Antimicrobial packaging: mechanisms, materials, incorporation methods, strategies, biodegradability, and smart innovations – a comprehensive review

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable food preservation solutions has highlighted the potential of antimicrobial packaging to extend shelf life and enhance food safety. Conventional packaging materials contribute to environmental pollution, while microbial contamination continues to threaten food security. This review addresses these challenges by exploring antimicrobial packaging systems combining active agents with biodegradable polymers to tackle foodborne pathogens and environmental pollution. Antimicrobial agents, including natural extracts, organic acids, enzymes, bacteriocins, and nanomaterials, which inhibit microbial growth and alter cell membrane permeability, are commonly used in antimicrobial packaging. Incorporation techniques like coating, extrusion, and electrospinning are evaluated for their role in optimizing antimicrobial functionality. Strategies to balance functionality with environmental impact are critically evaluated, focusing on material performance and release mechanisms. The use of biodegradable polymers in these packaging systems ensures that they decompose naturally after use, reducing plastic waste, and promoting sustainability. Smart packaging, integrated with indicators and sensors for pH or temperature, enables real-time monitoring of food conditions, empowering consumers and stakeholders with actionable insights throughout the supply chain. Antimicrobial packaging demonstrates significant potential in addressing food preservation and sustainability, the high costs associated with advanced materials, incorporation methods, and smart innovations also limit the widespread adoption of these technologies, particularly in developing countries. Scaling up production while maintaining the efficacy and stability of antimicrobial components also poses significant technical challenges. Future research must focus on developing cost-effective, scalable, and regulatory-compliant antimicrobial packaging solutions that balance performance, safety, and environmental sustainability to facilitate global implementation.