Alternative Bio-Based Fibers for Paper, Packaging, Textile and Other Materials

Dear Colleagues,

The global production of fibers in various industries is a dynamic, vital issue, and current global changes are having a major impact on the development of alternative bio-based fibers to replace existing synthetic materials. There are significant pressures to reduce the use of plastics and related products, mainly in the paper, packaging and textile industries, where possible. Accordingly, there is strong demand for clean, renewable, recyclable, biodegradable products with an alternative solution. Consequently, there is an increasing need to develop new and more sustainable sources for obtaining raw materials, starting from alternative fibers. There are some solutions on the market, but there are still many limitations to overcome, such as stability, efficient amount of raw materials/fibers for industrial production, circularity, price, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the advances in processing methods, alternative polymers, characterization, stability, durability, circularity and future opportunities to overcome the limitations of alternative fibers.

This Special Issue collects new findings and recent advances in the development, structure–activity relationships, applications, limitations, circularity and future solutions of alternative fibers in papermaking, packaging, textile and other material engineering industries.

This Special Issue is dedicated to the latest research regarding mentioned topics and covers all aspects of bio-based and alternative fiber materials at all levels.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Pulp and paper alternative fibers;
• Fibers and polymeric materials in the papermaking process;
• Packaging and textile fibers;
• Other alternative fibers for different manufacturing and material processes;
• Nanotechnology;
• Durability, recycling or biodegradation;
• Circularity of alternative fiber materials;
• Applications.

Dr. Urška Vrabič-Brodnjak
Dr. Klemen Možina
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. Fibers 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 2000 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.