Environment and health impacts of synthetic food packaging: materials, synthesis, causes, and potential solutions

Food-packaging materials protect food from spoilage by enhancing its shelf life, safety, and overall quality. Currently, a major portion of food-packaging materials are made from fossil-based synthetic polymers due to the cost and ease of processing; however, they have far-reaching consequences on the environment and human health. Their multifaceted impact on the environment is not only limited to carbon footprint throughout their life cycle but also worsened by microplastic release affecting the aquatic systems. The non-biodegradability of such petroleum-based polymers is exacerbating the waste generation upon disposal, negatively affecting soil fertility and raising massive landfill issues. The processing materials and functional additives that can migrate into food and pose toxicological risks also raise concerns. This state-of-the-art review briefly outlines the traditional production processes of available commercial food-packaging materials from different polymeric materials and additives prior to explaining their consequences and broader impacts on the environment and human health in detail. It further highlights promising alternatives, emphasizing biodegradable and renewable polymers paired with safer bio-based additives to maintain the functional performance. The paper concludes with a forward-looking perspective on advancing sustainable and environmentally responsible packaging solutions across industrial sectors.