Recent Advances in Biobased and Biodegradable Polymer Materials for Packaging Applications
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Circular and Green Sustainable Polymer Science".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 29
Special Issue Editor
Interests: natural fibers; paper fibers; textile fibers; packaging materials; bio-based materials; fiber analysis; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The longevity and environmental impact of conventional petroleum-based plastics have triggered intensive research into sustainable alternatives for packaging applications. This Special Issue presents a curated selection of advanced studies on bio-based and biodegradable polymers from renewable resources, including different polymers such as polysaccharides, aliphatic polyesters (e.g., PLA, PHAs), proteins, lignin-based systems, etc. The focus of the contributions is on the molecular design, structural optimisation, and functionalisation of these materials to improve mechanical, thermal and barrier properties while ensuring controlled biodegradability. Innovative approaches such as the formulation of nanocomposites, bio-based blends, multilayer structuring and environmentally friendly processing technologies will be investigated for their potential to overcome current performance limits. In addition to material innovation, the issue also looks at broader sustainability metrics, recycling processes, including life cycle assessment, end-of-life scenarios (industrial composting, home biodegradation, marine degradation), and evolving regulatory frameworks. These interdisciplinary insights reflect a convergence of polymer science, environmental engineering, and sustainable design, and they aim to advance the integration of biodegradable polymers into real-world packaging systems. By linking fundamental materials research with applied technological development, this issue contributes to the transition to a circular economy and offers ways to reduce plastic pollution and support long-term ecological resilience.
Dr. Urška Vrabič-Brodnjak
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 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. 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
- biodegradable packaging materials
- bio-nanocomposites
- renewable resources
- compostability and biodegradation
- recycling
- circular economy in packaging
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