The future of bioplastics in food packaging: An industrial perspective

Plastics have formed an indispensable component of virtually every consumer good. However, they have also contributed substantially to contamination of the marine environment. The world lacks a well-meaning effort to curtail plastic waste. The plastic pollution crisis arising from inappropriate disposal or mismanaged plastic wastes has driven strategies to repurpose, reuse, and recycle plastic products. Extensive research is continuing aiming to produce a new generation of plastics that are collectively referred to as bioplastics. Ideally, bioplastics are degraded and utilized by surrounding microorganisms, eliminating them from our environment. However, biodegradable bioplastics are still only a small percentage of the global plastics market, and many bioplastics are not biodegradable. While bioplastics are good for the environment, their position as a singular and credible solution for plastic waste is debated. In addition, there are misunderstandings and misconceptions about their use, leading to lack of consumer awareness and acceptance. Food packaging is currently undergoing rapid change partly due to the commercial manufacturing of bioplastics. In order to better understand the future of bioplastics, this review will assess the drivers, and barriers of bioplastics in the context of food packaging, and the role of bioplastic packaging in the circular economy. The purpose of this review is to provide an industrial and strategic roadmap to guide researchers, plastic experts, policy makers, and regulating bodies in identifying the future development path of bioplastics.