In recent years, environmental pollution caused by plastic waste, particularly single-use food packaging materials, has become a serious global issue. Petroleum-based polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have been widely used due to their low cost and excellent preservation performance; however, their long degradation time and adverse environmental impacts have raised significant concerns. In this context, biodegradable food packaging films have attracted considerable attention as environmentally friendly alternatives that can reduce plastic waste accumulation and support sustainable development in the food packaging industry.

This article presents an overview of biodegradable materials used for food packaging film fabrication, including polysaccharides (chitosan, starch, and cellulose), proteins (gelatin, whey protein, and soy protein), and synthetic biopolymers such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). In addition, fabrication methods, mechanical properties, gas barrier performance, water vapor resistance, as well as antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of biodegradable film systems are discussed and analyzed.

Furthermore, the potential applications of biodegradable films in the preservation of fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, and processed foods are highlighted, particularly for extending shelf life and maintaining product quality. The incorporation of natural bioactive compounds such as essential oils, polyphenols, and nanomaterials has emerged as an effective strategy to enhance preservation efficiency and improve the functional properties of biodegradable films. Nevertheless, limitations related to mechanical strength, moisture sensitivity, production cost, and large-scale commercialization remain major challenges that require further investigation and optimization.

In the future, advances in green material technology, nanotechnology, and circular economy approaches are expected to accelerate the widespread application of biodegradable food packaging films, thereby gradually replacing conventional petroleum-based plastics and minimizing environmental impacts in the food packaging industry.