Ozonización y biorrefinería: una pareja ganadora para la sostenibilidad en el envasado

Resumen

Plastic pollution represents an important environmental problem that requires sustainable solutions. To overcome this problem, biorefineries are an alternative that allows the extraction of added-value compounds from different biomasses. Thus, it is possible to transform agricultural residues such as rice straws and vine shoots into valuable materials using environmentally friendly techniques such as ozonation. The extracted compounds can be used to fabricate bioplastics or as a source of antioxidants and food-preserving agents. In fact, these materials can replace conventional plastics and mitigate their environmental impact. Packaging materials of biological origin present advantages due to their renewability and biodegradability. Moreover, incorporating antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds gave the packaging active properties that contribute to extending food shelf life and maintaining quality and safety. In this context, the present paper shows how biorefineries and bio-based materials are promising solutions to address plastic pollution and move towards a more sustainable future in food packaging. In addition, this article focuses on the extraction of compounds, applying green technologies such as ozonation and aqueous extractions from agricultural residues such as rice straw and vine shoots, as an example of valorization and utilization towards the development of more sustainable packaging materials