Plant‐Based Biopolymer Composites for Smart and Sustainable Food Packaging: Global Insights, Recent Advances, and Future Research Directions

ABSTRACT The growing environmental concerns associated with conventional plastic packaging and the rising demand for sustainable food systems have intensified research into plant‐based biopolymer composites for food packaging applications. Derived from renewable resources, these materials offer key environmental advantages, including biodegradability, reduced dependence on fossil fuels, and mitigation of plastic waste, while also enabling advanced packaging functionalities. This review provides a comprehensive and up‐to‐date synthesis of global research on plant‐based biopolymer composites for smart and sustainable food packaging. Its novelty lies in integrating global development trends with recent material innovations, particularly the use of functional additives and biopolymer modifications to enhance barrier properties, antimicrobial activity, ultraviolet (UV) protection, and intelligent sensing capabilities. The review systematically analyzes: (1) worldwide progress and application patterns; (2) reinforcement strategies and functionalization approaches for performance optimization; and (3) key technical and economic challenges limiting large‐scale commercialization, such as cost, scalability, and durability. A major strength of this work is its interdisciplinary perspective, highlighting the role of Industry 4.0 technologies and collaborative research in accelerating material design, processing, and adoption. By consolidating recent advances and identifying critical research gaps, this review offers strategic insights and future research directions to support the transition toward high‐performance, smart, and sustainable food packaging solutions, with particular emphasis on emerging research contributions from countries such as China and India.