R. V. Gadhave et al.
span, often six months or less, contrary to items used in the construction and engineering sectors, with an average lifespan of thirty years [14]. Even though plastic recycling rates have increased from 0% in the nineties to 19.5% in recent estimates, most packaging materials, particularly pliable packaged food, are non- recyclable. Roughly 95% of conventional plastic wrapping materials made of polyethylene terephthalate and polyolefins are non-recyclable and end up in land- fills after one use, causing a yearly economic loss of $80 - 120 billion to the world economy [15]. These difficulties are induced by polymers’ required characteris- tics, including lighter weight, specific strength, intricate structures, and contami- nating from physical touch with foodstuffs [16]. Because of their ecologically fa- vourable compostability, biodegradable polymers have sparked tremendous sci- entific and industrial interest. For the benefit of the market economy and recur- rent environmental risks, biodegradable materials should play a larger part in plastic packaging, which today account for 60% of plastic items. The develop- ment of biodegradable polymers provides a solution to these problems by de- grading such plastic into CO 2 , H 2 O, and biomass within six months; however, conventional synthetic plastic materials, even after burning or landfilling, re- main for millennia. With the rise of processed foods in modern society, food packaging has played an essential part in the packaging sector. By 2025, the global market is anticipated to be worth USD 411.3 billion [17]. Because of its strong barrier and gas selectivity, plastic packaging provides food stability, shelf- life extension, and safety and protection during transit and storage. Biodegrad- able polymers that can be degraded or composted after use are excellent substi- tutes for non-biodegradable packing. It can also work as a selective functional membrane or barrier against gas, humidity, and odour. Although several scien- tific research attempts to encourage the use of bio-based polymers in packing, few bio-based polymers in the market can meet modern society’s high demand for food packaging [18]. 3. Fillers in Biobased Coatings Because many bio-derived polymers are hydrophilic, their gaseous barrier prop- erties and engineering capabilities are incredibly reliant on ambient humidity, limiting their usefulness as a packaging material compared to conventional polymers. Furthermore, their molar mass, rheological properties, and mechani- cal characteristics such as time-dependent crystallization behavior might cause problems and necessitate adjustments in processing techniques. As a result, bio-derived polymers should be blended with other polymer matrices or mi- crometers to nanometer-scale fillers to improve hydrophobicity and processing efficacy. The use of nanotechnology in papermaking science has been introduced in some areas. It has the potential to enhance the behavior of biopolymers and provide new capabilities to paper coatings. Currently, inorganic pigments [19], minerals [20], and ceramics [21] are the most often utilized nano-scale fillers in paper coatings, with bio-derived nanomaterial such as Nanocellulose [22] and
DOI: 10.4236/gsc.2022.122002
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Green and Sustainable Chemistry
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