review · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Edible coatings based on renewable biopolymers present a sustainable alternative to conventional postharvest preservation methods, responding to environmental concerns and fossil fuel depletion. When applied alone to fresh produce, biopolymer coatings are often limited by their natural properties. Incorporating functional additives overcomes these constraints by significantly improving preservation efficacy. Natural additives such as essential oils, antioxidants, and antimicrobials interact synergistically within the biopolymer matrix to extend the shelf life of horticultural crops. These functionalised coatings offer enhanced protective characteristics while retaining biodegradability and low environmental impact. Evaluating how these active ingredients behave, interact, and release within the polymer matrix supports the creation of multifunctional systems that address food safety requirements and sustainability demands.
Reducing postharvest loss in fresh produce is critical for global food security and economic stability. By replacing fossil-fuel-based packaging with biodegradable, edible biopolymers enriched with natural additives, growers and distributors can extend crop shelf life safely without causing environmental damage. This approach aligns food preservation with international sustainability priorities.
This work informs the development of sustainable, edible postharvest coatings for horticultural producers, packaging manufacturers, and food distributors. The findings support formulations that integrate natural antimicrobials and antioxidants to extend produce shelf life. Because the review synthesises existing research on ingredient interactions and release mechanisms rather than testing a specific commercial product, the underlying technology remains an active area of applied research moving towards commercialisation.
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Global concerns over the depletion of fossil fuels and their impact on the environment have resulted in the development of bio-based materials with more sustainable approaches. The need for a more sustainable economy and a reduction of fossil fuel dependency is driving research in this field. Biopolymers are chain-like molecular structures made of covalently attached monomeric units derived from renewable resources, microorganisms, or synthetic and biodegradable sources. Although biopolymer-based coatings have promising applications in postharvest preservation, they are often limited by their inherent properties when applied alone to fresh produce. This review focuses on assessing the efficacy and potential of biopolymer-based edible coatings in postharvest preservation, with a specific emphasis on the role of functional additives in enhancing performance. Furthermore, it explores how natural additives like essential oils, antioxidants, and antimicrobials interact with biopolymer matrixes in synergy, evaluating their enhanced functional properties in extending the shelf life of produce as well as their environmental impact and biodegradability. By analyzing interactions, release mechanisms, and comparative effectiveness of additives, the role and future of active ingredients in creating multifunctional preservation systems that meet food safety and sustainability requirements is presented.
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DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2025.1569458
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