Seaweed-Based Biodegradable Packaging: A Green Alternative for a Plastic-Free Future

In modern times, the plastic industry is significantly responsible for the large quantities of plastic that end up in water bodies and land. Every year, tons of plastic waste are scattered into the oceans, causing widespread environmental pollution, and disrupting ecosystems. As the need to reduce the usage of petroleum-based plastics grows, researchers are exploring alternative sources of raw materials that possess plastic-like properties but are biodegradable and non-toxic to the environment and human health. The development of biodegradable and bio-based polymers is gaining traction in the market. Some seaweed-based packaging that has already been developed demonstrates excellent mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, elongation at break, thermal resistance, and water vapor permeability, comparable to traditional petroleum-based plastics. The addition of other biopolymers, nanoparticles, or natural active agents improves these features. Seaweed polysaccharides exhibit various biological activities, which open the possibility of creating “active packaging” with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, and photoprotective properties that can help preserve the freshness of packaged food or pharmaceuticals. This chapter aims to present the role of seaweeds and algal bioactive compounds in the production of bio-packaging biodegradable and plastic-free.