Sustainable Packaging Revolution: The Rise of Biodegradable Polymers
A Special Issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360) belonging to the section "Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 220
Editor
Interests: extraction and characterization of biopolymers (cellulose, starch, pectin, and lignocellulosic materials) from agri-food wastes; waste valorization for sustainable food packaging; development of biodegradable and active films; and polymer science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The urgent need to reduce the environmental footprint of petroleum-based plastics has led to a “Sustainable Packaging Revolution”. This Special Issue focuses on the potential of biodegradable polymers as sustainable alternatives in the global packaging industry. We aim to emphasize advanced research in the design, functionalization, and performance evaluation of biodegradable materials specifically intended for high-demand packaging applications.
We invite contributions on biodegradable materials, including bio-based polymers (such as PLA, PHA, and starch-based resins), synthetic biodegradable polyesters, and polymers extracted from agricultural or industrial by-products (cellulose, pectin, lignocellulosic compounds, etc.). The scope covers innovative material synthesis, nanotechnology-driven enhancements, and the integration of active/intelligent functions to ensure food safety and shelf-life extension. We also welcome studies on mechanical properties, barrier performance, and the environmental degradation pathways of these next-generation packaging systems.
Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Green extraction and valorization of polymers from industrial and agricultural by-products;
- Design and characterization of biodegradable and compostable packaging films;
- Nano-reinforced and active biopolymer systems for food preservation;
- Innovative processing technologies (e.g., electrospinning, 3D printing) for bio-based materials;
- Food–biodegradable package interactions, migration studies, and biodegradable polymer degradation;
- Life cycle assessment and circular economy strategies for sustainable packaging.
Dr. Ece Söğüt
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. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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
- sustainable food packaging
- biodegradable polymers
- waste valorization and circular economy
- biopolymer nanocomposites
- active and intelligent packaging
- cellulose and lignocellulosic materials
- starch- and pectin-based films
- shelf-life extension
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