Polymer nanotechnology offers exciting benefits to the food industry, including better materials for food packaging and safer foods on supermarket shelves with lower incidences of contamination. Ecosustainable Polymer Nanomaterials for Food Packaging: Innovative Solutions, Characterization Needs, Safety and Environmental Issues examines the complete life cycle of packaging based on polymer nanomaterials. Focusing on current developments in nanomaterial packaging applications most likely to be accepted by consumers and attract regulatory attention in the immediate future, the book begins with a general introduction to current issues and future trends. The remaining chapters explore: The concept of "ethical design"—putting into practice key ideas such as the precautionary principle and presenting a model for accountability, responsibility, and ethical consideration The evolution of the rheology, structure, and morphology of nanomaterials with regard to processing conditions and constituents The application of plasma technologies for the production of barrier coatings on polymeric materials by nonequilibrium gas discharges Nanomaterials for food packaging developed from oil polymers (polyolefins) and from renewable resource polymers The use of cellulose nanowhiskers for food biopackaging and edible nano-laminate coatings The interactions of nanomaterials with food Examples of degradation under natural weathering, exposure, and recycling The book concludes with a discussion on the use of polymer nanocomposite materials for food packaging applications. From raw material selection to properties characterization to marketing and disposal, the expert contributors consider the balance between cost and performance, risk and benefit, and health and environmental issues. They also identify barriers to progress that prevent a complete successful development of the new technology and recommend strategies for further advancement.

Recent developments in multifunctional and nanoreinforced polymers have provided the opportunity to produce high barrier, active and intelligent food packaging which can help ensure, or even enhance, the quality and safety of packaged foods. Multifunctional and nanoreinforced polymers for food packaging provides a comprehensive review of novel polymers and polymer nanocomposites for use in food packaging. After an introductory chapter, Part one discusses nanofillers for plastics in food packaging. Chapters explore the use of passive and active nanoclays and hidrotalcites, cellulose nanofillers and electrospun nanofibers and nanocapsules. Part two investigates high barrier plastics for food packaging. Chapters assess the transport and high barrier properties of food packaging polymers such as ethylene-norbornene copolymers and advanced single-site polyolefins, nylon-MXD6 resins and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers before going on to explore recent advances in various plastic packaging technologies such as modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), nanoscale inorganic coatings and functional barriers against migration. Part three reviews active and bioactive plastics in food packaging. Chapters investigate silver-based antimicrobial polymers, the incorporation of antimicrobial/antioxidant natural extracts into polymeric films, and biaoctive food packaging strategies. Part four examines nanotechnology in sustainable plastics with chapters examining the food packaging applications of polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposites, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), starch-based polymers, chitosan and carragenan polysaccharides and protein-based resins for packaging gluten (WG)-based materials. The final chapter presents the safety and regulatory aspects of plastics as food packaging materials. With its distinguished editor and international team of expert contributors Multifunctional and nanoreinforced polymers for food packaging proves a valuable resource for researchers in packaging in the food industry and polymer scientists interested in multifunctional and nanoreinforced materials. Provides a comprehensive review of novel polymers and polymer nanocomposites for use in food packaging Discusses nanofillers for plastics in food packaging including the use of passive and active nanoclays and hidrotalcites and electrospun nanofibers Investigates high barrier plastics for food packaging assessing recent advances in various plastic packaging technologies such as modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)

Active polymer food packaging is packaging which has been designed to deliberately interact with food or with a direct food environment to reduce oxygen and moisture levels, preserve flavourings and the quality of the food. New concepts of active and intelligent packaging play an increasingly important role by offering numerous and innovative solutions for extending the shelf-life or for maintaining, improving or monitoring food quality and safety. This is the driving force for the food packaging industry's development of new and improved packaging concepts using nanoparticles.This book gives an overview of applications for various types of nanoparticles, such as different metal based substances, and explains their role in polymer food packaging.The book also elaborates the mechanism of activity of each type of nanoparticle, for example:- Antimicrobial activity- Oxygen absorption (scavengers)- Ultraviolet blocking properties- Water vapour permeabilityThe characterisation of polymer nanocomposite materials and the regulatory aspects of nanomaterials are also discussed.Information is provided about the polymers and polymer nanocomposites, and in addition, the book provides information about new food packaging materials with improved mechanical, barrier and antimicrobial properties to preserve the food during transport and storage.

Nanotechnology-Enhanced Food Packaging Timely overview of functional food packaging made with nanotechnology and nanomaterials In Nanotechnology-Enhanced Food Packaging, a distinguished group of researchers delivers a comprehensive and insightful introduction to the application of nanomaterials in food packaging. This edited volume covers recent innovations—as well as future perspectives—in the industry and offers a complete overview of different types of nanomaterials used in food packaging. The book also discusses the use of nanoparticles in the development of active and functional food packaging and the related environmental and toxicological aspects. Featuring one-of-a-kind contributions from leaders in the field, Nanotechnology-Enhanced Food Packaging provides real-world solutions to food packaging challenges and considers the legislative and economic implications of new technologies. Among the new developments in nanotechnology-enhanced food packaging covered by the book are: Thorough introduction to biopolymers in food packaging systems and nanostructures based on starch, their preparation, processing, and applications in packaging Comprehensive explorations of chitosan-based nanoparticles and their applications in the food industry Practical discussions of active packaging systems based on metal oxide nanoparticles and an overview of higher barrier packaging using nano-additives In-depth examinations of the characterization techniques for nanostructures in food packaging Perfect for materials scientists, food technologists, and polymer chemists, Nanotechnology-Enhanced Food Packaging also belongs on the bookshelves of plastics technologists and allied professionals in the food industry.

Because of the increasing pressure on both food safety and packaging/food waste, the topic is important both for academics, applied research, industry and also for environment protection. Different materials, such as glass, metals, paper and paperboards, and non-degradable and degradable polymers, with versatile properties, are attractive for potential uses in food packaging. Food packaging is the largest area of application within the food sector. Only the nanotechnology-enabled products in the food sector account for ~50% of the market value, with and the annual growth rate is 11.65%. Technological developments are also of great interest. In the food sector, nanotechnology is involved in packaging materials with extremely high gas barriers, antimicrobial properties, and also in nanoencapsulants for the delivery of nutrients, flavors, or aromas, antimicrobial, and antioxidant compounds. Applications of materials, including nanomaterials in packaging and food safety, are in forms of: edible films, polymer nanocomposites, as high barrier packaging materials, nanocoatings, surface biocides, silver nanoparticles as potent antimicrobial agents, nutrition and neutraceuticals, active/bioactive packaging, intelligent packaging, nanosensors and nanomaterial-based assays for the detection of food relevant analytes (gasses, small organic molecules and food-borne pathogens) and bioplastics.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Food Packaging Based on Nanomaterials" that was published in Nanomaterials