Future Material Solutions for Food Packaging

Novel packaging materials and related technologies are enablers to improve material efficiency, through reducing damages to goods in transportation and storage. They may also help to create new service solutions. However, the main problem related to the materials is packaging waste and its recyclability. Typical properties to preserve during recyclability are the maintenance of intact fiber and thermoplastic processability aspects. However, issues related to contamination and preservation of multi-material structures are a challenge. There are proposed novel materials with tunable biodegradability, aimed at minimizing persistent contamination in nature. These include new high-performance materials which enable mono-material solutions or material concepts suable for novel recycling methods, especially using chemistry. In this study we review contemporary and innovative materials, which will be part of the solution. They offer improved performance and recyclability, yet, still applicable to mature packaging concepts and solutions. This requires looking at the materials from material scientist point of view. We found a rich variation of alternatives, which may find their use in specific packaging applications. No universal material solution is currently available but alternatives for synthetic plastics, as well as more sustainable plastics, are readily available. New knowledge is especially in the bio-based packaging materials area. The outline of the chapter covers different plastic types, challenges for their use and recycling—to alternative bio-based and fiber materials—and finally to the meaning of packaging concepts.