polymers-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

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: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1540

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, Faculty of Food Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Skromna 8, 20-704 Lublin, Poland
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

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

  • eco-packaging
  • biopolymers
  • biodegradation
  • recycling
  • circular economy

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

18 pages, 6158 KiB  
Article
Poly(butylene succinate) Film Coated with Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose with Sea Buckthorn Extract and Its Ethosomes—Examination of Physicochemical and Antimicrobial Properties Before and After Accelerated UV Aging
by Szymon Macieja, Magdalena Zdanowicz, Małgorzata Mizielińska, Wojciech Jankowski and Artur Bartkowiak
Polymers 2025, 17(13), 1784; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17131784 - 27 Jun 2025
Viewed by 140
Abstract
The new generation of food packaging should not only be biodegradable, but also provide additional protective properties for packaged products, extending their shelf life. In this paper, we present the results of research on cast-extruded poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) films coated with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose [...] Read more.
The new generation of food packaging should not only be biodegradable, but also provide additional protective properties for packaged products, extending their shelf life. In this paper, we present the results of research on cast-extruded poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) films coated with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) modified with CO2 extract from sea buckthorn (ES) or its ethosomes (ET) at amounts of 1 or 5 pph per HPMC. In addition, the developed films were exposed to accelerated aging (UV radiation and elevated temperature) to determine its effect on the films’ properties. Based on SEM, it can be concluded that accelerated aging results in the uncovering of the extract and ethosomes from the coating’s bulk. GPC showed a decrease in the molecular weight of PBS after treatment, additionally amplified by the presence of HPMC. However, the addition of ES or ET in low concentrations reduced the level of polyester degradation. The presence of the modified coating and its treatment increased the oxygen barrier (a decrease from 324 cm3/m2 × 24 h for neat PBS to 208 cm3/m2 × 24 h for the coated and modified PBS ET5). Despite the presence of colored extract or ethosomes in the coating, the color differences compared with neat PBS were imperceptible (ΔE < 1). The addition of 5 pph of sea buckthorn extract or its ethosomes in combination with accelerated aging resulted in the complete inhibition of the growth of E. coli and S. aureus, which was not observed in non-aged samples. The results obtained demonstrate an improvement in bioactive properties and protection against the negative effects of UV radiation on the film due to the presence of ET or ES in the coating. The developed systems could be used in the food industry as active packaging. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

24 pages, 12258 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Study on the Structural, Physicochemical, Release, and Antioxidant Properties of Sodium Casein and Gelatin Films Containing Sea Buckthorn Oil
by Dariusz Kowalczyk, Monika Karaś, Waldemar Kazimierczak, Tomasz Skrzypek, Adrian Wiater, Artur Bartkowiak and Monika Basiura-Cembala
Polymers 2025, 17(3), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17030320 - 24 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 866
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the effect of increasing concentrations (0, 1, 2, 4%) of sea buckthorn oil (SBO) on the structural, physicochemical, release, and antioxidant properties of glycerol-plasticized sodium casein (NaCAS) and gelatin (GEL) films. Ultrasonic treatment ensured effective [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to compare the effect of increasing concentrations (0, 1, 2, 4%) of sea buckthorn oil (SBO) on the structural, physicochemical, release, and antioxidant properties of glycerol-plasticized sodium casein (NaCAS) and gelatin (GEL) films. Ultrasonic treatment ensured effective homogenization of SBO in both types of emulsions, resulting in yellow-tinted semi-opaque films with relatively low micro-roughness. Generally, GEL films demonstrated lower UV barrier properties and solubility but exhibited higher compactness, crystallinity, transparency, surface hydrophobicity, oxygen barrier performance, strength, and antiradical activity compared to their NaCAS-based counterparts. In a concentration-dependent manner, SBO decreased the solubility and water absorption of the gelatin-based film and enhanced its oxygen permeability. Conversely, SBO improved the water vapor barrier properties of both films in a concentration-independent manner. At the highest SBO concentration, the tensile strength of NaCAS- and GEL-based films decreased by 27% and 20%, respectively, while their antiradical activity increased by 9.3× and 4.3× (based on the time required for the half-neutralization of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals). Migration studies showed that at the lowest concentration, SBO was released (into 95% ethanol) approximately 2× faster from the GEL-based film than from the NaCAS film, whereas at higher concentrations, the trend reversed. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop