degradation were most effectively prevented by PLA as compared with other
packaging materials (Haugaard et al. 2003). The effect of pasteurization on a meat
salad packed in conventional (PE: Polyethylene, PP: polypropylene) and biobased
packaging (PLA, PHB: polyhydroxybutyrate) material was investigated and PHB
films were found to be suitable packaging materials for this purpose (Levkane et al.
2008). Different studies on cellulose based films also showed that they could be an
alternative for packaging several food products.
However, there are some limitations like thermal instability, brittleness, difficult
heat sealability, low melt strength, and high oxygen permeability restrict the use of
PLA and PHB films for many food packaging applications. Starch and cellulose are
hydrophilic by nature. Hence, packaging materials based on these materials have a
low water vapor barrier, which leads to poor mechanical properties and limited longterm stability.
15.8.1 Roles of Microbe in the Remediation of Bioplastic Based
Packaging Materials
The biodegradation and catabolism of bioplastics are responsible for more than 90
forms of microbes. Degradation of bioplastics by bacteria or fungal organisms is
known by the presence of a clear zone surrounding development in a plate comprising the bioplastic as the sole source of carbon, accompanied by analysis of the
diameter for the extension of biodegradation.
Destabilization of PHA bioplastic has been found using the PHA biodegradation
verification technique by using scanning electron microscopy (Tachibana et al.
2013). Enzymes that may be whether intracellular or extracellular are accountable
for bioplastic degradation. Depolymerases group of enzyme, which was derived
from microorganisms, has been investigated and was found to play an important role
in biodegradation of bioplastics (Chua et al. 2013).
The depolymerase enzyme produced from Streptomyces thermoviolaceus is
responsible for the degradation of bioplastic (Chua et al. 2013). Certain microbial
enzymes including lipase and estrase produced from Alcaligenes faecalis and
Comamonas acidovorans, respectively, involved in bioplastic biodegradation
(Trivedi et al. 2016). Soil and compost habitats have been extensively studied, and
were found to contain a high number of bioplastic degrading microorganisms
(Accinelli et al. 2012). Due to various higher organic content, agricultural soils
were reported as an effective site for PLA degrading organisms (Penkhrue et al.
2015).
15.9 Future Prospects and Safety Issues
Antimicrobial packaging is an emerging technology that promises a new approach to
food packaging. Despite its current restricted use due to legal issues related to
additives, it does not cease to be an innovative viewpoint for the present and future
15 Film Based Packaging for Food Safety and Preservation: Issues and Perspectives
329
packaging materials (Haugaard et al. 2003). The effect of pasteurization on a meat
salad packed in conventional (PE: Polyethylene, PP: polypropylene) and biobased
packaging (PLA, PHB: polyhydroxybutyrate) material was investigated and PHB
films were found to be suitable packaging materials for this purpose (Levkane et al.
2008). Different studies on cellulose based films also showed that they could be an
alternative for packaging several food products.
However, there are some limitations like thermal instability, brittleness, difficult
heat sealability, low melt strength, and high oxygen permeability restrict the use of
PLA and PHB films for many food packaging applications. Starch and cellulose are
hydrophilic by nature. Hence, packaging materials based on these materials have a
low water vapor barrier, which leads to poor mechanical properties and limited longterm stability.
15.8.1 Roles of Microbe in the Remediation of Bioplastic Based
Packaging Materials
The biodegradation and catabolism of bioplastics are responsible for more than 90
forms of microbes. Degradation of bioplastics by bacteria or fungal organisms is
known by the presence of a clear zone surrounding development in a plate comprising the bioplastic as the sole source of carbon, accompanied by analysis of the
diameter for the extension of biodegradation.
Destabilization of PHA bioplastic has been found using the PHA biodegradation
verification technique by using scanning electron microscopy (Tachibana et al.
2013). Enzymes that may be whether intracellular or extracellular are accountable
for bioplastic degradation. Depolymerases group of enzyme, which was derived
from microorganisms, has been investigated and was found to play an important role
in biodegradation of bioplastics (Chua et al. 2013).
The depolymerase enzyme produced from Streptomyces thermoviolaceus is
responsible for the degradation of bioplastic (Chua et al. 2013). Certain microbial
enzymes including lipase and estrase produced from Alcaligenes faecalis and
Comamonas acidovorans, respectively, involved in bioplastic biodegradation
(Trivedi et al. 2016). Soil and compost habitats have been extensively studied, and
were found to contain a high number of bioplastic degrading microorganisms
(Accinelli et al. 2012). Due to various higher organic content, agricultural soils
were reported as an effective site for PLA degrading organisms (Penkhrue et al.
2015).
15.9 Future Prospects and Safety Issues
Antimicrobial packaging is an emerging technology that promises a new approach to
food packaging. Despite its current restricted use due to legal issues related to
additives, it does not cease to be an innovative viewpoint for the present and future
15 Film Based Packaging for Food Safety and Preservation: Issues and Perspectives
329