Unlocking Circularity for Active Environmental Bio-Packaging Solutions

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to gather cutting-edge research on sustainable active bio-packaging obtained or activated with the help of agri-food waste, exploring its application across a broad spectrum of environmental areas. In line with the journal's multidisciplinary scope, we invite contributions that focus on innovative technologies and methodologies for the extraction and processing of extracts, compounds, and polymers that are useful for the preparation of active packaging, and also contributions that focus on the evaluation and characterization of the prepared and activated packaging films, including panel tests and activities, focused on assessing their functionality, usability, and consumer perception. We also welcome studies on edible films and coatings as carriers of living microorganisms; this encompasses the evaluation of their environmental impact in terms of pollution prevention and biodegradability. Studies on the modelling of performance and degradation, the analysis and monitoring of the release of active compounds, and the implications for ecosystem services, biodiversity, and the circular economy, as well as the policies, management, and economic aspects related to the adoption of these solutions, will also be considered. We encourage the submission of experimental, theoretical, and practical results, accompanied by detailed data and methodologies to promote reproducibility and the advancement of research in this sector, contributing to a more sustainable future.

This Special Issue is supported by METROFOOD-IT, a project that received funding from the NRRP—Mission 4 ‘Education and Research’, Component 2: From Research to Business, Investment 3.1: Fund for the creation of an integrated system of research and innovation infrastructures—IR0000033 (MD No. 120 of 21 June 2022). This Special Issue welcomes submissions from all researchers, and is no way limited to papers connected with any specific project.

Dr. Gianluca De Rinaldis
Dr. Senem Kamiloglu
Dr. Tugba Ozdal
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 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. Environments 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 1800 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.

• sustainable bioactive packaging
• agri-food waste
• circular economy
• characterization
• functionality
• shelf-life extension
• environmental impact
• biodegradability
• consumer perception
• extraction technologies