Sustainable Biopolymer Composites from Banana Pseudostem Cellulose: Integrating Natural Plasticizers and Antimicrobial Agents for Eco-friendly E-commerce Packaging

The rapid expansion of online retail has created urgent demand for sustainable e-commerce packaging that matches the performance of conventional plastics while reducing waste and enabling circular end-of-life options. This review synthesises recent work on converting banana pseudostem - an abundant, underutilised agro-waste - into cellulose feedstock for biopolymer films, and evaluates natural, low-toxicity additives (starch, glycerol and citrus-derived extracts) to impart plasticity, flexibility and antimicrobial function. We summarise extraction pathways (conventional alkali/bleach sequences and emerging green methods such as enzymatic, Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES)/Ionic Liquids (IL) and microwave-assisted approaches), highlight how cellulose purity and crystallinity govern film mechanical and barrier outcomes, and examine plasticisation strategies (starch-based, glycerol and hybrid systems) that tune tensile and elongation behaviour. The review further collates evidence on citrus peel actives (limonene, citral, flavonoids), their extraction routes and routes to incorporate them into cellulose matrices (blending, coating, encapsulation) to deliver active antimicrobial protection relevant to transit and storage in fulfilment logistics. Across these domains we identify recurring sustainability gaps: lack of standardised, pilot-scale solvent recovery and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data for extraction routes; insufficient performance benchmarking under realistic humidity/temperature cycles; and sparse techno-economic analyses for feedstock valorisation and scale-up. The paper finds that banana-pseudostem cellulose, combined with waste-derived starch and controlled glycerol dosing plus citrus-based antimicrobials, offers a credible pathway to compostable, hygienic packaging for many e-commerce categories - provided remaining gaps in durability, moisture control and life-cycle validation are addressed.