Plant Seed Mucilage Based Biodegradable and Edible Packaging Materials

Most food packaging is made from petroleum, a non-degradable material that can cause

serious "white pollution" and release toxic chemicals, posing a serious risk to food and

environmental safety. For this reason, studies on edible coatings with eco-friendly, sustainable

and various functional properties have gained momentum in the food packaging industry. It is

also known that edible packaging offers additional benefits, such as protection against

mechanical and microbial damage, aesthetic appearance, and prevention of loss of desired

flavour components.

Various seeds/kernels that are by-products in the food industry produce mucilages with

different properties that can be used for this purpose. The mucilages obtained from different

parts of plants have their own unique composition and properties. Their unique colloidal

properties, low production cost, and ease of extraction make them attractive as potential

packaging materials. They are often used to reduce moisture and flavor loss and have good

gas and water vapor barrier properties. The use of mucilage, a plant hydrocolloid, in edible

films can maintain good physicochemical and barrier properties by ensuring food stability.

Edible packaging materials with superior functional properties can be obtained with

additional components to the mucilage extracted from these seeds, which are used according

to the zero-waste principle. These edible films interact positively with food and the

environment, reducing the rate of spoilage reactions, extending food shelf life and meeting

consumer demands.