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Polymers
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Advances in Polymers and Polymer Composites for Packaging Applications
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Advances in Polymers and Polymer Composites for Packaging Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2026) | Viewed by 11554

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Luís Marangoni Júnior

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Food Engineering and Technology, School of Food Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-862, Brazil
Interests: food stability; modified atmosphere; active and intelligent packaging; biopolymer-based films; packaging systems; packaging material properties; sustainability of food and packaging; emerging food processing technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer-based food packaging is essential for the supply chain, as it ensures the containment and protection of the products packaged in it. Thus, over the years, the evolution of polymeric packaging has been gaining more and more prominence in the scientific and industrial fields. This prominence is mainly in the context of the sustainability and circular economy of packaging, as well as new developments in barrier, active, and smart materials. Therefore, I would like to invite you to submit your original research to this Special Issue of Polymers entitled “Advances in Polymers and Polymer Composites for Packaging Applications”. The scope of this Special Issue includes all aspects of research related to food packaging and safety, with a focus on materials based on synthetic polymers or biomaterials. This Special Issue includes theoretical and application-oriented articles, experimental and numerical studies, and reviews.

Prof. Dr. Luís Marangoni Júnior
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-blind 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

  • polymer
  • crosslinking
  • food packaging
  • polymeric packaging, films, and coatings
  • food contact materials
  • bio-based packaging
  • active packaging
  • intelligent packaging
  • food contaminants
  • mechanical properties
  • barrier properties
  • food stability

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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31 pages, 4142 KB  
Article
Towards Sustainable Food Packaging: Mechanical Recycling Effects on Thermochromic Polymers Performance
by Colette Breheny, Declan Mary Colbert, Gilberto Bezerra, Joseph Geever and Luke M. Geever
Polymers 2025, 17(8), 1042; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17081042 - 11 Apr 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1570
Abstract
Integrating thermochromic pigments (TPs) into food packaging offers significant benefits for monitoring temperature variations, improving food safety, and reducing waste. However, the recyclability of such materials remains underexplored, particularly regarding the retention of their optical and mechanical properties after repeated recycling. Addressing this [...] Read more.
Integrating thermochromic pigments (TPs) into food packaging offers significant benefits for monitoring temperature variations, improving food safety, and reducing waste. However, the recyclability of such materials remains underexplored, particularly regarding the retention of their optical and mechanical properties after repeated recycling. Addressing this gap, this research aims to evaluate how mechanical recycling affects key properties of polypropylene (PP) blends containing varying TP concentrations. Three formulations, PP100/TP0 (0% TP), PP98/TP2 (2% TP), and PP92/TP8 (8% TP), were subjected to five recycling cycles, with changes in thermal stability, color transition behavior, mechanical integrity, and surface morphology analyzed. The results indicate that PP100/TP0 maintained its mechanical integrity with minimal degradation (6% absolute crystallinity loss; color difference ΔE*ab = 1.45) across recycling cycles. However, blends containing TPs exhibited progressive deterioration. P98/TP2 displayed moderate reductions in mechanical strength (−10.8%) and thermochromic efficiency (color change ΔE*ab = 6.52), while PP92/TP8 showed significant degradation, including increased activation temperatures (+3.8 °C) and color vibrancy loss (42.9% loss in saturation). These effects were attributed to polymer breakdown, pigment aggregation, and altered crystallinity. Despite the limitations of recyclability, this study provides critical insights into the feasibility of TPs in sustainable, intelligent food packaging. Further research is required to enhance TP stability during reprocessing, ensuring long-term functionality in circular packaging systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymers and Polymer Composites for Packaging Applications)
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Review

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39 pages, 4702 KB  
Review
Biopolymer-Based Active and Intelligent Food Packaging: Recent Advances in Materials, Technologies, and Applications
by Shakila Parveen Asrafali, Thirukumaran Periyasamy and Jaewoong Lee
Polymers 2026, 18(2), 196; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020196 - 10 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1966
Abstract
The food packaging industry is undergoing a paradigm shift from conventional petroleum-based materials toward sustainable biopolymer-based alternatives that offer enhanced functionality beyond mere containment and protection. This comprehensive review examines recent advances in the development of active and intelligent food packaging systems utilizing [...] Read more.
The food packaging industry is undergoing a paradigm shift from conventional petroleum-based materials toward sustainable biopolymer-based alternatives that offer enhanced functionality beyond mere containment and protection. This comprehensive review examines recent advances in the development of active and intelligent food packaging systems utilizing natural biopolymers including polysaccharides, proteins, and their composites. The integration of antimicrobial agents, natural colorimetric indicators, nanofillers, and advanced fabrication techniques has enabled the creation of multifunctional packaging materials capable of extending shelf life, monitoring food quality in real-time, and reducing environmental impact. This review organizes the current research on starch, chitosan-, cellulose-, pectin-, bacterial cellulose-, pullulan-, gelatin-, zein-, and dextran-based packaging systems, with particular emphasis on their physicochemical properties, functional performance, and practical applications for preserving various food products, including meat, fish, fruits, and other perishables. The challenges associated with mechanical strength, water resistance, scalability, and commercial viability are critically evaluated alongside emerging solutions involving chemical modifications, nanocomposite formulations, and innovative processing technologies. Future perspectives highlight the need for standardization, life cycle assessments, regulatory frameworks, and consumer acceptance studies to facilitate the transition from laboratory innovations to industrial-scale implementation of sustainable biopolymer packaging solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymers and Polymer Composites for Packaging Applications)
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20 pages, 1750 KB  
Review
Post-Consumer Recycled PET: A Comprehensive Review of Food and Beverage Packaging Safety in Brazil
by Carolina Soares Marcelino, Vitor Emanuel de Souza Gomes and Luís Marangoni Júnior
Polymers 2025, 17(5), 594; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17050594 - 24 Feb 2025
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7437
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is widely used in the food and beverage packaging sector due to its chemical and mechanical properties. Although PET is a fossil-based polymer, its recyclability significantly contributes to reducing the environmental impacts caused by excessive plastic consumption. However, the growing [...] Read more.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is widely used in the food and beverage packaging sector due to its chemical and mechanical properties. Although PET is a fossil-based polymer, its recyclability significantly contributes to reducing the environmental impacts caused by excessive plastic consumption. However, the growing demand for post-consumer recycled PET (PET-PCR) food packaging has raised concerns about the efficiency of decontamination processes involved in recycling this material. This review initially addresses PET synthesis processes, highlighting injection stretch blow molding as the predominant technique for packaging production. It then discusses reverse logistics as a strategy to promote sustainability through the recovery of post-consumer packaging, such as plastic bottles. This review examines mechanical and chemical recycling methods used in PET-PCR production, food safety requirements including positive lists of permitted substances, contaminant migration limits, non-intentionally added substances (NIASs), and updated criteria for the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) of food-grade PET-PCR resins. Finally, the review explores future prospects for using PET-PCR in the food and beverage packaging sector, assessing its environmental impacts and potential technological advancements to enhance its sustainability and safety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymers and Polymer Composites for Packaging Applications)
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