Sustainable Applications of Carrageenan as a Next-Generation Biopolymer in Intelligent and Active Food Packaging

Abstract

Carrageenan is extracted from seaweeds considered to be a natural polysaccharide which has been emerged as the most promising biopolymer for sustainable food packaging applications. Due to the increasing demand for eco-friendly packaging to conventional plastics, carrageenan-based films serve as a versatile solution that aligns with environmental and consumer acceptability towards usage. Carrageenan has been considered a sustainable packaging due to its filmforming abilities, biocompatibility, low cost, and enhanced functional properties and considered to be eco-friendly biomaterials that provide a sustainable solution for preserving and extending the shelf life of foods by providing the addition of active constituents. These active constituents with one or more functions could be immobilized onto the package which allows for a controlled release into the food matrix. This review categorizes various types of carrageenan-based packaging, including edible coatings, active packaging, and smart packaging integrated with sensors thatdeal with food packaging and evaluates the factors that determine the suitability of a bio-material. The effect of packaging on physical attributes, chemical stability, microbial growth and organoleptic quality, and shelf life of the food are discussed. The flexibility of carrageenan integrated with innovative materials and efficient processing technologies for the packaging was included. Furthermore, potential toxicity, consumer acceptability, challenges and opportunities of the carrageenan packaging are explored along with future perspectives and government encouragement for carrageenan cultivation,which gives future directions for research in this arena.