Valorization of Agricultural and Food Industry Waste for Eco-Friendly Packaging

Dear Colleagues,

Growing environmental concerns regarding conventional petroleum-based packaging materials have intensified the search for sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. At the same time, large volumes of agricultural residues and food industry by-products are generated worldwide, many of which remain underutilized or are disposed of as waste. Valorizing these biomass resources into functional materials offers a promising pathway toward circular bioeconomy practices and more sustainable food packaging systems. Agricultural and food processing wastes, including crop residues, fruit and vegetable pomace, husks, peels, and other lignocellulosic by-products, are rich sources of valuable biopolymers such as cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, starch, and proteins. Through innovative extraction, modification, and processing techniques, these materials can be transformed into biodegradable films, coatings, composites, and other packaging structures with desirable mechanical, barrier, and functional properties. Such developments reduce environmental burdens, contributing to waste minimization and resource efficiency across the food supply chain. Recent advances in biomaterials science, nanotechnology, and green processing technologies have further expanded the potential of waste-derived materials for packaging applications. Incorporating functional additives, bioactive compounds, or nanostructured fillers can enhance the performances of these materials, enabling improved moisture and gas barrier properties, mechanical strength, and active packaging functions such as antimicrobial and antioxidant activity.

This Special Issue will highlight recent advances in the valorization of agricultural and food industry waste for the development of eco-friendly packaging materials. We welcome contributions that explore novel extraction methods, material modification strategies, composite and nanocomposite systems, biodegradable films and coatings, active or intelligent packaging approaches, and life cycle or sustainability assessments related to waste-derived packaging materials. Researchers, scientists, and industry professionals are invited to submit original research articles, reviews, and short communications that address innovative approaches and emerging technologies in this field.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Valorization of agricultural residues and food processing by-products for packaging applications;
• Extraction and characterization of biopolymers (e.g., cellulose, starch, proteins, lignin, hemicellulose) from biomass waste;
• Development of biodegradable films, coatings, and composites derived from agricultural and food industry waste;
• Functionalization of waste-derived biomaterials for active or intelligent packaging systems;
• Evaluation of mechanical, thermal, barrier, optical, and structural properties of sustainable packaging materials;
• Incorporation of bioactive compounds (antimicrobial, antioxidant agents) into waste-derived packaging systems;
• Nanocomposites and advanced materials based on biomass-derived polymers;
• Application of green chemistry and environmentally friendly processing techniques;
• Shelf-life evaluation of foods packaged with waste-derived materials;
• Migration, safety, and regulatory considerations of biodegradable packaging materials;
• Life cycle assessment (LCA), techno-economic analysis, and sustainability evaluation of biomass-based packaging systems;
• Scale-up, processing technologies, and industrial feasibility of waste-derived packaging materials.

Dr. Srinivas Janaswamy
Dr. Sandeep Paudel
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• agricultural waste valorization
• biodegradable food packaging
• lignocellulosic biomass
• sustainable biomaterials
• circular bioeconomy