Starch-Based Films

This chapter discusses the potential of starch as a raw material for the production of plastic materials for food packaging applications. It begins by discussing definitions of biobased plastics and environmental benefits, and provides an overview of the state of the art of global plastics production and the international regulations on food contact materials. Starch films are excellent oxygen barriers and are therefore of interest in food packaging applications. A shortcoming, however, is their sensitivity towards moisture. The chapter attempts to illustrate the current understanding of the interrelations between chemical properties, processing conditions through different conversion techniques, and tensile and barrier properties.