Structure-property correlations and environmental impact assessment of sustainable antibacterial food packaging films reinforced with fungal chitin nanofibrils

Hossein Baniasadi; Ziba Fathi; Cristina D. Cruz; Roozbeh Abidnejad; Päivi Tammela; Jukka Niskanen; Erlantz Lizundia

doi:10.1016/j.foodhyd.2024.110987

Structure-property correlations and environmental impact assessment of sustainable antibacterial food packaging films reinforced with fungal chitin nanofibrils

Hossein Baniasadi^*, Ziba Fathi, Cristina D. Cruz, Roozbeh Abidnejad, Päivi Tammela, Jukka Niskanen, Erlantz Lizundia^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

This study develops sustainable, antibacterial food packaging films using carboxymethylcellulose and fungi-derived chitin nanofibrils (ChNFs) reinforced with clay to enhance mechanical strength, moisture resistance, and gas barrier properties. ChNFs significantly improve tensile strength and permeability by forming a dense, hydrogen-bonded network within the carboxymethylcellulose matrix. However, excessive ChNF content led to agglomeration, reducing mechanical performance slightly. At 30% ChNFs content, films demonstrated antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes and also presented a 52.1 ± 3.2% degradation rate in four weeks. Life cycle assessment revealed a reduced carbon footprint (5.0–5.3 kg CO₂-equiv. per kg film) and low plastic litter generation (35–44 g/kg), underscoring environmental benefits compared to conventional packaging. These carboxymethylcellulose/ChNF-based films are a promising, eco-friendly alternative for food packaging applications, offering antibacterial properties and enhanced sustainability in the packaging of perishable food products.

Original language	English
Article number	110987
Number of pages	13
Journal	Food Hydrocolloids
Volume	162
Early online date	21 Dec 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2024.110987
Publication status	Published - May 2025
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the funding of the Research Council of Finland, No. 327248 (ValueBiomat). The authors acknowledge financial support from the University of the Basque Country (Convocatoria de ayudas a grupos de investigación GIU21/010). The DDCB unit at the Faculty of Pharmacy, supported by HiLIFE and Biocenter Finland, is gratefully acknowledged for providing access to microbiology facilities and instruments. R.A. acknowledges funding from Business Finland Strategic Centres for Science, Technology, and Innovation IMD1/Kontturi. This work made use of Aalto University Bioeconomy Facilities and OtaNano, Nanomicroscopy Center (Aalto-NMC).

Keywords

Antibacterial films
Biodegradability
Carboxymethylcellulose
Food packaging
Life cycle assessment
Nanochitin

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.foodhyd.2024.110987Licence: CC BY

CHEM_Baniasadi_et_al_Structure-property_correlations_2024_Food_HydrocolloidsFinal published version, 10.2 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Structure-property correlations and environmental impact assessment of sustainable antibacterial food packaging films reinforced with fungal chitin nanofibrils",

abstract = "This study develops sustainable, antibacterial food packaging films using carboxymethylcellulose and fungi-derived chitin nanofibrils (ChNFs) reinforced with clay to enhance mechanical strength, moisture resistance, and gas barrier properties. ChNFs significantly improve tensile strength and permeability by forming a dense, hydrogen-bonded network within the carboxymethylcellulose matrix. However, excessive ChNF content led to agglomeration, reducing mechanical performance slightly. At 30\% ChNFs content, films demonstrated antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes and also presented a 52.1 ± 3.2\% degradation rate in four weeks. Life cycle assessment revealed a reduced carbon footprint (5.0–5.3 kg CO₂-equiv. per kg film) and low plastic litter generation (35–44 g/kg), underscoring environmental benefits compared to conventional packaging. These carboxymethylcellulose/ChNF-based films are a promising, eco-friendly alternative for food packaging applications, offering antibacterial properties and enhanced sustainability in the packaging of perishable food products.",

keywords = "Antibacterial films, Biodegradability, Carboxymethylcellulose, Food packaging, Life cycle assessment, Nanochitin",

author = "Hossein Baniasadi and Ziba Fathi and Cruz, \{Cristina D.\} and Roozbeh Abidnejad and P{\"a}ivi Tammela and Jukka Niskanen and Erlantz Lizundia",

year = "2025",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/j.foodhyd.2024.110987",

language = "English",

volume = "162",

journal = "Food Hydrocolloids",

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publisher = "Elsevier",

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T1 - Structure-property correlations and environmental impact assessment of sustainable antibacterial food packaging films reinforced with fungal chitin nanofibrils

AU - Baniasadi, Hossein

AU - Fathi, Ziba

AU - Cruz, Cristina D.

AU - Abidnejad, Roozbeh

AU - Tammela, Päivi

AU - Niskanen, Jukka

AU - Lizundia, Erlantz

PY - 2025/5

Y1 - 2025/5

N2 - This study develops sustainable, antibacterial food packaging films using carboxymethylcellulose and fungi-derived chitin nanofibrils (ChNFs) reinforced with clay to enhance mechanical strength, moisture resistance, and gas barrier properties. ChNFs significantly improve tensile strength and permeability by forming a dense, hydrogen-bonded network within the carboxymethylcellulose matrix. However, excessive ChNF content led to agglomeration, reducing mechanical performance slightly. At 30% ChNFs content, films demonstrated antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes and also presented a 52.1 ± 3.2% degradation rate in four weeks. Life cycle assessment revealed a reduced carbon footprint (5.0–5.3 kg CO₂-equiv. per kg film) and low plastic litter generation (35–44 g/kg), underscoring environmental benefits compared to conventional packaging. These carboxymethylcellulose/ChNF-based films are a promising, eco-friendly alternative for food packaging applications, offering antibacterial properties and enhanced sustainability in the packaging of perishable food products.

AB - This study develops sustainable, antibacterial food packaging films using carboxymethylcellulose and fungi-derived chitin nanofibrils (ChNFs) reinforced with clay to enhance mechanical strength, moisture resistance, and gas barrier properties. ChNFs significantly improve tensile strength and permeability by forming a dense, hydrogen-bonded network within the carboxymethylcellulose matrix. However, excessive ChNF content led to agglomeration, reducing mechanical performance slightly. At 30% ChNFs content, films demonstrated antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes and also presented a 52.1 ± 3.2% degradation rate in four weeks. Life cycle assessment revealed a reduced carbon footprint (5.0–5.3 kg CO₂-equiv. per kg film) and low plastic litter generation (35–44 g/kg), underscoring environmental benefits compared to conventional packaging. These carboxymethylcellulose/ChNF-based films are a promising, eco-friendly alternative for food packaging applications, offering antibacterial properties and enhanced sustainability in the packaging of perishable food products.

KW - Antibacterial films

KW - Biodegradability

KW - Carboxymethylcellulose

KW - Food packaging

KW - Life cycle assessment

KW - Nanochitin

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DO - 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2024.110987

M3 - Article

SN - 0268-005X

VL - 162

JO - Food Hydrocolloids

JF - Food Hydrocolloids

M1 - 110987

ER -

Structure-property correlations and environmental impact assessment of sustainable antibacterial food packaging films reinforced with fungal chitin nanofibrils

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

IMD1/Kontturi: Intelligent Medical Device Solutions to Global Market

VALUEBIOMAT: Bio-oils based polymeric composites; value chain from syntheisis to additive manufacturing

Bioeconomy Research Infrastructure

OtaNano

OtaNano - Nanomicroscopy Center

Cite this

Structure-property correlations and environmental impact assessment of sustainable antibacterial food packaging films reinforced with fungal chitin nanofibrils

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

IMD1/Kontturi: Intelligent Medical Device Solutions to Global Market

VALUEBIOMAT: Bio-oils based polymeric composites; value chain from syntheisis to additive manufacturing

Equipment

Bioeconomy Research Infrastructure

OtaNano

OtaNano - Nanomicroscopy Center

Cite this