The last few decades have witnessed a staggering increase in plastic usage, propelling global plastics production to over 390 million tons in 2021. An estimated 44% of the plastic we produce is used for packaging, making sustainable alternatives an area of intense research. Like many other packaging industries, the food industry is seeking sustainable alternatives to traditional plastics to reduce its consequential environmental impact.
Today's researchers are not just looking at replacing plastics, though. They're reimagining packaging with innovative, eco-friendly alternatives. The focus has shifted to bioplastics that are compostable, plant-based materials that could even be used as edible packaging solutions. These new trends, using materials like cornstarch, sugarcane, bamboo, and seaweed, are revolutionizing the industry with their renewable and biodegradable properties.
In this transformative era, researchers using CAS solutions are at the forefront, with access to extensive resources that assist with literature review, development of novel alternatives to plastic packaging for food, securing IP protection for their innovations, and creating tailored digital transformation infrastructures.
Streamlining your literature review
As companies in the sector begin to delve into plastic alternatives for food packaging, they must keep up to date with the constantly evolving literature. It is crucial that researchers have access to the latest insights and opportunities in the field to innovate successfully.
Recent research has shed light on promising novel food packaging materials, including compostable, plant-based, and edible options. It's important to note that these categories often overlap. For instance, many plant-based materials are inherently compostable, and a significant number of edible packaging options are also plant-based. Understanding these interrelationships can help in developing more sustainable and efficient packaging solutions.
A search of the CAS Content Collection for publications relating to compostable, plant-based, and edible alternatives to plastic packaging for food over the last 20 years demonstrates the increasing research interest. Among these categories, the most substantial growth in publications can be seen in plant-based materials, highlighting it as a key area of rapid research.
With the advanced filtering techniques in CAS SciFinder, you can focus your search on the most relevant materials for your projects in sustainable food packaging, empowering you to quickly and efficiently reach the insights you need for your innovations. This targeted approach accelerates your journey toward developing groundbreaking, eco-friendly packaging solutions, placing you at the forefront of sustainability in the food industry.
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Refining Materials for Packaging
In the quest for sustainable plastic alternatives for food packaging, using a diverse array of materials presents unique challenges. Each of these material types requires specific properties to suit different food packaging needs. Compostable materials need to balance biodegradability with protective qualities, plant-based materials should offer flexibility and strength, and edible coatings must ensure food safety while enhancing shelf life.
This development process demands meticulous research and testing to ensure these innovative materials can effectively replace traditional plastics and meet the diverse functional requirements of food packaging. It involves not just material selection but also understanding their interactions with different food types and environmental conditions.
CAS SciFinder is an invaluable tool in this pursuit of sustainable food packaging solutions. Dive into the structural properties and potential applications of various sustainable materials with advanced filtering options and narrow searches by concept and document type to further refine results. This targeted approach enables you to identify the precise structures and material characteristics needed for your next innovative packaging solution.
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Protecting Packaging Innovations
The market for innovative and eco-friendly packaging solutions is burgeoning. The global market for biopolymers and bioplastics, key components in alternatives to plastic food packaging, is projected to reach $28.94 billion by 2028. This growth is underscored by significant investments from industry leaders, exemplified by Braskem’s 30% expansion in biopolymer production following an $87 million investment.
In such a dynamic environment, CAS STNext® is an essential tool for researchers to protect their innovations. Providing comprehensive insights into the IP landscape of sustainable alternatives to plastic food packaging, you can explore extensive patent information and set up tailored alerts to keep abreast of new filings and developments in the field. Navigate the complexities of IP protection more effectively by leveraging CAS capabilities to ensure the security and proprietary rights of your innovative packaging solutions.
Integrating Digital Technologies in Plastic Alternatives for Food Packaging
As the food packaging sector evolves, incorporating advanced computational tools is becoming crucial. Digital transformation efforts can help researchers get the full value out of their existing data, and AI tools are becoming a key advantage in expediting development processes and minimizing costs. With recent research showcasing innovation in the product development of sustainable bioplastic food packaging, such as using AI to classify and select potential new biodegradable packaging films, it is clear that these new tools will continue to enhance and accelerate the development of sustainable packaging solutions.
Our experts on the CAS Custom ServicesSM team support the integration of your own data into both the CAS Content CollectionTM and external third-party datasets. They can assist you in building food packaging digital transformation technologies that suit your research-specific needs. Leverage our team’s knowledge management expertise to develop digital solutions of all kinds, including AI and machine learning innovations.
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Pioneering Sustainable Food Packaging Innovations with Advanced Technologies
Despite the challenges to developing alternatives to plastic packaging for food, the industry presents a rich landscape of immense opportunities. CAS equips you with essential resources to enhance your R&D productivity, protect your intellectual property, and empower your digital transformation efforts for food packaging innovations. Partner with CAS to accelerate your breakthroughs and create a new generation of eco-friendly and efficient alternatives for the future of food packaging.