Abstract Agriculture faces persistent postharvest losses owing to inadequate packaging and preservation methods. While existing reviews have focused on commercial biopolymers for edible coatings, a systematic analysis of fruit and vegetable waste-derived films remains fragmented, lacking a comprehensive evaluation of their functional potential. This review addresses this gap by synthesizing current research on edible coatings developed from pomace and peels and evaluating their viability as sustainable packaging alternatives. The literature reveals that waste peels, which are rich in polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and bioactive substances, offer promising biodegradable film materials. However, extraction optimization varies significantly across studies, with inconsistent reports on bioactivity retention. Current research demonstrates moderate barrier properties and adequate mechanical strength for peel-based films, although moisture resistance requires hydrophobic enhancement. The effectiveness of application methods varies depending on the formulation. This review identifies critical research gaps, including standardization challenges, scalability issues, and performance optimization needs. This study synthesizes fragmented knowledge to establish a framework that advances the commercial viability of waste-derived edible coatings for sustainable food preservation.
Halder et al. (2026) studied this question.