Biodegradable Plastics
Biodegradable plastics are types of plastic materials that are designed to decompose
naturally when exposed to certain environmental conditions, such as sunlight, heat,
moisture, and microorganisms. Unlike traditional plastics, which can take hundreds or
even thousands of years to break down, biodegradable plastics are intended to break
down much faster, potentially in just a few months to a few years. Unlike traditional
plastics, which can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, biodegradable
plastics are intended to have a limited lifespan and do not accumulate in landfills or
oceans. Some common materials used to make biodegradable plastics include starches,
cellulose, and biodegradable polymers like poly lactic acid (PLA). However, it is
important to note that not all biodegradable plastics are created equal. Some may only
degrade under specific conditions, such as high temperatures or exposure to sunlight,
and may not break down in the same way in different environments. Additionally, the
production and disposal of biodegradable plastics may still have negative impacts on
the environment, such as increased greenhouse gas emissions and resource use.
Therefore, it is important to carefully consider the benefits and drawbacks of
biodegradable plastics when evaluating their use.
Literature Review
Starch-based films are an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based
plastics for food packaging. (Ahmadi, Hosseini, & Razavi, 2016) Starch is a
renewable and abundant natural polymer that can be extracted from various sources
such as corn, potato, and cassava. Starch-based films have several advantages,
including biodegradability, low cost, and good barrier properties against oxygen and
water vapor. However, the use of starch-based films in food packaging also has some
limitations. Starch-based films are sensitive to moisture, which can cause the films to
lose their mechanical properties and become brittle. (Gómez-Estaca, López-deDicastillo, Hernández-Muñoz, & Catalá, 2015).To address this issue, various
additives such as plasticizers, glycerol, and polyols have been incorporated into
starch-based films to improve their flexibility and moisture resistance.Starch-based
films also have lower mechanical strength and barrier properties compared to
petroleum-based plastics. (Peltzer & Gómez-Guillén, 2017) .To improve their
properties, nanocomposites of starch and nanofillers such as montmorillonite,
cellulose, and chitosan have been developed. (Rodríguez-Tobías, Chávez Montes de
Oca, Alarcón-Rojo, & Olivas, 2017).These nanocomposites have shown improved
mechanical strength, barrier properties, and biodegradability.Overall, starch-based
films have shown promising potential for food packaging applications due to their
biodegradability and good barrier properties. (Xiong, Wang, Huang, Zhou, & Chen,
2019). However, further research is needed to address their limitations and optimize
their properties for different food products.
Bibliography:
Ahmadi K., Hosseini, S. M. H., & Razavi, S. H. (2016). Biodegradable starch-based
films for food packaging applications: A review. International Journal of Biological
Macromolecules, 92, 913-922.
Gómez-Estaca, J., López-de-Dicastillo, C., Hernández-Muñoz, P., & Catalá, R. (2015).
Biodegradable starch-based films containing essential oils for food packaging
applications. Food Hydrocolloids, 43, 273-282.
Peltzer, M. A., & Gómez-Guillén, M. C. (2017). Starch-based films and coatings for
food packaging: A review. Food Hydrocolloids, 68, 136-148.
Rodríguez-Tobías, H., Chávez Montes de Oca, I. A., Alarcón-Rojo, A. D., & Olivas,
G. I. (2017). Recent advances in starch-based films and coatings for food packaging:
A review. Food Packaging and Shelf Life, 14, 71-79.
Xiong, Y., Wang, L., Huang, X., Zhou, L., & Chen, X. (2019). Recent advances in
starch-based nanocomposite films and their applications in packaging. Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 67(14), 3845-3856.