Systems Based on Biobased Thermoplastics: From Bioresources to Biodegradable Packaging Applications

Abstract

Abstract During the last decades, thermoplastic packaging market has rapidly grown thanks to the rapid increase of global consumption, globalization and the unbeatable compromise between properties and large availability of relatively cheap commodity polymers. Recent awareness of the urgency of dealing with environmental concerns has stimulated the R&D on green materials such as biobased and biodegradable polymers, in this case mainly for short-term packaging applications. Main advantages are a lower environmental impact and a controlled end of life by enzymatic degradation till mineralization to resolve the complex equation linked to the waste management. Thus, the aim of this review is to highlight the variety of existing biobased and biodegradable polymers and their corresponding multiphasic systems, in connection with their production, relative properties and applications for packaging.