

Sources

1. YPACK results: list of peer-reviewed publications. CORDIS, European Commission.