Innovative and Sustainable Packaging for Food
A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Science and Technology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 18
Special Issue Editor
Interests: food technology and quality control; food biopolymers; food chemistry; food analysis; food processing; food and nutrition; food preservation; food safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue welcomes original research papers and review articles that explore recent progress in innovative and sustainable packaging for food.
The contemporary food industry is increasingly investing in innovative, sustainable packaging solutions to address the environmental and social challenges posed by conventional plastic materials. Sustainable packaging seeks to minimize its ecological impact by using renewable, recyclable, or biodegradable materials while simultaneously preserving food safety, functionality, and aesthetic appeal. Recent advancements include the use of edible films and coatings from biopolymers to eliminate waste and enhance product preservation. In addition, smart and active packaging technologies, such as freshness indicators, oxygen scavengers, and antimicrobial layers, have demonstrated significant potential in improving food quality by extending shelf life and maintaining nutritional value. These innovations not only reduce food and material waste but also contribute to consumer confidence by ensuring safety and product quality.
Overall, innovative and sustainable packaging encompasses a broad spectrum of strategies, including edible and biodegradable materials, active and intelligent systems, nanotechnology-based solutions, and circular design concepts. Collectively, these advancements aim to enhance food safety and quality, extend shelf life, and mitigate environmental impact by using renewable or compostable materials combined with smart monitoring technologies. Despite existing challenges such as production costs, material performance, and recycling infrastructure, the ongoing transition toward sustainable food packaging represents a pivotal component of the circular economy and a crucial strategy for achieving global environmental sustainability, food safety, and quality objectives.
We seek contributions presenting cutting-edge research and reviews that advance innovative and sustainable food packaging, highlighting its evolving role in promoting food quality, safety, and environmental responsibility.
Dr. Persephoni Giannouli
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- edible films and coatings
- biopolymers
- active packaging
- intelligent packaging
- nanotechnology
- circular economy
- food preservation
- environmental sustainability
- biodegradable materials
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