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Environmental impact of food packaging materials: a review of contemporary development from conventional plastics to polylactic acid based materials

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dc.contributor.author Ncube, Lindani Koketso
dc.contributor.author Ude, Albert Uchenna
dc.contributor.author Ogunmuyiwa, Enoch Nifise
dc.contributor.author Zulkifli, Rozli
dc.contributor.author Beas, Isaac Nongwe
dc.date.accessioned 2021-02-17T09:35:28Z
dc.date.available 2021-02-17T09:35:28Z
dc.date.issued 2020-11
dc.identifier.citation Ncube, L. K. et al (2020) Environmental impact of food packaging materials: a review of contemporary development from conventional plastics to polylactic acid based materials. Materials, 13 (21), 4994, https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13214994. en_US
dc.identifier.issn 1996-1944
dc.identifier.uri http://repository.biust.ac.bw/handle/123456789/269
dc.description The authors appreciate the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) for their role in ensuring the successful publication of this work. en_US
dc.description.abstract Plastics have remained the material of choice, and after serving their intended purpose, a large proportion ends up in the environment where they persist for centuries. The packaging industry is the largest and growing consumer of synthetic plastics derived from fossil fuels. Food packaging plastics account for the bulk of plastic waste that are polluting the environment. Additionally, given the fact that petroleum reserves are finite and facing depletion, there is a need for the development of alternative materials that can serve the same purpose as conventional plastics. This paper reviews the function of packaging materials and highlights the future potential of the adoption of green materials. Biopolymers have emerged as promising green materials although they still have very low market uptake. Polylactic acid (PLA) has emerged as the most favoured bioplastic. However, it is limited by its high cost and some performance drawbacks. Blending with agricultural waste and natural fillers can result in green composites at low cost, low greenhouse gas emissions, and with improved performance for food packaging applications. The continent of Africa is proposed as a rich source of fibres and fillers that can be sustainably exploited to fabricate green composites in a bid to achieve a circular economy. en_US
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.publisher MDPI en_US
dc.subject Food packaging en_US
dc.subject Bioplastics en_US
dc.subject Polylactic acid en_US
dc.subject Biodegradable en_US
dc.subject Composites en_US
dc.title Environmental impact of food packaging materials: a review of contemporary development from conventional plastics to polylactic acid based materials en_US
dc.description.level phd en_US
dc.description.accessibility unrestricted en_US
dc.description.department mie en_US


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