**5. Conclusion and future perspectives**

In conclusion, several literature and industrial examples indicate great potential for cellulose and its derivatives to be used in manufacturing of film materials with tailored properties for specific applications and needs. Cellulose and derivatives are potential sources for commercial packaging films due to their good film-forming abilities. There is an increasing trend in cellulose-based biodegradable packaging applications in combination with active ingredients with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Cellulose fibers are abundant and can be obtained from affordable and sustainable resources extracted from plants, animals, bacterial or algae-based sources and as well as waste streams of industrial production lines. The research is still ongoing to overcome certain challenges and improve film properties in consideration of environmental sustainability, biodegradability as well as mechanical and gas permeation resistance properties of the film materials. Controlling the micro-scale interactions between cellulose and other polymers as well doped nanoparticles can be used to strengthen the film network and furnish them with new functionalities. As a general trend of following research efforts, development and scaling up the emergent technologies to large scale production and industrial applications remain as one of the biggest challenges. For example, industrial production of films requires specialized instruments where the materials need to be resistant to high temperatures and pressures associated with the extruders. Overall, advances in cellulose modification methods can address practical challenges associated with adoption of their films as future perspectives.

*Advances in Cellulose-Based Packaging Films for Food Products DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.110817*
