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P. Rajesh and V. Subhashini
• Paper is very popular and trendy among most industries as a cheap, widely higher
abundance and flexible packaging material as well as rigid packaging applications. The main reasons for the preference of paper packaging are its availability,
durability, eco-friendliness, cost effectiveness, long-term reusability, disposal and
biodegradability. However, when it comes to surface properties such as moisture
and liquid absorptivity, the paper is not the preferred packaging material (Cho
et al. 2008; Tutus et al. 2016).
• Textiles and Composites such as Potatoes, tea leaves, coffee, sugar, and dried
cereals are used in textile package synthesis. However, plastics and composite
material bags are preferred over cloth bags and their utility has increased within
the past few decades as they have enhanced barrier and strengthened property
(Costa et al. 2019). Ideally, packaging containing composite materials are used
by the beverage and dairy industries to pack soft drinks, fruit juices and dairy
products.
• Agro Fiber-Based Plastics: Material scientists are carrying out research with the
intention of inventing biodegradable plastics to deal with non degradable conventional plastics. Some properties such as matrix breakdown from sunlight exposure
have already been achieved with starch plastic combination. Yet 100% achievement in terms of breakdown under the sunlight is to be established (Sarker et al.
2012).
• Bacteria-Based Plastics: Bacteria-based plastics where PHA polymer chains
which are synthesized inside bacteria cells are used to make films. In these the
mechanical properties can be changed depending on the intention and the type of
bacteria and growth condition can influence the polymer outcome. PHA enhances
the biodegradability, thermal resistance property and mechanical flexibility of a
packaging material (Chen and Patel 2011). The use of genetically modernized
bacteria to produce biodegradable plastics via cell metabolic reactions is being
recently researched however, it is deemed to be cost consuming for the industries.
• Lignin-Based Plastics Lignin-based plastic is another low cost renewable
biodegradable plastic option and it enhances the compatibility of the matrix
polymer and UV stability (Hadad et al. 2005, Fabbri et al. 2005 and Cazón et al.
2017). Lignin has resulted in high modulus value from the reinforcing action
and thermal stability. It exhibits higher thermal insulation values than the other
materials.
• Soy-Based Plastics Soy-based plastic, an alternative for biodegradable plastics
has a limited number of proteins with fats and oils, which allow soy to become
molded into films and plastic material. It has commonly been used in food coatings
and vehicle applications but it is unpopular due to its low availability (Chua et al.
1999).
• Natural Fiber Reinforced Plastics Nowadays, natural fiber reinforced plastics
are used due to their availability, low cost, high modulus value, abundance, low
density, the high number of reactive ends on the surface, ease of the process and
high biodegradability. Bamboo, flax, hemp, pineapple, banana fibre and kenaf
are added as reinforcing agents for the polymer matrix showing increased heat
resistivity however, they exhibit a brittle property for the tensile test. Also, high
P. Rajesh and V. Subhashini
• Paper is very popular and trendy among most industries as a cheap, widely higher
abundance and flexible packaging material as well as rigid packaging applications. The main reasons for the preference of paper packaging are its availability,
durability, eco-friendliness, cost effectiveness, long-term reusability, disposal and
biodegradability. However, when it comes to surface properties such as moisture
and liquid absorptivity, the paper is not the preferred packaging material (Cho
et al. 2008; Tutus et al. 2016).
• Textiles and Composites such as Potatoes, tea leaves, coffee, sugar, and dried
cereals are used in textile package synthesis. However, plastics and composite
material bags are preferred over cloth bags and their utility has increased within
the past few decades as they have enhanced barrier and strengthened property
(Costa et al. 2019). Ideally, packaging containing composite materials are used
by the beverage and dairy industries to pack soft drinks, fruit juices and dairy
products.
• Agro Fiber-Based Plastics: Material scientists are carrying out research with the
intention of inventing biodegradable plastics to deal with non degradable conventional plastics. Some properties such as matrix breakdown from sunlight exposure
have already been achieved with starch plastic combination. Yet 100% achievement in terms of breakdown under the sunlight is to be established (Sarker et al.
2012).
• Bacteria-Based Plastics: Bacteria-based plastics where PHA polymer chains
which are synthesized inside bacteria cells are used to make films. In these the
mechanical properties can be changed depending on the intention and the type of
bacteria and growth condition can influence the polymer outcome. PHA enhances
the biodegradability, thermal resistance property and mechanical flexibility of a
packaging material (Chen and Patel 2011). The use of genetically modernized
bacteria to produce biodegradable plastics via cell metabolic reactions is being
recently researched however, it is deemed to be cost consuming for the industries.
• Lignin-Based Plastics Lignin-based plastic is another low cost renewable
biodegradable plastic option and it enhances the compatibility of the matrix
polymer and UV stability (Hadad et al. 2005, Fabbri et al. 2005 and Cazón et al.
2017). Lignin has resulted in high modulus value from the reinforcing action
and thermal stability. It exhibits higher thermal insulation values than the other
materials.
• Soy-Based Plastics Soy-based plastic, an alternative for biodegradable plastics
has a limited number of proteins with fats and oils, which allow soy to become
molded into films and plastic material. It has commonly been used in food coatings
and vehicle applications but it is unpopular due to its low availability (Chua et al.
1999).
• Natural Fiber Reinforced Plastics Nowadays, natural fiber reinforced plastics
are used due to their availability, low cost, high modulus value, abundance, low
density, the high number of reactive ends on the surface, ease of the process and
high biodegradability. Bamboo, flax, hemp, pineapple, banana fibre and kenaf
are added as reinforcing agents for the polymer matrix showing increased heat
resistivity however, they exhibit a brittle property for the tensile test. Also, high