Search Results (114)

Plastic packaging has severe environmental consequences but remains dominant in the German potted herb sector. This interdisciplinary study examined both plant physiological performance and consumer behavior to assess the viability of plastic-free packaging for basil, parsley, and mint. We investigated (i) how plastic and plastic-free pots and wraps perform under real production, transportation, and household environmental conditions and (ii) how consumers perceive, use, and dispose of these packaging types in everyday life. Quantitative measurements of temperature, humidity, plant quality, and pot degradation were collected along two supply chains and in 25 households using data loggers and standardized quality assessments. Qualitative insights into consumer practices were obtained through interviews, diaries, photographs, and voice messages during two-week winter and summer household studies. Results show that suboptimal transport temperatures fall below species-specific thresholds, compromising herb quality regardless of packaging type, while plantable pots degrade prematurely under certain cultivation conditions. Although consumers perceive plastic-free alternatives positively, plantable pots were rarely planted and were often disposed of incorrectly. The findings reveal both technical and behavioral barriers that limit the adoption of plastic-free packaging. By integrating upstream supply chain performance with downstream consumer behavior, this study provides insights to guide the development of sustainable, consumer-centric packaging solutions. Full article

The mechanized processing of waste agricultural film is a crucial technical pathway for addressing agricultural-film pollution. Achieving resource recovery through mechanized waste-film processing—and thereby promoting the sustainable management of agricultural-film pollution—remains a major challenge for green agricultural development. This study systematically reviews the progress and limitations of shredding and film–impurity separation technologies deployed in China’s mechanized waste-film treatment. Based on multi-database searches and citation tracking of the literature published between 2000 and 2025, it comparatively evaluates key unit operations, including cutterhead/blade kinematics, specific energy-consumption (SEC) control, and airflow (air-classification) separation, complemented by engineering analyses of representative machinery. The findings indicate that integrated mechanized recovery lines have become the mainstream approach, although the recovered fraction still contains a high impurity load. Drum-type and shear-type shredding exhibit trade-offs between energy efficiency and mitigation of film wrapping/entanglement. Airflow separation and drum-screen or vibrating-screen modules show reduced separation efficiency and process stability at high moisture contents or when impurities have particle sizes comparable to the film; system complexity and maintenance burdens also warrant consideration. To address these issues, a process framework is proposed that integrates drum pre-crushing, shear fine shredding, air classification, and multi-stage screening, together with variable-frequency drive (VFD) speed control, torque monitoring, and modular design, providing a sustainable pathway for the clean separation and resource recovery of agricultural plastic film waste. Full article

The strengthening performance of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) in concrete structures primarily depends on the CFRP–concrete interfacial bond behavior. For CFRP-strengthened circular reinforced concrete (RC) pipe piles in marine environments, the interfacial bond behavior is susceptible to hygrothermal conditions. In this study, cylindrical concrete specimens were designed and subjected to pull-off tests to evaluate the CFRP–concrete interfacial performance under simulated marine environmental attacks (3 days in a 50 °C salt spray followed by 4 days of seawater immersion). The deterioration mechanism and failure modes of the CFRP–concrete bond behavior in such environments were analyzed, and relationship equations describing the interfacial bond degradation were proposed and validated. Test results indicated that the CFRP–concrete bond strength at circular interfaces is approximately 21% lower than that at planar interfaces. Under hygrothermal marine conditions, the average CFRP–concrete bond strength remained relatively stable in the early stages due to the competing effects of epoxy plasticization and post-curing, while variability increased significantly in later stages. For test specimens in Group A without concrete surface grinding before CFRP wrapping, an initial bond strength of 1.5 MPa was exhibited, while, for test specimens in Group B, with surface grinding, the initial bond strength started at 2.0 MPa. Both groups experienced a significant CFRP–concrete bond strength reduction of 0.4 MPa after the first wet–dry cycle, with the subsequent average strength stabilizing near initial values. Notably, Group B achieved a peak strength of 3.88 MPa at 84 days, attributed to surface grinding, which enhanced bond strength by 33% and delayed bond failure. The overall stable average strength resulted from averaging high-strength and degraded points. A bond degradation model based on averaged strength reduction was proposed: demonstrating a strength loss of 27%–36% after 98 days of accelerated marine environmental exposure. The proposed equations describing the interfacial bond degradation on a circular concrete surface predict well the flexural capacity of CFRP-wrapped RC beams under similar environmental conditions, where the calculated flexural capacity is 0.8 times the experimental value, confirming the model’s conservative and safe design applicability. Full article

Bisphenol A, Bisphenol S, and Bisphenol F are widely used plastic additives and endocrine-disrupting chemicals with potential adverse health effects. Limited research has examined lifestyle and dietary factors influencing human exposure to these compounds. This study investigated associations between urinary bisphenol concentrations and demographic, lifestyle, dietary, and food-handling factors in 4239 Korean adults aged 19 to 82 years (1889 men, 44.6%; 2350 women, 55.4%) from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2018–2020). Median urinary concentrations with interquartile ranges were 1.15 µg/L (IQR: 0.45–2.27) for BPA, 0.17 µg/L (IQR: 0.06–0.41) for BPF, and 0.15 µg/L (IQR: 0.06–0.38) for BPS. Urinary bisphenol concentrations differed significantly by gender, age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and education level (p < 0.001), with higher concentrations in younger males, smokers, and alcohol consumers. Frequent consumption of instant noodles, microwaveable foods, canned foods, and plastic-wrapped takeout was significantly associated with elevated bisphenol levels (p < 0.001). Use of plastic containers, coated cookware, and electric rice cookers was linked to higher urinary BPA and BPS concentrations. BPA showed statistically significant but weak positive correlations with serum creatinine (r = 0.044, p < 0.05) and height (r = 0.037, p < 0.05), as assessed using Pearson’s correlation test. BPF was negatively correlated with aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (r = −0.042). Public health strategies should prioritize safer food storage practices and enhance awareness of health risks associated with these chemicals. Full article

The stability of the mine pillar is a key issue related to the safe mining underground. Reinforcing the mine pillar is an important method to improve its stability. To reveal the reinforcement effect and mechanism of concrete-encased mine pillars, laboratory tests and field engineering application studies were conducted. Four groups of tests were carried out considering different sample sizes, rock strengths, encasing material strengths, and encasing layer thicknesses. The results demonstrated that mortar-encased rock specimens exhibited significant improvements in peak stress and axial peak strain. The reinforcement effectiveness was inversely proportional to the specimen’s height-to-diameter ratio and rock strength, while directly proportional to the wrapping material strength and layer thickness. Orthogonal range analysis revealed the sensitivity ranking of influencing factors as follows: encasing thickness > specimen height-to-diameter ratio > encasing material strength > rock strength. After encasing, the failure mode transitioned from integral failure to fragmented failure, with encased specimens demonstrating enhanced energy absorption capacity and bearing capacity. Increasing encasing strength and thickness induced a tendency towards plastic deformation failure. The encased rock-specimen system can be regarded as a parallel composite structure of rock and mortar layer. This configuration not only increases the bearing capacity of the mortar layer but also significantly enhances the rock’s intrinsic bearing capacity through confining pressure provided by the encasing material, which grows substantially with improvements in encasing material strength and thickness. Field applications in mines demonstrated that concrete-encased reinforcement of key area pillars can effectively control overall ground pressure in mining operations. The research results of this paper indicated that the reinforcement of mine pillars by concrete wrapping can enhance the stability of mine pillars and provide a new idea for improving the safety of mines. Full article

Research on packaged fruits has seen a notable upturn primarily driven by consumers’ desire for fruit safety and quality across the distribution network. This study examined the effectiveness of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with chemometrics to assess the internal quality of packaged and non-packaged fresh fruits. Visible–near-infrared (Vis-NIR; 400–1000 nm) and short-wave infrared (SWIR; 1000–2500 nm) hyperspectral images of apples and plums were captured using 200 samples for each fruit across three groups—plastic wrap (PW), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) box, and non-packaged (NP)—for the prediction of soluble solid content (SSC), moisture content (MC), and pH. A partial least square regression (PLSR) model demonstrated promising results on SSC and MC across all sample groups in both Vis-NIR and SWIR, with performance ranked NP > PW > PET. Calibration and prediction coefficients of determination (R²) exceeded 0.82, 0.80, and 0.79, with root mean square errors (RMSE) less than 0.57, 0.59, and 0.59 for NP, PW, and PET, respectively. This research outcome confirmed the suitability of HSI as a critical instrument for predicting the composition of fresh fruits inside plastic packaging, offering a quick and non-invasive approach for quality evaluation in supply chains. Full article

Arabidopsis seedlings grown in Petri dishes sealed with PE plastic wrap, PP parafilm, or NF surgical tape showed differences in growth, with PE plastic wrap resulting in a smaller size and fresh weight, followed by PP parafilm, compared to unsealed or NF surgical tape-sealed dishes. To investigate the basis of these phenotypic changes, transcriptome sequencing was performed. The results indicated that seedlings in dishes sealed with PE plastic wrap and PP parafilm exhibited over 1000 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 7 days. By 14 days, the number of DEGs had increased to over 2000 for each sealed condition. GO analysis showed that DEGs were commonly enriched in biological processes associated with the response to hypoxia under PE plastic wrap and PP parafilm sealing at both 7 and 14 days, as well as under NF surgical tape at 14 days. While O₂ levels showed no significant differences between sealed and unsealed conditions, CO₂ concentrations were notably lower in plates sealed with PE plastic wrap and PP parafilm. Furthermore, specific genes related to reduced size and delayed growth under sealed conditions were identified. In summary, sealing films negatively affect seedling growth, leading to significant shifts in gene expression profiles. Full article

Targeting the engineering properties of poor strength and susceptibility to damage in roadbeds and slopes within clay regions, xanthan gum is employed as a soil enhancer, concurrently addressing the issue of the low utilization rate of plant coir fiber. The unconfined compressive strength test (UCS) is used to analyze the influence of different maintenance methods, maintenance duration, xanthan gum dosage, and coconut fiber dosage on the mechanical properties of the enhanced soil. Furthermore, based on scanning electron microscope (SEM) tests, the underlying mechanisms governing the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced xanthan gum-improved soil are uncovered. The results indicated that the compressive strength of amended soil is significantly enhanced by the incorporation of xanthan gum and coir fiber. After 28 days of conditioning, the compressive strength of the amended soil under dry conditions (conditioned in air) was significantly higher (3 MPa) than that under moist conditions (conditioned in plastic wrap) (0.57 MPa). Xanthan gum influenced both the compressive strength of the specimens and the degree of strength enhancement, whereas coir fibers not only augmented the strength of the specimens but also converted them from brittle to ductile, thereby imparting residual strength post-destruction. Microscopic analysis indicates that the incorporation of xanthan gum and coconut shell fiber significantly diminishes the number of pores and cracks within the soil matrix, while enhancing the internal inter-particle cementation. This synergistic effect contributes to soil improvement, providing theoretical and technical guidance for roadbed enhancement and slope repair. Full article

The development of biodegradable food packaging materials with active functionalities presents a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic films. This study developed a bioactive complex film through solvent casting technique using potato starch (PS) and κ-carrageenan (κC) as the matrix, incorporated with ethanol extract of crab-apple peel (EEC). Fourier-transform infrared analysis confirmed the formation of hydrogen bonds between the film-forming constituents. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that higher concentrations of EEC led to a relatively rough film surface. XRD indicated that the incorporation of EEC reduced the crystallinity of the potato starch. The addition of EEC significantly increased the a and b values of the complex film (p < 0.05), while the L value and opacity decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The TS, Young′s modulus, and WVP of the complex films decreased significantly with increasing EEC concentration (p < 0.05). The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging abilities of PS-κC-EEC film were enhanced from 12.35% to 75.48% and from 10.26% to 72.52%, respectively. PS-κC-EEC film exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The application of the PS-κC-EEC film for the refrigerated preservation of pork demonstrated that the lipid oxidation level of wrapped pork was reduced. These results suggest that the fabricated PS-κC-EEC film could be utilized for the preservation of pork and extends its shelf life. Full article

In this study, a new edible gel of Perilla essential oil (PE)/grape seed extract (GSE)–chitosan/gelatin was prepared, and it was applied to the preservation of silver carp. By establishing a fuzzy mathematical model, using a single-factor experiment and Box–Behnken response surface optimization combined with matlab analysis, the optimum preparation conditions of composite gel films were determined: the addition of PE (p < 0.01) was 6.91 μL/mL, the addition of GSE (p < 0.05) was 0.45 mg/mL, and the addition of gelatin (p > 0.05) was 1.63%. Under these conditions, the composite gel films exhibited an excellent water vapor barrier and mechanical properties. Using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, it was found that the addition of PE enhanced or weakened the absorption peaks, indicating the molecular interaction between PE and the substrate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observed that the surfaces of the composite gel films with added PE were smooth, but there were a few pores in the cross-section. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that PE had good compatibility with other components. The fresh-keeping experiment showed that the composite gel films could significantly prolong the fresh-keeping period of grass carp. After 10 days of storage at 4 °C, compared with the blank group (without plastic wrap) and the control group (with composite gel film, no PE added), the experimental group (with composite gel films, PE added) showed better fresh-keeping effect in terms of sensory score, moisture content, pH value, TBARS value, and TVB-N value (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis further confirmed the positive effects of composite gel films on water content, pH value, TVB-N, and other quality indexes of silver carp, indicating that the composite gel films will have broad application prospects in the food preservation field. This study provides an innovative basis and theoretical basis for the development and application of natural polysaccharide/protein composite edible film, which is helpful to promote the development of green food-packaging materials. Full article

The plastic profile of construction waste is varied and complex, particularly when compared to other waste streams such as timber, concrete, metals, and plasterboard. There are fewer incentives for recycling this low-density, low-value waste stream. Plastic waste generated by construction activities remains poorly characterised, obstructing efforts to optimise reduction, reuse, and recycling practices. To understand its types and sources, and better address plastic waste management, this study audited plastic waste produced across six new-build construction sites in Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 7.2 tonnes of plastic construction waste was collected on-site and audited. Plastics were separated, weighed, and categorised by function and construction stage. Polymer type was determined using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. In total, 62% of plastic waste was diverted from landfill through reuse or recycling. On average, 0.61 kg of plastic was generated per m² of construction. Soft plastics were the most generated by mass (33%), followed by PVC and HDPE pipes (22%), shrink wrap (12%), and expanded polystyrene (5%). The majority of plastic waste was generated in the final stages of the projects. The authors recommend the separation of soft plastic, pipes, shrink wrap, and polystyrene on construction sites, particularly towards the finishing stages of construction. Full article

The post-use management of plastic films, including shrink films, poses a significant environmental and technological challenge for the industry. Due to their durability and difficulty in degradation, these wastes contribute to environmental pollution, generating microplastics and greenhouse gas emissions during improper disposal. This paper examines different post-use management methods for shrink wrap, such as recycling, landfilling, and incineration, and assesses their impact on the environmental impact of the bottle packaging process using a life-cycle analysis (LCA). This study shows that the recycling option has the lowest potential environmental impact. Compared to other post-use management options, recycling reduces the potential environmental impact by more than 50%. The analysis also shows that the tested scenario using recycled film and photovoltaic energy has the lowest potential environmental impact. Using recycled film and powering the process with renewable energy reduces the potential environmental impact by about 95% compared to Scenario 1 and by about 85% in Scenario 3. Full article

The TiB₂ film exhibits exceptional hardness and chemical stability due to its unique crystal structure and robust covalent bonds, but it also demonstrates high brittleness and poor toughness, which restricts its practical applications in engineering. By appropriately incorporating metal dopants, the toughness of the ceramic matrix can be enhanced without compromising its inherent hardness. In this study, TiB₂ films with different nickel contents (0–32.22 at.%) were fabricated through radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The microstructure, chemical composition, phase structure, and mechanical properties were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and nanoindentation tester. The pure TiB₂ film exhibited (0001) and (0002) peaks; however, the addition of nickel resulted in broadening of the (0001) peak and disappearance of the (0002) peak, and no crystalline nickel or other nickel-containing phases could be identified. It was found that the incorporation of nickel refines the grain structure of titanium diboride, with nickel present in an amorphous form at the boundaries of titanium diboride, thereby forming a wrapped structure. The enrichment of nickel at the grain boundary becomes more pronounced as the nickel content is further increased, which hinders the growth of TiB₂ grains, resulting in the thinning of columnar crystals and formation of nanocrystalline in the film, and the coating hardness remains above 20 GPa, when the nickel content is less than 10.83 at.%. With the increase in nickel content, titanium diboride exhibited a tendency to form an amorphous structure, while nickel became increasingly enriched at the boundaries, and the coating hardness and elastic modulus decreased. The wrapped microstructure could absorb the energy generated by compressive shear stress through plastic deformation, which should be beneficial to improve the toughness of the coatings. The addition of nickel enhanced the adhesion between the film and substrate while reducing the friction coefficient of the film. Specifically, when the nickel content reached 4.26 at.%, a notable enhancement in both nanohardness and toughness was observed for nanocomposite films. Full article

Food contact materials release bioactive molecules that are potentially detrimental to health. Despite the relevance of this daily and repeated exposure, little attention is paid to single-use materials in contact with food. In Cameroon, despite the local tradition of using biodegradable and compostable leafy plants and the government’s decision to ban the use and marketing of plastics, they are still massively used in contact with food. The aim of this study was to explore the dynamics of the ongoing trend in the use of plastics for food handling. A cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2023 to investigate consumers’ perceptions of the benefits and drawbacks of plastics and traditional leaves as food contact materials. Two hundred consumers were interviewed at eight restaurants in Kumba municipalities through a structured questionnaire. The result of this study revealed that consumers considered that plant-based materials do not affect human health; they know that leaves, compared to plastics, are easier to dispose of and that plastic is an environmental hazard. Age and education turned out to significantly affect all the answers, while income did not. The current study highlights the need to provide clear and updated information on the long-term danger posed to health and the environment by plastics used to cook, store, protect, and transport food. Despite the numerous advantages and benefits of traditional leaves as food contact material, their traditional use by the population has been lost. Consumers in Cameroon are at a critical juncture in choosing biodegradable and compostable food contact materials. This transition can be accelerated if governments invest in actions and measures to curb and potentially reverse the widespread adoption of plastics as a symbol of modernity. Scientific and technological research should engage in the innovation of traditional plant-based materials. This local example is also intended to provide impetus for more global investment in traditional plant-based materials for food packaging to support sustainability and the planetary health agenda. Full article

The main aim of the study was the determination of the strength parameters of composite bonded joints consisting of galvanised steel elements, an adhesive layer, and Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) fabric. For this purpose, shear laboratory tests were carried out on 60 lapped specimens composed of 2 mm thick hot-dip galvanised steel plates of S350 GD. The specimens were overlapped on one side with SikaWrap 230 C carbon fibre textile (CFT) using SikaDur 330 adhesive. The tests were carried out in three series that differed in overlap length (15 mm, 25 mm, and 35 mm). A discussion on the failure mechanism in the context of the bonding capacity of the composite joint was carried out. We observed three forms of joint damage, namely, at the steel-adhesive interface, fibre rupture, and mixed damage behaviour. Moreover, an advanced numerical model using the commercial finite element (FE) program ABAQUS/Standard and the coupled cohesive zone model was developed. The material behaviour of the textile was defined as elastic-lamina and the mixed-mode Hashin damage model was implemented with bi-linear behaviour. Special attention was focused on the formulation of reliable methodologies to determine the load-bearing capacity, failure mechanisms, stress distribution, and the strength characteristics of a composite adhesive joint. In order to develop a reliable model, validation and verification were carried out and self-correlation parameters, which brought the model closer to the laboratory test, were proposed by the authors. Based on the conducted analysis, the strength characteristics including the load-bearing capacity, failure mechanisms, and stress distribution were established. The three forms of joint damage were observed as steel-adhesive interface failure, fibre rupture, and mixed-damage behaviour. Complex interactions between the materials were observed. The most dangerous adhesive failure was detected at the steel and adhesive interface. It was also found that an increase in adhesive thickness caused a decrease in joint strength. In the numerical analysis, two mechanical models were employed, namely, a sophisticated model of adhesive and fabric components. It was found that the fabric model was very sensitive to the density of the finite element mesh. It was also noticed that the numerical model referring to the adhesive layer was nonsensitive to the mesh size; thus, it was regarded as appropriate. Nevertheless, in order to increase the reliability of the numerical model, the authors proposed their own correlation coefficients α and β, which allowed for the correct mapping of adhesive damage. Full article