Abstract
The COVID-19 crisis generated changes in consumer behavior related to food purchase and the management of food packaging. Due to the intensification of online purchases for home delivery, there has been an increase in the use of food packaging (mostly non-biodegradable or non-renewable). Moreover, the fear of contamination with SARS-CoV-2 through contact with materials and surfaces has led to an intensified disposal of food packaging, promoting a setback in waste management. The purpose of this short commentary is to address the impacts of increased use and disposal of food packaging during the COVID-19 pandemic. Technological solutions have been presented as tools to minimize the environmental impacts of the increased volume of disposed food packaging (namely, the development of biodegradable food packaging) as well as to minimize the occurrence of cross-contamination (namely, the incorporation of active antiviral components). The consumer behavior in the COVID-19 pandemic requires actions concerning adoption of bioplastics for single-use food packaging. Polylactide (PLA) stands out for high production viability, performance comparable to those of petroleum-based thermoplastics, and carbon neutral life cycle. Moreover, active ...Continue Reading
References
Aug 20, 2010·Journal of Nanobiotechnology·Janice L SpeshockSaber M Hussain
Feb 21, 2013·Nanoscale Research Letters·Yasutaka MoriMasayuki Ishihara
Aug 9, 2013·BMC Microbiology·Liang-Tzung LinChristopher D Richardson
Jun 24, 2017·Scientific Reports·Mihika BoseAnjali A Karande
Apr 17, 2019·Environment International·Yiu Fai TsangYoung Jae Jeon
May 22, 2019·Waste Management·Tobias Dan NielsenJohannes Stripple
Aug 10, 2019·Nature Communications·Ainara SangronizHaritz Sardon
Feb 20, 2020·Chemosphere·Naba Kumar KalitaVimal Katiyar
Jun 13, 2020·Environmental Science & Technology·Joana C PrataTeresa Rocha-Santos
Jul 2, 2020·Plants·Mohamed Nadjib Boukhatem, William N Setzer
Aug 6, 2020·Polymers·Natanel JarachSamuel Kenig
Aug 25, 2020·Resources, Conservation, and Recycling·Hari Bhakta SharmaJayanta Bhattacharya
Aug 25, 2020·The Science of the Total Environment·Kumar Raja VanapalliSudha Goel
Aug 25, 2020·Environment, Development and Sustainability·Sarra JribiHajer Debbabi
Aug 25, 2020·Air Quality, Atmosphere, & Health·Awais ShakoorWende Yan
Oct 6, 2020·Journal of Packaging Technology and Research·Marko Hakovirta, Janetta Hakovirta
Oct 16, 2020·Food and Environmental Virology·Hana Malenovská
Nov 26, 2020·Food Research International·Muhammad AsgherHafiz M N Iqbal