In recent years, sustainable packaging and green packaging have become hot topics in China’s food packaging industry. Driven by multiple factors such as retailer requirements, public awareness, economic pressure (especially petroleum products), and government policies, sustainability has penetrated all aspects of food packaging. Relevant scientific research institutions and packaging companies have begun to study the preparation and performance of new edible plastic packaging films.
While ordinary packaging provides convenience for people’s lives, it also generates packaging waste. This not only increases the burden on the environment but also increases the possibility of wasting resources. With the rapid development of food technology and packaging industry, many new types of packaging materials and packaging forms continue to emerge. Among them, experts believe that edible environmentally friendly packaging materials will lead to the sustainable development of the food packaging industry.
Recycled packaging materials are mainly plastic packaging, which can be made into recycled packaging containers after being processed by physical methods, and can be made into recycled packaging products after being processed by chemical methods. , Can be used repeatedly many times. But these two methods are inadequate, only reducing the pollution to the environment, and finally facing the problem of polluting the environment. As the concept of low-carbon environmental protection has become the main theme of society, many fields are practiced, as is the field of packaging materials.
In fact, in our country, a lot of edible packaging has long been used in actual life. For example, wax, oil, gelatin, etc. coated on the surface of food and fruits can effectively reduce the loss of water and extend the shelf life; the glutinous rice paper coated on the outer layer of candy and pastries is made of starch such as sweet potato, corn or wheat flour It is used to prevent adhesion with the outer packaging; corn baking packaging of ice cream cones, sausage casings, etc. are all typical edible packaging.
The food processing industry is developing rapidly, and the packaging required is also increasing. It is understood that there are many types of green packaging materials on the market, which can be roughly divided into reusable and recycled packaging materials, edible packaging materials, degradable materials, and paper materials. The degradable material packaging can be degraded and reduced by itself after use, without pollution to the environment; the paper packaging made of natural plant fibers has high recycling value and mature technology. Edible packaging materials use natural edible substances (such as polysaccharides, proteins, etc.) as raw materials to form edible packaging films through the interaction between different molecules. According to different materials and processes, it can be divided into polysaccharide edible packaging film, protein edible packaging film, composite edible packaging film, etc.
