Food packaging: Challenges in biosourced polymers

High-molecular-weight polylactic acid (PLA) is mainly obtained through ring-opening polymerization of lactide. This raw material of PLA production can be produced on a mass scale by a microbial fermentation of agricultural by-product mainly the carbohydrate rich substances. So, PLA is a biodegradable and biobased aliphatic polyester that finds many applications in medicine and fiber technology.

While PLA can be considered an eco-friendly biomaterial with excellent properties, it also has many obvious drawbacks when confronted with requirements for certain applications. Among them, its wider industrial application is limited by its transport properties which prevent its complete access to industrial sectors such as packaging.

Researchers have examined different methods for the bulk or surface modification of PLA, the introduction of other components, or the control of its surface energy, surface charge and surface roughness, depending on the requirements of specific applications.

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