Recent Advances in Microalgae‐Based Functional Coatings and Films for Food Packaging Applications: Opportunities and Challenges

ABSTRACT

The increased popularity of sustainable food packaging and its technologies has led to considerable interest in microalgae‐derived functional films and coatings as potential replacements for traditional plastics based on petroleum. The literature in recent years has been thorough in keeping up with newer developments of microalgae producing packaging materials, and this review has brought to focus the superior benefits that this technology has about microalgae, or in other words, their unique biodegradability, carbon neutrality and intrinsic bioactivity. We address the wide variety of species of microalgae (e.g., Chlorella , Spirulina and Dunaliella ) and their bioactive components, which have been shown to result in a variety of improved properties in packaging. Vital developments in formulation material—such as nanocomposite reinforcing, cross‐linking and blending with other biopolymers—are discussed to enhance mechanical strength, barrier properties and functionality. Also, the review touches upon new applications, such as smart packaging by means of pH‐responsive indicators and edible coating to prolong the food shelf life. In spite of these developments, some resounding issues are still outstanding, such as the excessive cost of production, lack of scalability, regulatory restrictions and uneven performance. We can propose directions in future surf research, including genetic strain optimization, new processing technologies and circular economy integration, as a solution to these obstacles. With these hurdles resolved, microalgae‐based packaging can move beyond a unique novelty to a large‐scale, marketable option and, along the way, help achieve planet sustainability and lessen the environmental footprint of food packaging.