Expanding the Horizon of eco-friendly Poly(glycolic acid) to the packaging industry: Synthesis and modification

The increase in packaging waste and resulting environmental pollution have emerged as global problems, and the development and practical use of bioplastics have been suggested as key solutions. Consequently, numerous efforts have been made to introduce bioplastics as packaging materials. Important factors include securing sufficient physical properties and industrial production processes to replace petroleum-based plastics. However, bioplastics generally exhibit inadequate thermal stability, mechanical strength, and barrier properties compared to engineering plastics, limiting their application as packaging materials. Polyglycolic acid (PGA) is a notable material because it is bio-based, rapidly biodegradable, biocompatible, and exhibits high mechanical strength and exceptional barrier properties owing to its dense chemical structure. However, the PGA production process—including its synthesis and manufacturing conditions—and PGA's properties have not yet been fully examined owing to its inherent characteristics such as hydrophilicity, narrow melting windows, and insolubility in many organic solvents. Consequently, practical attempts are needed to develop PGA-based packaging materials. In this paper, we summarize the PGA synthesis and modification methods in the sustainable packaging industry before discussing the applicability and future strategies for using PGA as a packaging material.