The Role of Sustainable Agroecosystems as a Source of Raw Materials for Smart Biopackaging: A Systematic Literature Review
Abstract
The single use plastic pollution crisis and the abundance of unprocessed agricultural waste are major environmental challenges today. This study aimed to utilize the potential of agro-ecosystem waste as a renewable biomass source, disseminate technological modification strategies to improve packaging characteristics, and map their impact on sustainable food systems. Through systematic literature observation, a descriptive qualitative approach examined the role of sustainable agro-ecosystems as strategic raw material providers in the development of smart biopackaging. The results showed that the integration of active functions (antimicrobials and antioxidants) and smart functions (freshness indicators based on color changes due to pH) can extend the shelf life of food products while reducing food loss and waste. Despite its significant potential to accelerate the transition to a bio-based circular economy, the implementation of smart biopackaging on an industrial scale still faces technical challenges, such as unstable raw material quality, weak mechanical and barrier properties, and low stability of natural active compounds. Therefore, future studies should focus on standardizing testing methods
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