Valorization of Vegetable Processing Residues for Functional Biodegradable Films in Sustainable Food Packaging

Abstract

The increasing accumulation of vegetable processing waste presents significant environmental challenges while also offering a sustainable source of structural and functional materials for biodegradable film development. This review summarizes recent progress in the utilization of vegetable by-products, including peels, pomace, stalks, and seeds, as sources of biopolymers and bioactive compounds for biodegradable film production. Extraction techniques, such as ultrasound-assisted, microwave-assisted and enzyme-assisted processes, are discussed to highlight advances in improving the efficiency and sustainability of biopolymer and bioactive recovery. In addition, film development strategies and the effects of incorporating these extracted compounds on mechanical, barrier, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of films are critically examined. Overall, this review provides insights into the potential and current limitations of vegetable-waste-derived biodegradable films and outlines future directions to support their development within a circular bioeconomy framework.