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Polymers
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Recent Advances in Biobased and Biodegradable Polymer Materials for Packaging...
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Recent Advances in Biobased and Biodegradable Polymer Materials for Packaging Applications

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 July 2026 | Viewed by 835

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Urška Vrabič-Brodnjak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Textiles, Graphic Arts and Design, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: bio-based packaging materials; polymers; coatings; barrier materials; sustainable materials; packaging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The longevity and environmental impact of conventional petroleum-based plastics have triggered intensive research into sustainable alternatives for packaging applications. This Special Issue presents a curated selection of advanced studies on bio-based and biodegradable polymers from renewable resources, including different polymers such as polysaccharides, aliphatic polyesters (e.g., PLA, PHAs), proteins, lignin-based systems, etc. The focus of the contributions is on the molecular design, structural optimisation, and functionalisation of these materials to improve mechanical, thermal and barrier properties while ensuring controlled biodegradability. Innovative approaches such as the formulation of nanocomposites, bio-based blends, multilayer structuring and environmentally friendly processing technologies will be investigated for their potential to overcome current performance limits. In addition to material innovation, the issue also looks at broader sustainability metrics, recycling processes, including life cycle assessment, end-of-life scenarios (industrial composting, home biodegradation, marine degradation), and evolving regulatory frameworks. These interdisciplinary insights reflect a convergence of polymer science, environmental engineering, and sustainable design, and they aim to advance the integration of biodegradable polymers into real-world packaging systems. By linking fundamental materials research with applied technological development, this issue contributes to the transition to a circular economy and offers ways to reduce plastic pollution and support long-term ecological resilience.

Dr. Urška Vrabič-Brodnjak
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 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. 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

  • biodegradable packaging materials
  • bio-nanocomposites
  • renewable resources
  • compostability and biodegradation
  • recycling
  • circular economy in packaging

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 18390 KB  
Article
Intelligent Biopolymer-Based Films for Food Quality Monitoring
by Diana-Ionela Dăescu, Diana-Maria Dreavă, Florina Stoica, Iulia Păușescu, Raluca Danciar, Gabriela Râpeanu, Anamaria Todea and Francisc Péter
Polymers 2026, 18(6), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18060694 - 12 Mar 2026
Abstract
pH-responsive indicator films for intelligent food packaging applications are based on the embedding of a natural or synthetic dye in a polymeric substrate, preferably biobased and biodegradable. Although natural colorants like anthocyanins were extensively investigated in this respect, nature-inspired synthetic flavylium compounds could [...] Read more.
pH-responsive indicator films for intelligent food packaging applications are based on the embedding of a natural or synthetic dye in a polymeric substrate, preferably biobased and biodegradable. Although natural colorants like anthocyanins were extensively investigated in this respect, nature-inspired synthetic flavylium compounds could represent an alternative based on their higher stability. In this work, five novel synthetic 4′-aminoflavylium derivatives with different substitution patterns in the benzopyrylium core (compounds 1–5) were synthesized and characterized. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), as well as chitosan–PVA and chitosan–starch blends, were used to prepare pH-responsive indicator films having inserted each of the synthesized flavylium dyes or a natural onion peel extract. The PVA films with compounds 1 and 3, and the PVA–chitosan film with compound 1, exhibited antioxidant activity, highlighting their potential for active packaging applications. All indicator films showed pH responsiveness in the range of 2 to 12 and were subsequently tested in contact with the packaging atmosphere or in direct contact with pork and fish meat, at different temperatures (4 °C, 20 °C, and 40 °C) for 24 h to assess their colorimetric response to progressive spoilage. Although the differences were small, the films with the 7-hydroxy-4′-aminoflavylium derivative exhibited the earliest and most intense color change during storage of meat, starting from direct contact at 4 °C for 24 h, being able to identify the initial stages of meat spoilage, while the performance of the dihydroxy-substituted derivative was attenuated by incorporation in polymer matrices. This behavior was comparable to that of onion peel extract, but the synthetic flavylium derivative was more stable. The results can provide new opportunities for intelligent food packaging applications using biopolymer indicator films with 4′-aminoflavylium derivatives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Biobased and Biodegradable Polymer Materials for Packaging Applications)
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24 pages, 7198 KB  
Article
Toward Sustainable Printed Packaging: Surface Properties and Ink Adhesion Behavior of PLA/PCL/Nanosilica Biopolymer Blends
by Sanja Mahović Poljaček, Tamara Tomašegović and Dino Priselac
Polymers 2026, 18(3), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18030422 - 6 Feb 2026
Viewed by 390
Abstract
In this study, polylactic acid (PLA) was blended with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and reinforced with nanosilica (SiO2) to tailor surface characteristics and improve adhesion in biopolymer-based printed packaging applications. The surface microstructure and topography were analyzed using FTIR-ATR, SEM, and surface profilometry. [...] Read more.
In this study, polylactic acid (PLA) was blended with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and reinforced with nanosilica (SiO2) to tailor surface characteristics and improve adhesion in biopolymer-based printed packaging applications. The surface microstructure and topography were analyzed using FTIR-ATR, SEM, and surface profilometry. Surface wettability and surface free energy (SFE), along with the adhesion properties of printed ink layers on polymer blends, were assessed, and the optical properties of the substrates and prints were evaluated. SEM revealed that PLA/PCL blends exhibited phase-separated morphologies with PCL droplet domains, whereas incorporation of 3 wt% SiO2 resulted in finer dispersion and reduced surface irregularities. Surface roughness (Ra) increased from 1.92 µm for PLA/SiO2 100/3 to 4.45 µm for PLA/PCL/SiO2 50/50/0, while water contact angle decreased from 70.9° for neat PLA to 43.4° for PLA/SiO2 100/3 surface, reflecting enhanced hydrophilicity. SFE components ranged from 26 to 40.7 mJ/m2 (dispersive) and 3.2 to 21.5 mJ/m2 (polar). Adhesion parameters (interfacial tension ranging from 0.01 to 5.54 mJ/m2, work of adhesion from 76.9 to 97.3 mJ/m2, and wetting coefficient from 3.04 to 11.1 mJ/m2) indicated favorable ink compatibility for most blends, and optical density of the printed layers (1.85–2.35) confirmed potential for good printability. These findings demonstrate that PLA/PCL/SiO2 blends allow controlled tuning of surface morphology, wettability, and adhesion, providing a promising approach for biodegradable and print-ready packaging substrates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Biobased and Biodegradable Polymer Materials for Packaging Applications)
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