Conclusions and outlook

Agro-based materials are a sustainable solution for replacing fossil resources, provided their sourcing is well thought-out, i.e. does not negatively influence agricultural production for human consumption, nor harm our environment.

End-of-life management of agro-based materials must also be considered with just as much importance as sourcing. As far as possible, petro-sourced plastics should be replaced by biodegradable alternatives (and not just compostable under industrial conditions). Only irreplaceable plastics that can be effectively recycled in a closed loop should be retained, as is potentially the case for PET bottles.

The primary function of food packaging is to protect foodstuffs from external contamination (dust, micro-organisms, chemical substances) and external agents (oxygen) responsible for the accelerated deterioration of...