Advances in nanocellulose variants for sustainable food packaging and circular bioeconomy through network analysis

Nanocellulose is a promising renewable material for sustainable food packaging. This review examines cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), and bacterial cellulose (BC) by combining a network analysis of 689 Scopus-indexed documents (2010–2025) using VOSviewer, Tableau, and RStudio with a narrative review of their characteristics, applications, and role in the circular bioeconomy. Publications grew, led by China, India, and the United States, while research has shifted from extraction and characterization toward active and intelligent packaging. A consolidated performance matrix shows that no type excels in all parameters: CNCs form the most brittle films despite their high crystallinity, CNFs provide greater flexibility, and BC can reach the highest tensile strength and exhibits the lowest water vapor permeability. However, performance depends more on processing route and humidity than on nanocellulose type, with oxygen barriers declining sharply at high humidity. Combined with biopolymers and active compounds, nanocellulose improves film properties and enables visual freshness monitoring, although preservative effects largely derive from the active compounds. Overall migration in tested systems stays below regulatory limits, but data on particle migration, long-term toxicity, and regulatory approval are limited. Life cycle evidence shows environmental benefits depend on feedstock and production route, with biorefinery integration and alternative BC fermentation media reducing carbon footprint and water use. Future research should prioritize standardized testing, moisture resistance, food safety validation, and scalable low-impact production. By linking research trends with cross-type performance, safety, and sustainability evidence, this review offers a practical basis for selecting nanocellulose for sustainable packaging.