A biodegradable aqueous dispersion for coating food contact substrates, the dispersion comprising: from about 35 to about 75 weight percent water; and from about 25 to about 65 weight percent of polyhydroxyalkanoates; wherein the dispersion further comprises: from about 0.01 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of polysorbates, aromatic polyethylene oxides, sorbitan derivatives, block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide), poly(glycol ethers), poly(vinyl alcohol), alkyl sulfates, alkyl phosphates, stearates, and mixtures thereof; from about 0.01 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of at least one rheology modifier; from about 0.01 weight percent to about 2.5 weight percent of at least one wetting and dispersing agent; and from about 0.01 weight percent to about 0.5 weight percent of at least one biocide or biostatic agent; wherein the dispersion is prepared by powderizing the polyhydroxyalkanoates and dispersing the powderized polyhydroxyalkanoates in the water using a low to high shear mixer in the presence of the at least one surfactant and/or the at least one wetting and dispersing agent in order to create initial micelles of the polyhydroxyalkanoates, using an ultrasonic mixer/homogenizer to finish dispersing the polyhydroxyalkanoate particles to make a homogenous dispersion, and adding any wetting and dispersing agent, the at least one biocide or biostatic agent and the at least one rheology modifier and shear mixing to complete the dispersion. from about 35 to about 75 weight percent water; and from about 25 to about 65 weight percent of polyhydroxyalkanoates; wherein the dispersion further comprises: from about 0.01 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of polysorbates, aromatic polyethylene oxides, sorbitan derivatives, block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide), poly(glycol ethers), poly(vinyl alcohol), alkyl sulfates, alkyl phosphates, stearates, and mixtures thereof; from about 0.01 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of at least one rheology modifier; from about 0.01 weight percent to about 2.5 weight percent of at least one wetting and dispersing agent; and from about 0.01 weight percent to about 0.5 weight percent of at least one biocide or biostatic agent; wherein the dispersion is prepared by powderizing the polyhydroxyalkanoates and dispersing the powderized polyhydroxyalkanoates in the water using a low to high shear mixer in the presence of the at least one surfactant and/or the at least one wetting and dispersing agent in order to create initial micelles of the polyhydroxyalkanoates, using an ultrasonic mixer/homogenizer to finish dispersing the polyhydroxyalkanoate particles to make a homogenous dispersion, and adding any wetting and dispersing agent, the at least one biocide or biostatic agent and the at least one rheology modifier and shear mixing to complete the dispersion. from about 0.01 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of polysorbates, aromatic polyethylene oxides, sorbitan derivatives, block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide), poly(glycol ethers), poly(vinyl alcohol), alkyl sulfates, alkyl phosphates, stearates, and mixtures thereof; from about 0.01 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of at least one rheology modifier; from about 0.01 weight percent to about 2.5 weight percent of at least one wetting and dispersing agent; and from about 0.01 weight percent to about 0.5 weight percent of at least one biocide or biostatic agent; wherein the dispersion is prepared by powderizing the polyhydroxyalkanoates and dispersing the powderized polyhydroxyalkanoates in the water using a low to high shear mixer in the presence of the at least one surfactant and/or the at least one wetting and dispersing agent in order to create initial micelles of the polyhydroxyalkanoates, using an ultrasonic mixer/homogenizer to finish dispersing the polyhydroxyalkanoate particles to make a homogenous dispersion, and powderizing the polyhydroxyalkanoates and dispersing the powderized polyhydroxyalkanoates in the water using a low to high shear mixer in the presence of the at least one surfactant and/or the at least one wetting and dispersing agent in order to create initial micelles of the polyhydroxyalkanoates, using an ultrasonic mixer/homogenizer to finish dispersing the polyhydroxyalkanoate particles to make a homogenous dispersion, and adding any wetting and dispersing agent, the at least one biocide or biostatic agent and the at least one rheology modifier and shear mixing to complete the dispersion.