Applications of nanotechnology in smart food packaging

Abstract

The growing demand for food has contributed to the increase in plastic waste, mainly from packaging. In 2020, only 23.1% of post-consumer plastic waste was recycled in Brazil, resulting in a significant amount of non-biodegradable waste that remains in the environment for long periods, affecting human health and the environment. Most of this waste comes from traditional petroleum-based food packaging, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. It is estimated that annually, 31.9 million tons of plastic waste enter the environment, with a considerable portion contaminating the oceans. Despite these environmental challenges, the demand for plastics is expected to continue to grow to meet society's resource-efficient needs (FERREIRA et al., 2022).