Edible films and coatings: a “green” alternative for agro-products preservation

Abstract

Edible films and coatings have emerged as a biodegradable, intelligent and innovative alternative to traditional food packaging methods. Due to their natural composition, their mechanical, optical and barrier properties can be modified to suit different varieties of food and their metabolism and senescence process, thus contributing to reduce losses due to short shelf life. Currently, the incorporation of nanomaterials and active ingredients into edible films and coatings allowed to increase the functionality of these emerging and environmentally friendly technologies, turning them into potential packaging materials for agricultural foods.