Nanocellulose in food packaging applications

Abstract

There is a growing appetite for the discovery of innovative and environment-friendly feasible packaging materials with higher mechanical, physical and barrier properties. Materials are generally used in packaging of foodstuffs, drinks and pharmaceutical products as well as in industrial applications which are not decomposable and as a result, they pose questions about environmental contamination. This is possibly due to biogenic materials without a proper design being used in food packaging applications. Though biopolymers are bio-degradable they have certain disadvantages, when a nano size particle is incorporated it can significantly improve the performance. So, the main aim of cellulosic packaging is to improve and promote economic health. This article summarizes about the sources of nanocellulose, its structural properties, nanofilms in food packaging and its properties. It also explains the safety aspects of nanocellulose films and other sustainable packaging.