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Advancing Food Preservation: Sustainable Green-AgNPs Bionanocomposites in Paper-Starch Flexible Packaging for Prolonged Shelf Life

Summary

Researchers developed an eco-friendly food packaging material by coating paper with corn starch and tiny silver particles created through green chemistry methods. This innovative packaging significantly improved food durability, reducing weight loss in fresh produce like tomatoes and grapes by 6-8% over six days. The material is completely biodegradable and poses no safety concerns, making it a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic packaging.

Background

Food spoilage contributes significantly to food waste, accounting for nearly 40% of food intended for human consumption globally. Current paper-based packaging relies on synthetic polymer coatings that lack biodegradability. Green silver nanoparticles (G-AgNPs) have emerged as promising antimicrobial agents for sustainable food packaging applications.

Objective

To develop corn starch-based coating materials reinforced with green-synthesized silver nanoparticles for paper-based packaging to enhance food shelf-life, reduce pathogenic bacteria growth, and improve mechanical and water barrier properties while maintaining environmental sustainability.

Results

Starch coating with 12.75 ppm G-AgNPs showed 65% increase in UTS (87.6 MPa vs 48.48 MPa control) and 8% reduction in WVP. Antimicrobial activity was concentration-dependent with 0.207 cm inhibition zone at 30% G-AgNPs. Food trials demonstrated significant weight loss reduction after 6 days: 8.59% for cherry tomatoes and 6.77% for green grapes. Silver migration was undetectable (<0.006 mg/kg), below EFSA safety limits.

Conclusion

The developed starch/G-AgNPs paper-based packaging successfully combines enhanced mechanical properties, improved moisture barriers, and antimicrobial activity while remaining biodegradable. This sustainable packaging material effectively extends food shelf-life and reduces food waste, aligning with UN sustainable development goals and regulatory safety requirements.
  • Published in:Polymers (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.3390/polym16070941
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