Reducing packaging waste – mechanical characteristics and network parameters of the gelatin-based thin film for cruciferous vegetables packaging

Abstract

The role of the materials used for packaging is to protect inner content from external, mostly negative, factors. Besides being safe, and with good mechanical properties, these materials need to align with other consumers’ needs and demands, being both attractive and authentic, while at the same time meeting ecological requirements. Gelatin-based thin films are good candidates for production of semi-soft cup-shaped products that could be used for cruciferous vegetables packaging. These films were prepared by a simple solvent evaporation method. Prepared films were characterized by swelling study and their mechanical properties were investigated. The optical characteristics of the films were determined by optical microscopy revealing that these systems possess attractive clear and transparent gold-yellowish appearance with a smooth surface.