Eco-friendly plastics from cereal-derived by-products and waste: A circular economy approach for sustainable packaging

Reviewartikel, 2025

Cereals represent a major part of the human diet, but also a significant portion of food waste. Approximately 13 % of all food waste is generated during cereal processing and manufacturing, and 30 % of the cereal by weight is lost or wasted. This waste negatively impacts the environment through greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, and also results in economic losses. The present review paper provides, for the first time, a general overview of cereal-based by-products and waste and their compositional potential for food packaging materials. Moreover, this review article assesses various techniques for the biorefinery of cereal-based by-products and wastes. Additionally, the review discusses the various uses of cereal by-products and wastes in sustainable packaging. Repurposing food and agriculture waste and by-products offers an innovative approach that not only addresses plastic pollution but also reduces food waste. This practice effectively transforms waste materials into value-added products. The majority of cereal by-products have attracted considerable attention in the packaging industry due to their cost-effectiveness, and efficiency in film forming. Researchers and industry stakeholders need to improve communication and bridge the gap between laboratory research and production-scale operations. By adopting and expanding industrial production, these by products and wastes can contribute significantly to resource sustainability.