Environmentally-friendly biodegradable packaging materials

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) is a family of structurally diverse biopolyesters accumulated by many bacteria as carbon and energy source (Figure 16.1)d PHA have been exploited with a series of applications including environmentally friendly biodegradable plastics for packaging purposes, biofuels, medical implants, and recently, smart materials. PHA monomers are also produced as chiral intermediates for medical or fine chemical applications. ... 

There are increasing pressures on the pharmaceutical industry to use environmentally friendly materials in products, which are biodegradable or recyclable and do no harm to the environment. Examples are the replacement of CFCs in pressurised metered dose aerosols and the replacement of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for alternative packaging materials in some countries. Any special restrictions on the use of materials in the product need to be identified at the product design stage. The choice of appropriate materials to suit product, customer and environment may also have cost implications. 

The bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and their principal representative poly(3-R-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) create a competitive option to conventional synthetic polymers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyesters et al. These polymers are nontoxic and renewable. Their biotechnology output does not depend on hydrocarbon production as well as their biodegradation intermediates and resulting products (water and carbon dioxide) do not provoke the adverse actions in environmental media or living systems [1-3]. Being enviromnent friendly [4], the PHB and its derivatives are used as the alternative packaging materials, which are biodegradable in the soil or different humid media [5, 6]. 

Nano-biocomposites use biodegradable matrices and incorporate nanofillers to minimize the disadvantages of not using traditional packaging materials. These materials, besides protecting food from its surroundings and prolonging its shelf-life, are more environmentally friendly. ... 

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