Smart and Sustainable Coatings and Materials for Food 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 December 2026 | Viewed by 95
Editor
Interests: food preservation technology; active packaging; biopolymer-based coatings and films; nanoemulsion delivery systems; postharvest physiology; food biotechnology and microbiology
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
We would like to invite you to submit your research to this Special Issue, "Smart and Sustainable Coatings and Materials for Food Packaging". The global food system faces the dual challenge of ensuring food safety and quality while transitioning towards environmentally sustainable packaging solutions. In response to consumer demand and stringent regulations concerning plastic waste, there is an urgent need for packaging technologies that are both functional and ecologically responsible. Smart and sustainable coatings and materials have emerged as a transformative approach in this context, offering capabilities that extend beyond conventional passive barriers. These advanced systems enable real-time quality monitoring, controlled release of active compounds, and improved preservation of food products, thereby contributing to the reduction of food loss and plastic waste.
Recent advances in materials science, nanotechnology, and surface engineering have significantly expanded the design space for intelligent food packaging. Innovations such as stimuli-responsive coatings, on-demand release mechanisms, and biodegradable films derived from renewable resources illustrate the potential of this field. However, achieving precise and reliable control over key factors affecting food quality, including microbial proliferation, enzymatic degradation, and physical damage, remains a central scientific and technical challenge that requires continued investigation.
This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research on the development, characterization, and application of smart and sustainable coatings and materials for food packaging. We invite contributions that address the integration of active and intelligent functionalities with sustainable material platforms, as well as studies that explore the practical implementation of such systems within the food supply chain.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Bio-based and biodegradable coatings for food packaging;
- Intelligent packaging: freshness indicators, time–temperature sensors, and responsive materials;
- Nanotechnology-enhanced coatings and their effects on barrier properties, mechanical performance, and antimicrobial activity;
- Edible films and coatings for fresh and minimally processed foods;
- Surface modification techniques for recyclable and compostable packaging;
- Life cycle assessment and sustainability evaluation of coating systems;
- Mechanisms of interaction between coating materials and food microorganisms, enzymes, and physicochemical quality deterioration.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. He Wang
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 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-anonymized 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
- smart coatings
- biodegradable materials
- bio-based polymers
- sustainable and intelligent packaging
- food safety
- food preservation
- life cycle assessment
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