Polymer Packaging: Sustainable Innovations and Alternatives to Fossil-Based Materials
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: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 1101
Special Issue Editor
Interests: edible films and coatings; active packaging; food shelf-life; antioxidant activity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Packaging plays a crucial role in modern lifestyles, but its reliance on synthetic polymers derived from petroleum raises significant environmental and health concerns due to excessive plastic waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and the release of microplastics and harmful chemicals. In response, sustainable innovations are focusing on reducing these negative impacts while maintaining functionality. Bio-based polymers, emerging as alternatives to fossil-based materials, are becoming key in the transition towards a fully sustainable, circular bioeconomy. Bioplastics represent a diverse group of materials that differ in origin, properties, and disposal methods. On an industrial scale, they are produced from both renewable and petrochemical resources and are categorized into three groups: (i) plastics from renewable resources that are non-biodegradable, such as bio-polyamide and bio-polyethylene; (ii) biodegradable plastics from fossil (non-renewable) resources, like polycaprolactone and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate); and (iii) biodegradable plastics from renewable resources, including cellulose, starch, polylactic acid, and polyglycolide. Another innovation involves advancements in recycling, where polymers are designed to be more easily recyclable or made from recycled materials. In particular, chemical recycling methods aim to break down plastics into their monomers, which can then be re-polymerized to create new plastics, improving the circularity of problematic waste that is difficult to recycle, manage, or dispose of due to its composition, hazardous nature, or environmental impact. Additionally, lightweight packaging designs and the incorporation of compostable materials help minimize resource consumption and packaging waste generation. Companies are also exploring hybrid solutions, combining traditional plastics with sustainable materials to enhance biodegradability without compromising performance. The push towards reducing single-use plastics, driven by government regulations and consumer demand, is accelerating the adoption of these alternatives. Overall, sustainable innovations in polymer packaging offer promising solutions to decrease reliance on fossil fuels, reduce environmental impact, and move towards a circular economy in packaging materials.
Prof. Dr. Dariusz Kowalczyk
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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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
- eco-packaging
- biopolymers
- biodegradation
- recycling
- circular economy
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