Green innovations in food packaging: Sustainable biopolymeric films infused with nanoencapsulated essential oils

Abstract

Food degradation through multiple pathways contributes to increased food wastage while also increasing the likelihood of foodborne diseases posing serious challenges to both food safety and sustainability. Development of advanced packaging strategies offers a practical solution to these ongoing problems. Although petroleum-based materials dominate the packaging industry due to their low cost, scalability, and excellent performance, they suffer from poor biodegradability and pose risks to the environment and human health. This has resulted in increased attention being directed toward eco-friendly alternatives. Biopolymer-based packaging composed of natural proteins and polysaccharides presents a viable substitute for conventional packaging. Yet, these materials often exhibit inferior functi