Biomaterials for eco-friendly packaging in dairy products: towards a cleaner, greener, and sustainable future

Milk and milk products are very susceptible to spoilage and therefore, suitable innovative packaging strategies are indispensable to enhance shelf life along with maintaining quality and safety. Transformation in the utilization of packaging materials and technologies in the dairy sector is trending to match and meet the changing demands of consumers aware of this. Smart, intelligent, and active packagings are a few innovative packaging strategies that aim at protracting the shelf stability of milk and milk products while enhancing safety and sensory qualities. Other packaging innovations also include the use of different packaging systems which are not only safe, compatible with food, and stable over a wide range of storage conditions but are more eco-friendly and thus posing the least possible burden on the environment. In this review, the authors attempt to compile innovative green packaging technologies for different dairy products. The properties and applications of biomaterials used for smart, active, and intelligent packaging of milk and milk products, such as: pasteurized milk, evaporated milk, sweetened milk, condensed milk, milk powder, along with: ice cream, butter, coagulated dairy products, and heat-desiccated milk products are briefly discussed. Environmental impact, safety regulations as well as challenges in the implementation of different innovative packaging technologies in the dairy sector are also covered. The use of eco-friendly packaging innovative approaches in terms of improved biodegradability and lesser environmental hazards aims to achieve environmental sustainability goals for a clean and green future.