A Comprehensive Review on Edible Packaging and Its Formation Methods With Recent Eco-Friendly Advancements

With the increase in human population and rising food demand, the need for an efficient and sustainable food packaging solution has intensified. This review discusses the edible and biodegradable packaging systems, emphasizing their potential as an environmentally safe and sustainable alternative to synthetic packaging. It also highlights various biopolymers, fabrication methods, and bioactive agents such as antimicrobials, antioxidants, and nanoparticles to improve the biopolymer's functionality, food preservation, and shelf-life extension. While edible and biodegradable packaging shows promising potential as sustainable packaging, further research is essential to optimize their formulations, cost-effectiveness, and improve scalability. The long-term safety of these packaging materials on human health, their industrial applicability, and interaction with food products still require thorough investigations.