DEVELOPMENT OF A BIODEGRADABLE FILM WITH SMART PROPERTIES BASED ON BIOPOLYMERS AND ENRICHED WITH BEET EXTRACT

The environmental impact of plastic packaging has been steadily increasing; scientific research into replacing synthetic polymers with biodegradable polymers is expanding in an effort to find new alternatives to conventional plastic. This study aimed to develop a film-type food packaging material with smart properties using beet extract at concentrations of 5% (F1), 7.5% (F2), and 10% (F3) (w/w). We analyzed the films for moisture content, solubility, water vapor permeability (WVP), and color. The films had similar thicknesses, with no significant difference between the beet extract concentrations. Moisture content increased from 7.02% (F1) to 7.46% (F3), while water solubility decreased from 94.37% to 80.11%, indicating greater water resistance as the extract content increased. Water vapor permeability did not differ significantly. For mechanical properties, the F3 film (10%) showed lower hardness and higher adhesion. The films underwent storage testing at temperatures of 40 °C and 50 °C; particularly in the F2 and F3 films, a color change from pink to brown occurred, demonstrating their potential for use as smart packaging and as an indicator of a break in the cold chain. The results indicate that increasing beet extract improved the films' water resistance and reduced their hardness. The main highlight was the color change at high temperatures, especially in the films containing 7.5% and 10% extract, demonstrating potential for use as smart packaging to indicate a break in the cold chain. Cornstarch films containing beet extract showed potential for smart packaging, primarily because their color changes at different temperatures can indicate cold-chain disruptions.