Utilisation of agricultural waste for the development of edible film

Gupta S., Sharma A., Rasane P., ERCİŞLİ S., Singh J.

CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources, vol.21, no.1, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)

Abstract

Global food loss and plastic pollution have emerged as critical environmental challenges, with over one-third of food produced for human consumption wasted annually and millions of tons of petroleum-based plastic packaging discarded in landfills and oceans. To address these issues, edible films and coatings derived from agricultural by-products have gained increasing attention as sustainable, biodegradable alternatives to conventional packaging. These films form semi-permeable barriers that regulate gas exchange, moisture transfer, and oxidation while offering the potential to incorporate natural antimicrobials and antioxidants. This review explores the valorisation of agricultural residues – including orange, lime, mango, pomegranate, potato, prickly pear, and other fruit peels – as renewable raw materials for the production of functional edible films. It highlights the historical evolution of edible packaging, the physicochemical properties of polysaccharide-, protein-, lipid-, and composite-based films, and modern processing techniques such as electro-spraying, solution casting, and 3D printing. Additionally, it emphasises advances in barrier performance, mechanical strength, and bioactivity resulting from the incorporation of plant extracts and nanomaterials. By converting agri-waste into value-added biodegradable films, this approach not only enhances food shelf life and safety but also contributes to circular economy goals and reduces environmental burden.