Thesis Abstract

Abstract
The food industry generates a significant amount of by-products that can be utilized for sustainable food packaging solutions. This thesis focuses on exploring the potential of utilizing food by-products for sustainable packaging to address environmental concerns and enhance resource efficiency in the food industry. The study investigates various food by-products and their suitability for packaging applications, aiming to reduce waste generation and promote circular economy principles. The research methodology involves a comprehensive literature review, experimental analysis, and case studies to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of utilizing food by-products for packaging materials. The findings reveal the diverse range of food by-products that can be repurposed for sustainable packaging, including fruit peels, vegetable stems, and agricultural residues. These by-products offer unique properties such as biodegradability, antimicrobial activity, and barrier properties that can enhance the functionality of packaging materials. The discussion of findings delves into the technical aspects of processing food by-products into packaging materials, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in scaling up production for commercial applications. The study also examines the environmental impact of utilizing food by-products for packaging, emphasizing the potential benefits in reducing carbon footprint and promoting a more sustainable food supply chain. In conclusion, the utilization of food by-products for sustainable food packaging solutions presents a promising opportunity to address environmental concerns and create value from waste in the food industry. This thesis contributes to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable packaging materials and advocates for the adoption of circular economy principles in the food sector. Recommendations are provided for future research and industry implementation to further advance the development of innovative and eco-friendly packaging solutions using food by-products.

Thesis Overview

The project titled "Utilization of Food By-Products for Sustainable Food Packaging Solutions" aims to address the growing concern of food waste and environmental sustainability in the food industry. This research focuses on exploring innovative ways to utilize food by-products in the development of sustainable food packaging solutions. By repurposing food waste as packaging materials, this study aims to reduce environmental impact, promote circular economy practices, and contribute to the overall sustainability of the food industry. The research will begin with a comprehensive literature review to examine existing studies on food waste management, sustainable packaging materials, and relevant technologies in the field of food science and technology. This review will provide a solid theoretical foundation for the study and identify gaps in current research that this project seeks to address. The methodology chapter will outline the research design, data collection methods, and experimental procedures employed in this study. It will detail how food by-products will be sourced, processed, and tested for their suitability as packaging materials. Various analytical techniques will be used to evaluate the physical, mechanical, and barrier properties of the food by-product-based packaging materials. The discussion of findings chapter will present and analyze the results obtained from the experiments conducted in this study. It will discuss the performance of the food by-product-based packaging materials compared to traditional packaging materials in terms of barrier properties, shelf life extension, and environmental impact. The findings will be interpreted in the context of existing literature and practical implications for the food industry. Lastly, the conclusion and summary chapter will summarize the key findings of the research, discuss the implications for sustainable food packaging practices, and suggest recommendations for future research and industry applications. Overall, this project aims to contribute to the development of innovative and sustainable solutions for food packaging by harnessing the potential of food by-products, thereby promoting environmental stewardship and resource efficiency in the food industry.