Issue 20, 2017

A roadmap towards green packaging: the current status and future outlook for polyesters in the packaging industry

Abstract

Approximately 99% of the plastics produced today are petroleum-based, and the packaging industry alone consumes over 38% of these plastics. In this review, we argue that renewable polyesters can provide a key milestone as renewable plastics in the route toward green packaging. This review describes different classes of polyesters with particular regard to their potential use as packaging materials. Some of the families of polyesters discussed include poly(ethylene terephthalate) and its renewable analogs, poly(lactic acid), poly(hydroxyalkanoates), and poly(epoxy anhydrides). The synthesis of polyesters is discussed from a green chemistry perspective. A structure–property correlation among the various polyesters is also discussed. The challenges that currently hinder the widespread adoption of polyesters as leading packaging materials are reviewed. The environmental footprint and end of life scenario of polyesters are discussed. Finally, future research directions are summarized as a possible roadmap towards the widespread adoption of renewable polyesters as sustainable packaging materials.

Graphical abstract: A roadmap towards green packaging: the current status and future outlook for polyesters in the packaging industry

Article information

Article type
Tutorial Review
Submitted
17 Aug 2017
Accepted
07 Sep 2017
First published
07 Sep 2017

Green Chem., 2017,19, 4737-4753

A roadmap towards green packaging: the current status and future outlook for polyesters in the packaging industry

M. Rabnawaz, I. Wyman, R. Auras and S. Cheng, Green Chem., 2017, 19, 4737 DOI: 10.1039/C7GC02521A

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