Polymer nanocomposites as engineered food packaging materials

Abstract

The environmental pollution concerns provoked by non-biodegradable packaging materials along with guaranteed safety demand of the consumer, food products of high quality, ready-to-eat concept, and extended shelf life have played an important role to develop eco-friendly food packaging materials using polymer nanocomposites. In addition, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of these materials are very related to food packaging applications. Over the last decades, polymer nano-composite materials alternative to non-biodegradable plastic packaging materials open an opportunity in terms of biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, high performance, and cost-effective nanocomposite materials. In this chapter, an overview of the application of polymer nanocomposites used most widely in food packaging along with the properties of these materials is reviewed. © 2022 Scrivener Publishing LLC.