Crop-based biodegradable packaging and its environmental implications

With the sharp rise in global prices for petroleum, growing concerns about the depletion of non-renewable raw materials and the worldwide interest in sustainability, responsible packaging production and an effective management of waste has created a growing interest in developing crop-based packaging materials. Crop-based packaging materials can be biodegradable and/or compostable and may offer a possible alternative to traditional synthetic materials, consequently reducing the environmental impacts relating to packaging material usage. Until recently, cropbased packaging materials had been considered a novelty in the market, with traditional synthetic plastics accounting for the vast majority of sales. However, developments in technology, growing consumer demand for environmentally friendly packaging and improved economics over petrochemical-derived plastics have led to crop-based biodegradable polymers being increasingly seen as highly promising and potential substitutes for petrochemical-derived plastic polymers. Some of the crop-based packaging materials such as polylactide are already competitive alternatives to conventional food packaging, whereas other materials such as starch-based materials will require further optimization in order to be suitable for industrial packaging applications. This review presents an overview of crop-based polymer packaging materials, their potential for industrial usage and their environmental implications. Conclusively, life-cycle analysis studies and environmental assessment data presented as part of this review support the further development of crop-based biodegradable packaging materials, provided that certain ethical issues pertaining to global food price increases, and indeed global food shortages, are considered.