• cellulosic nanomaterials
• sustainability
• biopolymer
• nanocomposite
• nanocellulose
• PLA

Over the past decades, research has escalated on the use of polylactic acid (PLA) as a replacementfor petroleum-based polymers. Despite being characterized renewability, biodegradability,biocompatibility and good thermomechanical properties, it suffers from some shortcomings, thusdifferent fillers have been used to overcome these limitations. In the framework of environmentallyfriendly processes and products, there has been growing interest on the use of cellulosenanomaterials viz. cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and nanofibers (CNF) as natural fillers for PLAtowards advanced applications other than short-term packaging and biomedical, being renewable innature, biodegradable, high strength and stiffness. In this perspective, the present Master Degree's research is placed, addressing the issues ofimproving the dispersion of the cellulosic nanomaterials, the related common drawbacks of thebiopolymer matrix and the major critical factors in the manufacturing of PLA-cellulosicnanomaterials, in order to yield a final nanocomposite to be industrially used as a thermoformedmaterial for the food packaging.