Optical, structural, mechanical and thermal characterization of antioxidant ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer films containing betalain-rich beetroot

•EVOH copolymer films containing betalain-rich beetroot were obtained by casting.•Films showed good antioxidant activity with slightly lower water barrier properties.•Thermal and mechanical properties were unaffected by the additives.•The coloured films containing 2.5 % beetroot showed good UV barrier properties.