#biomaterial #innovation #sustainability

Food packaging technologies and trends were rapidly evolving. Since then, several new advancements and trends have likely emerged. However, here are some general trends and technologies that were gaining traction in the food packaging industry.

Sustainable Packaging

With increasing consumer demand for sustainable packaging, companies are exploring alternative packaging materials that are more environmentally friendly, such as biodegradable plastics, recycled paper, and plant-based packaging.

Marine macroalgae, commonly known as seaweed, are an important group of biopolymers that have been studied regarding their film-forming properties to produce edible films intended as food packaging and active ingredient carriers. It has also received much interest and attention in applications related to energy, tissue engineering, and biosensors, as well as drug delivery applications.

Oil spills and industrial discharge into water bodies are common phenomena. Even though water and oil are immiscible, separating the two components to restore the purity of water bodies can be challenging.

To tackle this long sustained issue, researchers have developed sponges made out of wood that selectively absorb oil. These sponges are reusable.

With a spring-like lamellar structure, these sponges can be repeatedly squeezed without structural failure.

A product or service’s carbon footprint is an important consideration in calculating its overall environmental impact. It takes into account any environmental trade-offs that may be involved in the process of provision. Ultimately, an entity’s carbon footprint is explained based on the net change of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to its production and use.