Plant‐Based Biopolymer Composites for Smart and Sustainable Food Packaging: Global Insights, Recent Advances, and Future Research Directions

Abstract

ABSTRACT The growing environmental concerns associated with conventional plastic packaging and the rising demand for sustainable food systems have intensified research into plant‐based biopolymer composites for food packaging applications. Derived from renewable resources, these materials offer key environmental advantages, including biodegradability, reduced dependence on fossil fuels, and mitigation of plastic waste, while also enabling advanced packaging functionalities. This review provides a comprehensive and up‐to‐date synthesis of global research on plant‐based biopolymer composites for smart and sustainable food packaging. Its novelty lies in integrating global development trends with recent material innovations, particularly the use of functional additives and biopolymer modificat