Sustainable Food Packaging and Process Optimization: From Material Innovation to System Integration
A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Process Engineering".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 78
Special Issue Editors
Interests: food packaging; food engineering; package design; postharvest technology
Interests: computational modelling; food packaging; biosystems engineering; food engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Packaging in the food industry plays a key role in containing, protecting, and preserving food. Global food trade would be almost impossible without the science and technology of food packaging. For decades, food packaging relied almost exclusively on petroleum-based plastics due to their low cost, durability, and excellent barrier properties. However, the transition toward a circular economy has made sustainable food packaging and process optimisation one of the most critical fields in modern food science. This topic bridges the gap between material chemistry, engineering efficiency, and environmental stewardship. Recent bans on single-use plastics in certain markets, rising concerns regarding microplastics, and a growing number of eco-conscious consumers who prioritise brands with sustainable footprints are some of the factors necessitating the development and optimisation of food packaging through the lens of sustainability.
This Special Issue, “Sustainable Food Packaging and Process Optimization: From Material Innovation to System Integration”, seeks high-quality studies on the latest advances in sustainable food package design, novel food packaging materials/material combinations, and their integration into the food system. Topics include, but are not limited to
- New food packaging materials;
- Sustainable food package design;
- Material sustainability;
- Energy conservation;
- Smart packaging in food handling.
Dr. Matia Mukama
Dr. Alemayehu (Alex) Ambaw
Dr. Tobi Fadiji
Guest Editors
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. Processes 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 2400 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
- package design
- modelling
- sustainability
- food logistics
- optimisation
- food packaging
- food chain management
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