It is the International Scientific Review of the Ethical Packaging Charter Foundation. A publication in which 7 multidisciplinary articles are presented, relating to packaging, selected by several magazines of the digital science world
In questo numero:
Determination of Inorganic Elements in Paper Food Packaging Using Conventional Techniques and in Various Matrices Using Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (MP-AES): A Review.
As one of the world’s most widely used packaging materials, paper obtains its properties from its major component: wood. Variations in the species of wood result in variations in the paper’s mechanical properties. The pulp and paper production industry is known to be a polluting industry and a consumer of a large amount of energy but remains an essential heavy industry globally. Paper production, based largely on the kraft process, is mainly intended for the food packaging sector and, thus, is associated with contamination risks. The lack of standardized regulations and the different analytical techniques used make information on the subject complex, particularly for inorganic elements where little information is available in the literature. Most research in this field is based on sample preparation using mineralization via acid digestion to obtain a liquid and homogeneous matrix, mainly with a HNO3/H2O2 mixture. The most commonly used techniques are Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES), and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), each with its advantages and disadvantages, which complicates the use of these tech-niques for routine analyses on an industrial site. In the same field of inorganic compound analysis, Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (MP-AES) has become a real alternative to techniques such as AAS or ICP-AES. This technique has been used in several studies in the food and environmental fields. This publication aims to examine, for the first time, the state of the art regarding the analysis of inorganic elements in food packaging and different matrices using MP-AES. The entire manufacturing process is studied to identify possible sources of inorganic contaminants. Various analytical techniques used in the field are also presented, as well as research conducted with MP-AES to highlight the potential benefits of this technique in the field.
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4532/6/4/41
Biobased Composites from Starch and Mango Kernel Flour.
Starch is a promising alternative to petroleum-based polymers due to its biodegradability and renewable nature. However, its widespread use in non-food applications raises ethical concerns. Mango kernels, a major byproduct of mango processing, represent an abundant yet underutilized starch source. However, conventional starch extraction requires costly purification steps with significant environmental impact. This study explores the development of extruded biocomposites, using corn starch and mango kernel flour (MKF) as a more sustainable alternative. The influence of lignin, extractives, amylose, and amylopectin content on the material properties was assessed. MKF was obtained by removing both tegument and endocarp from the mango kernels, grinding them in a colloidal mill, and finally drying the ground kernels. The resulting flour was blended with corn starch, processed in an internal mixer, and injection-molded. The composites were characterized through mechanical testing, water absorption analysis, colorimetry, and UV absorption assays. Notably, the composite containing ~20% MKF exhibited mechanical properties comparable to commercial polyethylene (PE-PB 208), with a tensile strength of 9.53 MPa and a Young’s modulus of 241.41 MPa. Additionally, MKF enhanced UVA protection. These findings suggest that mango kernel flour can partially replace starch in the production of injection-molded biopolymers, offering a more sustainable approach to biodegradable plastic development.
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8783/5/4/64
Advanced Bio-Based Smart Materials for Food Packaging: Applications, Safety, and Sustainability.
The greatest issues facing humanity today are food security, safety, and waste management, as well as the pernicious impacts of environmental climate change. Thus, the development of intelligent technologies pertaining to the wholesomeness of food products or their waste is essential. The petroleum-based plastics used in food packaging materials, which have recently raised numerous concerns regarding environmental pollution and consumer health, may be replaced by these technologies in the future, which could potentially lead to a complete recharacterization of the quality of the product from production to packaging and distribution.
https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/20/3462
Double-Layer Films Based on Furcellaran/Chitosan Complex—Structural and Functional Characteristics of Packaging Materials.
This study involved the creation and characterisation of double-layer films based on furcellaran (FUR) and chitosan (CHIT)—furcellaran complexes. Although chitosan films are quite widely described, a double CHIT-FUR membrane with high solubility and water vapour permeability is seldom reported in the literature. In this work, the physicochemical, mechanical and thermal properties of the obtained double-layer films were examined. The structural properties and morphology of the prepared films were presented using FTIR and AFM analysis. The obtained results confirmed the production of double-layer films, the layers of which differed from each other. The characterisation of the obtained films indicated that the 9:1 ratio (complex_9:1) is superior in terms of uniformity and performance. The obtained double-layer films have the potential to replace traditional plastics in food packaging and may also serve as a new material for medicine capsules in the pharmaceutical industry.
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/20/10049
Ferulic Acid and Polyferulic Acid in Polymers: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications.
Ferulic acid (FA), together with its polymers and derivatives, has been attracting growing attention as a building block for advanced sustainable polymeric materials due to its renewable origin, intrinsic antioxidant activity, and potential for biodegradability. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent progress in the synthesis and functionalization of FA-based polymers, covering polymerization strategies, enzymatic modifications, and grafting approaches. The physicochemical characteristics of these materials are discussed, with particular emphasis on thermal stability, antioxidant performance, controlled release of active agents, and their impact on the mechanical and barrier properties of polymer matrices. Furthermore, key application domains—including biomedicine, food packaging, and environmental engineering—are examined, highlighting both the advantages and current limitations associated with FA utilization. Finally, perspectives are outlined regarding the necessity for further research to enhance bioavailability, stability, and synthetic efficiency, as well as the potential of FA-derived polymers in the development of next-generation, functional, and environmentally sustainable materials.
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/17/20/2788
Recycling of Post-Consumer HDPE Bottle Caps into New Caps for Food Contact.
HDPE caps are collected together with PET bottles, which have been recycled into new bottles for decades. Due to Deposit Return Schemes, the bottle caps are sorted by type and are suitable to be recycled again for sensitive applications e.g., food contact. While there are evaluation criteria for mechanical PET recycling processes, no such evaluation crite-ria have been published for recycled HDPE caps in food contact. As part of the study, possible evaluation criteria are derived from other polymers or applications and critically discussed. Recycling of post-consumer caps from beverage bottles into new HDPE caps in direct contact with food is realistic even if worst-case considerations on the evaluation criteria are applied. The required cleaning efficiencies are within a range that is technically feasible for today’s mechanical HDPE recycling processes. The evaluation criteria can be used for a preliminary assessment of post-consumer HDPE recyclate in food contact. Based on the evaluation, the recycling of HDPE caps is to be submitted as a novel technology according to Regulation 2022/1616.
https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/10/6/197
Waste-Driven Design (WDD): A Transdisciplinary Approach to Raw Material Development—A Case Study on Transforming Food Packaging Waste into a Second-Generation Material.
This paper investigates the design potential of post-consumer plastic waste through the Waste Driven Design (WDD) method, developed at IUAV University of Venice and implemented in both experimental and semi-industrial contexts. WDD proposes a situated and transdisciplinary approach, where waste is no longer regarded as a material to be discarded, but as a resource to be explored, transformed, and valorised. Using the Marble CAP case study—a new material derived from non-recyclable food packaging—the paper presents an iterative and scalable design process that combines technical experimentation, material storytelling, and application potential. The stages of the process are examined, from waste collection and cataloguing to the production of pressed sheets, which are tested under various conditions and finishes. The results demonstrate how, in design, material can become a catalyst for new aesthetics, languages, and production chains. Rather than concluding with the formal outcome, the project opens up spaces for critical and operational interventions along the supply chain, highlighting how design can contribute to imagining and activating alternative trajectories for waste transformation.
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/20/9144
