Research Status and Prospects of Bio-based Materials for Grease Barrier Coatings on Paper Food Packaging

Increased environmental and health concerns over the use of plastic packaging or fluorine-containing coatings, in combination with increased market demand for products with a longer shelf life, make bio-based materials one of the most important research candidates for alternative paper packaging materials for oil resistance. These bio-based materials have excellent oxygen and oil barriers, which are critical for food packaging. Moreover, they are biodegradable, naturally renewable, and safe. In this artical, two main groups of bio-based oil repellents for paper food packaging, including polysaccharide-based biopolymers and protein-based biopolymers, are enumerated, and the advantages and weaknesses of bio-based oil repellents are discussed, and effective solutions are proposed. Finally, research status and prospects on the development of bio-based oil-resistant coatings for the food packaging industry are presented.