Modification Strategies, Functional Properties, and Applications of Starch-Based Biodegradable Films for Food Packaging: A Systematic Review

The increasing environmental impact of conventional plastics and the low recycling rates of single-use packaging have intensified the search for biodegradable alternatives, particularly starch-based films for food packaging. Although starch is renewable, widely available, and biodegradable, its limited mechanical strength, high water sensitivity, and poor barrier performance require targeted modification to meet packaging requirements. This study presents a systematic and bibliometric review of starch-based biodegradable films, analyzing 164 research articles published between 2015 and January 2026 and indexed in Scopus® and Web of Science® (WoS), following PRISMA® guidelines. The review examines research trends, starch sources, processing methods, modification strategies, characterization practices, and application areas, with an emphasis on plasticizers, organic acid additives, polymer blends, fillers, and chemical modifications. The results show that solution casting remains the dominant preparation method, accounting for 82% of the reviewed studies, while filler-based strategies have become the main recent trend, representing 51 of 96 studies published between 2023 and 2026. Glycerol remains the most frequently used plasticizer, appearing in 83% of plasticized formulations. The use of agro-industrial residues as starch sources or functional additives also reflects the growing relevance of circular economy approaches in this field. However, despite advances in mechanical, thermal, barrier, antimicrobial, and antioxidant performance, critical gaps persist for commercial implementation. Migration testing, techno-economic analyses, and life cycle assessments (LCAs) are reported in only 4.3%, 1.8%, and 1.8% of studies, respectively. Future research should move beyond formulation-centered studies toward integrated approaches that combine functional performance, food-contact safety, regulatory compliance, scalability, and end-of-life assessment to accelerate commercially viable starch-based packaging materials.