Biotechnology in Food Packaging Using Bacterial Cellulose

Food packaging, which is typically made of paper/cardboard, glass, metal, and plastic, is essential for protecting and preserving food. However, the impact of conventional food packaging and especially the predominant use of plastics, due to their versatility and low cost, bring serious environmenta...

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Main Authors: Maryana Rogéria dos Santos, Italo José Batista Durval, Alexandre D’Lamare Maia de Medeiros, Cláudio José Galdino da Silva Júnior, Attilio Converti, Andréa Fernanda de Santana Costa, Leonie Asfora Sarubbo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/20/3327
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author Maryana Rogéria dos Santos
Italo José Batista Durval
Alexandre D’Lamare Maia de Medeiros
Cláudio José Galdino da Silva Júnior
Attilio Converti
Andréa Fernanda de Santana Costa
Leonie Asfora Sarubbo
author_facet Maryana Rogéria dos Santos
Italo José Batista Durval
Alexandre D’Lamare Maia de Medeiros
Cláudio José Galdino da Silva Júnior
Attilio Converti
Andréa Fernanda de Santana Costa
Leonie Asfora Sarubbo
author_sort Maryana Rogéria dos Santos
collection DOAJ
description Food packaging, which is typically made of paper/cardboard, glass, metal, and plastic, is essential for protecting and preserving food. However, the impact of conventional food packaging and especially the predominant use of plastics, due to their versatility and low cost, bring serious environmental and health problems such as pollution by micro and nanoplastics. In response to these challenges, biotechnology emerges as a new way for improving packaging by providing biopolymers as sustainable alternatives. In this context, bacterial cellulose (BC), a biodegradable and biocompatible material produced by bacteria, stands out for its mechanical resistance, food preservation capacity, and rapid degradation and is a promising solution for replacing plastics. However, despite its advantages, large-scale application still encounters technical and economic challenges. These include high costs compared to when conventional materials are used, difficulties in standardizing membrane production through microbial methods, and challenges in optimizing cultivation and production processes, so further studies are necessary to ensure food safety and industrial viability. Thus, this review provides an overview of the impacts of conventional packaging. It discusses the development of biodegradable packaging, highlighting BC as a promising biopolymer. Additionally, it explores biotechnological techniques for the development of innovative packaging through structural modifications of BC, as well as ways to optimize its production process. The study also emphasizes the importance of these solutions in promoting a circular economy within the food industry and reducing its environmental impact.
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spelling doaj-art-36edc77c409347e68b70c004ecb19c5d2025-08-20T02:11:04ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582024-10-011320332710.3390/foods13203327Biotechnology in Food Packaging Using Bacterial CelluloseMaryana Rogéria dos Santos0Italo José Batista Durval1Alexandre D’Lamare Maia de Medeiros2Cláudio José Galdino da Silva Júnior3Attilio Converti4Andréa Fernanda de Santana Costa5Leonie Asfora Sarubbo6Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia (RENORBIO), Universidade Federal Rural Pernambuco (UFRPE), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n-Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, BrazilInstituto Avançado de Tecnologia e Inovação (IATI), Rua Potyra, n. 31, Prado, Recife 50751-310, BrazilInstituto Avançado de Tecnologia e Inovação (IATI), Rua Potyra, n. 31, Prado, Recife 50751-310, BrazilInstituto Avançado de Tecnologia e Inovação (IATI), Rua Potyra, n. 31, Prado, Recife 50751-310, BrazilInstituto Avançado de Tecnologia e Inovação (IATI), Rua Potyra, n. 31, Prado, Recife 50751-310, BrazilInstituto Avançado de Tecnologia e Inovação (IATI), Rua Potyra, n. 31, Prado, Recife 50751-310, BrazilInstituto Avançado de Tecnologia e Inovação (IATI), Rua Potyra, n. 31, Prado, Recife 50751-310, BrazilFood packaging, which is typically made of paper/cardboard, glass, metal, and plastic, is essential for protecting and preserving food. However, the impact of conventional food packaging and especially the predominant use of plastics, due to their versatility and low cost, bring serious environmental and health problems such as pollution by micro and nanoplastics. In response to these challenges, biotechnology emerges as a new way for improving packaging by providing biopolymers as sustainable alternatives. In this context, bacterial cellulose (BC), a biodegradable and biocompatible material produced by bacteria, stands out for its mechanical resistance, food preservation capacity, and rapid degradation and is a promising solution for replacing plastics. However, despite its advantages, large-scale application still encounters technical and economic challenges. These include high costs compared to when conventional materials are used, difficulties in standardizing membrane production through microbial methods, and challenges in optimizing cultivation and production processes, so further studies are necessary to ensure food safety and industrial viability. Thus, this review provides an overview of the impacts of conventional packaging. It discusses the development of biodegradable packaging, highlighting BC as a promising biopolymer. Additionally, it explores biotechnological techniques for the development of innovative packaging through structural modifications of BC, as well as ways to optimize its production process. The study also emphasizes the importance of these solutions in promoting a circular economy within the food industry and reducing its environmental impact.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/20/3327biodegradable packagingbiomaterialspolymersindustrial waste
spellingShingle Maryana Rogéria dos Santos
Italo José Batista Durval
Alexandre D’Lamare Maia de Medeiros
Cláudio José Galdino da Silva Júnior
Attilio Converti
Andréa Fernanda de Santana Costa
Leonie Asfora Sarubbo
Biotechnology in Food Packaging Using Bacterial Cellulose
Foods
biodegradable packaging
biomaterials
polymers
industrial waste
title Biotechnology in Food Packaging Using Bacterial Cellulose
title_full Biotechnology in Food Packaging Using Bacterial Cellulose
title_fullStr Biotechnology in Food Packaging Using Bacterial Cellulose
title_full_unstemmed Biotechnology in Food Packaging Using Bacterial Cellulose
title_short Biotechnology in Food Packaging Using Bacterial Cellulose
title_sort biotechnology in food packaging using bacterial cellulose
topic biodegradable packaging
biomaterials
polymers
industrial waste
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/20/3327
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