It is the International Scientific Review of the Ethical Packaging Charter Foundation. A bimonthly publication in which 7 multidisciplinary articles are presented, relating to packaging, selected by several magazines of the digital science world.
In this Number:
Sustainable use strategy of organic waste through the manufacture of bioelastomer with antibacterial and antioxidant activities using mandarin peel extracts.
Mandarin peels (MP), a residue from food processing, have various restrictions on their disposal and can cause serious environmental pollution. In this study, MP was used to fabricate a functional bioelastomer with antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The bioactive compounds were recovered from MP in liquid form and added to the bioelastomer during fabrication to maintain the mechanical strength of the bioelastomer. The manufactured bioelastomer with antibacterial and antioxidant activities is expected to be used in food, pharmaceutical and medical packaging industries.
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/1/161
Extending the shelf life of high-fat foods from lipid oxidation and microbiological contamination: an approach using active packaging with pomegranate extract.
The search for new ways to extend the shelf-life of foods through the use of natural compounds and extracts continues to grow among researchers and industry. In this line of thought, the main objective of this work was to develop, characterize and evaluate the efficacy of an active food packaging based on polylactic acid (PLA) and incorporated with natural extracts obtained from grape by-products and / or pomegranate. In vitro, antioxidant methods were applied to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of three extracts: must extract, freeze-dried pomegranate peel extract (PPE-FD) and natural pomegranate peel (PPE-N). Punicalagin (A + B) and ellagic acid were determined in PPE-FD, PPE-N and active films by UHPLC-DAD. Novel PLA-based active packaging with COPPER-FD PEELS (PLA/3PPE) and pomegranate (PLA/3PP) were developed and their chemical, mechanical and barrier properties were evaluated.
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/13/1/93
Evaluation of the quality and shelf-life of fresh beef stored in intelligent packaging
Beef is a perishable food product susceptible to spoilage due to microbial growth. Therefore, this study aimed to ascertain the performance of active and intelligent packaging by monitoring the change in the quality of fresh beef stored at low temperatures. The smart packaging method used indicators with Bromo Phenol Blue (BPB) and Phenol Red (PR) solutions to monitor the change in beef quality. In addition, the active packing used garlic extract with various concentrations at 0%, 15% and 20% to maintain the quality of the packed beef at temperatures of 10°C. This was indicated by a change in the color of the indicator from the dark yellow to orange and red, fading to purple.
https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/2/396
A Bio-Based Active Food Packaging Material of ZnO@Plant Polyphenols / Cellulose / Polyvinyl Alcohol: DESIGN, Characterization and Application
Active packaging materials protect foods from spoilage and extend shelf life. In an effort to design intriguing packaging materials, biocomposite ZnO/plant polyphenols/cellulose/polyvinyl alcohol (ZnPCP) was prepared via simple hydrothermal and smelting methods. The structure and morphology of the composite were fully analyzed using XRD, FTIR, SEM and XPS. ZnO particles, plant polyphenols (PPL) and cellulose were found to be dispersed in the PVA. All of these components share their unique functions with composite properties.
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/2/1577
Microplastics derived from food packaging waste: origin and health risks.
Plastics are commonly used for packaging in the food industry. The most popular thermoplastics that have found such applications are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and polystyrene (PS). Unfortunately, most plastic packaging is disposable. As a result, significant quantities of waste are generated, which enter the environment and undergo degradation processes. They can occur under the influence of mechanical forces, temperature, light, chemical and biological factors. These factors may exhibit synergistic or antagonistic effects. As a result of their action, microplastics are formed, which can undergo further fragmentation and decomposition into small-molecule compounds.
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/674
Migration modeling as a valuable tool for exposure assessment and risk characterization of PET oligomers.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely used food contact materials due to its excellent mechanical properties and recyclability. Substance migration from PET and conformity assessment is usually determined by experimental tests, which can be difficult depending on the migrants of interest. Low concentrations and missing reference standards, among other factors, have led to inadequate investigation of the migration potential of PET oligomers. Migration modeling can overcome these limitations and is therefore an appropriate starting point for exposure and risk assessment. In this study, the energy-based activation (EA) and AP model was used to systematically evaluate the migration potential of 52 PET oligomers for 12 different application scenarios.
https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/1/173
Improvement of macroparticles of coffee waste products in biopolymer materials for edible packaging.
Plastic pollution has sparked interest in biodegradable and sustainable plastic alternatives. For edible food packaging, seaweed biopolymers have been investigated for their film-forming properties. In this study, packaging films were developed using the solvent casting technique from natural red algae (Kappaphycus alvarezii) and coffee waste products. Physicochemical and thermal properties of algae/coffee biopolymer films were obtained using dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transmission irradiation (FT-IR), water contact angle measurement (WCA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The characterization study was carried out to improve the morphological, thermal and mechanical properties of the film.
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/2/365
