Environmentally Friendly Thin Films and Coatings for Packaging
A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Coatings for Food Technology and System".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2026 | Viewed by 297
Special Issue Editors
Interests: biomaterials innovation; starch modification; cellulose chemistry; nanocellulose application; composite formulations; barrier coatings for packaging; mechanical and optical properties; sustainable packaging
Interests: paper and fibre-based coating systems; bio-based and biodegradable polymeric films; chitosan- and hemicellulose-derived functional materials; polyelectrolyte complexes; lignocellulosic materials; physicochemical surface and interface modification of lignocellulosic substrates; structure–property relationships governing barrier performance; multifunctional and protective paper coatings; circular, sustainable materials for packaging applications
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Packaging materials are essential for protecting food products, maintaining quality, ensuring safety, and extending shelf life throughout storage and distribution. The growing demand for packaged foods, driven by changing consumption patterns and globalized supply chains, has resulted in a substantial increase in the use of packaging materials. Conventional packaging systems rely heavily on synthetic polymers due to their low cost, durability, and effective barrier properties against moisture, oils, and gases. However, the widespread use of fossil-derived and non-biodegradable materials has intensified environmental concerns, including excessive packaging waste generation, greenhouse gas emissions, and long-term ecological persistence.
In response to these challenges, increasing attention has been directed toward the development of environmentally friendly alternatives that reduce reliance on fossil resources while maintaining functional performance. Rather than replacing entire packaging structures, thin films and coatings have emerged as an efficient and versatile strategy to enhance the barrier, mechanical, and surface functionalities of packaging materials using minimal material input. Environmentally friendly coatings, derived from renewable, biodegradable, or recyclable resources, offer a promising pathway to improve sustainability without compromising packaging performance.
The scope of this Special Issue will serve as a forum for papers in the following concepts:
- Development of environmentally friendly thin films and coatings based on bio-based, biodegradable, and renewable materials for packaging applications
- Design of sustainable coating formulations using biopolymers, nanocellulose, lignin, polysaccharides, and hybrid material systems
- Structure–property relationships governing barrier performance against moisture, gases, oils, and grease
- Functional coatings offering added properties such as antimicrobial activity, thermal stability, and enhanced surface functionality
- Environmentally benign coating and processing technologies, including water-based, solvent-free, and scalable approaches
- Recyclability, biodegradability, and end-of-life behaviour of coated packaging materials
- Life cycle assessment and industrial feasibility of sustainable coating solutions
Dr. Mohit Sharma
Dr. Carla N. Schnell
Guest Editors
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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
- bio-based coatings
- biodegradable films
- nanocellulose
- barrier properties
- sustainable coating formulations
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