Edible Coatings in Food Industry related to Circular Economy

The edible films and coatings are continuous thin layer, made from proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, antimicrobial components or a mixture of them. Once delivered on the food they improve quality by slowing down unwanted changes, prolonging their shelf life, improving the outlook and giving them certain properties. The current study focuses on a current problem such as innovative models in the circular economy, especially the application of edible coatings in food technologies. The study uses a research of consumer attitudes in North-East Bulgaria about the use of foods, which contain edible coatings, as a plot to summarize the guidelines and recommendations for improvement of innovative models in the circular economy. The study is a part of Scientific Project NPI No3 of University of.conomics - Varna in the professional field 3.8. Economics for scientific research: "Innovative models in the circular economy: challenges and opportunities in front of the Bulgarian small and medium enterprises". The objective of the survey was to examine consumer attitudes towards the use of edible coatings in various sectors of the food industry and towards choosing, buying and consuming food covered with edible coatings. The results of the survey demonstrate the need to raise consumer awareness of the benefits of the use of edible coatings, and that the focus should be on the environmental aspects of the use of edible coatings in various sectors of the food industry; the preservation of food quality for a longer period during storage; extending the shelf life of foods with edible coatings; reduction of natural loss (wastage) in foods with edible coatings.