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• 1. Food packaging waste is one of the main contributors to global environmental changes. • 2. Quality of recycled packaging materials is a threat to circular economy. • 3. Recycling method selection depends on the composition and nature of recyclate. • 4. Quality of recycled materials can be evaluated by using analytical methods. • 5. Migration analysis should be done to evaluate recycled material safety. Food packaging waste significantly impacts global environmental changes, prompting the adoption of a green circular economy approach. Recycling packaging waste is a critical element of this strategy. However, it faces challenges related to the quality of recycled materials and concerns about their safety. Thus, this review aimed to highlight different analytical methods alone or in combination to evaluate the quality of the recycled material. Furthermore, the safety and health aspects related to the migration of contaminants and their relevant regulations have also been discussed. An important parameter while selecting an appropriate recycling method is the composition and nature of the recyclate, for instance, HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene), PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), and PP (Polypropylene) materials can be recycled using mechanical and chemical recycling, however, PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) and PS (Polystyrene) present challenges during mechanical recycling due to lower molecular weight and complex compositions, thus are often downcycled into lower-grade products. Still, recycled papers can be more problematic than recycled plastics due to the nature of the materials and the impact of recycling. The literature review suggested that three quality properties i.e., presence of low molecular weight compounds, degree of degradation, and composition should be analyzed by using different spectroscopic, thermo-mechanical, and chromatographic techniques to obtain a detailed understanding of recycled material quality. Furthermore, recycling should be done in such a way that the migration of contaminants should be lower than the migratory limits set by the relevant authorities to avoid any toxicological effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy (CE) poses major challenges to the citizens of European countries. Proper waste management is a priority here. Poland is one of the countries that has been trying for many years to meet the requirements to achieve an appropriate level of recovery as well as the recycling of municipal and packaging waste. In order to achieve appropriate levels of packaging waste recycling, it was planned to implement an otherwise refundable deposit system starting in January 2023. Currently, work is still underway to implement this system starting in January 2025. The aim of the study is to describe the current work of the ministry, entrepreneurs and recovery organizations in this area and, on this basis, to indicate the barriers and uncertainties encountered in the implementation of this system. The authors want to answer the question of what barriers and benefits can be expected after the implementation of the deposit system. The implementation of the system has been postponed many times (for several years). The current involvement of various organizations (large cities, chain stores and recovery organizations) indicates that the system will be implemented on 1 January 2025. Based on the example of other EU countries, what estimated benefits can be expected after implementing the system in Poland? An extensive literature review and survey research indicate that Polish society views the deposit system favorably and Poland is ready to implement it. Specific regulations from the Minister of Climate and Environment need to be implemented as well as special machine need to be put in stores to start the deposit system. Examples of ongoing efforts to create appropriate infrastructure also show that Poland is on track to join the deposit system from January 2025. The deposit system will be continuously improved and expanded with more packages. Currently, it is planned to be introduced only for selected packages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastics are known for their durability and long decomposition time in the environment, which make plastic recycling an effective approach to mitigate plastic waste risks. However, the global plastic recycling rate is less than 10% mainly due to the labor-intensive and time-consuming nature of the manual recycling process, which poses high health risks and costs. Therefore, the development of a fast, effective, and operational process in current recycling plants is crucial to address the environmental concerns associated with plastics. In the current study, the feasibility of starch/Fe3O4/TiO2 bio-nanocomposite (SFT) as photo-modifiable and photo-degradable was investigated to reduce the workforce in recycling packaging material. The SFT was modified by different UV-C exposure times, which significantly altered its functional properties. The UV-C exposure increased the hydrophobicity of the SFT films and led to a homogenous distribution of Fe3O4/TiO2 nanoparticles (FT). It also increased tensile strength (TS) and decreased elongation at break (EB) of the films. It seems that producing shorter polymer chains, creating new linkages among the polymeric chains, and the homogenous distribution of FT in the matrix of biopolymer by UV-C are the main reasons for these changes. Moreover, the photo-degradation of SFT specimens increased significantly with longer UV-C exposure times. The utilization of magnetic properties in bio-based nanocomposites holds promising potential for streamlining labor-intensive processes in waste recycling plants. However, the inappropriate visual properties of SFT remain a significant obstacle that requires further attention to enable its commercial viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) show promising abilities for the delamination of multilayer packaging films that are used in food packaging and in pharmaceutical blister packs. Due to the complexity of their structure, the recycling of such materials is a challenging task, leading to the easiest or cheapest disposal option of either landfill or incineration. Towards the development of 'green' solvents for efficient waste management and recycling, this research focuses on the preparation of a range of hydrophobic and hydrophilic DESs based on carboxylic acids in combination with various naturally derived aliphatic and aromatic organic compounds as well as amino acids. Chemical and physical characterization of the solvents was undertaken using differential scanning calorimetry, rheometry, and density measurements for the determination of their properties. Subsequently, batches of solvent were tested against different types of consumer packaging to evaluate the ability of the DES to delaminate these structures into their component materials. The laminate packaging waste products tested were Al/PE, PE/Al/PET, Al/PE/paper, and PVC/PE/Al. Separated films were collected and studied to further examine the effect of solvent delamination on the materials. Depending on the DES formulation, the results showed either partial or full delamination of one or more of the packaging materials, albeit there were challenges for certain solvent systems in the context of delivering a broad delamination efficiency. Variables including temperature, agitation rate, mixing time, and solvent ratios were investigated via a Design of Experiments process to assess the effects of these parameters on the delamination outcome. The results showed that the DESs presented in this research can offer an efficient, low-energy, affordable, and green option for the delamination of laminate packaging materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article delves into the significance of glass packaging in the European container glass industry's sustainable development, emphasizing its role in achieving key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Covering health benefits, sustainable consumption, climate action, and collaborative partnerships, the European container glass industry's commitment to a circular economy and carbon neutrality by 2050 is explored. The discussion encompasses the industry's advancements in circularity and the critical transition to green energy. The article highlights the industry's strides over the past 50 years and outlines its vision for a sustainable future. It also points to the role of a supportive policy and legislative framework in enabling a circular and climate‐neutral economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recycling of PET trays is highly challenging. The aim of this paper was to investigate the issues related to the mechanical recycling process and, the correlation between feedstock composition and the quality of the produced rPET. Four feedstocks with different degrees of impurity were mechanically recycled at a laboratory pilot scale. The optical and thermal properties of the rPET products were examined to determine the quality and to seek relations with the starting level of impurities. The final products of the PET trays' mechanical recycling were found to be affected by the presence of impurities (organics) and multi-material (non-PET) elements in the feedstocks. The rPET products crystallised faster for contaminated feedstocks showed lower molecular mass and higher yellow index values due to thermal degradation. Yellowing is a crucial parameter in assessing the thermal degradation of rPET. Injection moulded samples corresponding to higher contamination levels, reported values of Yellow Index equal to 179 and 177 compared to 15 of mono-PET sample. The intrinsic viscosity decreased from 0.60 dL/g to just above 0.30 dL/g, and losses were more significant for soiled or multi-material feedstocks. A method of improving the final quality would involve the purification of the starting feedstock from impurities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary This article aimed at reviewing recent developments shaping the future of antimicrobial edible food packaging. The main issues discussed in the article are (i) factors (e.g. waste valorisation, sustainability, health and environmental concerns, religious concerns, etc.) causing emerging of alternative hydrocolloids extracted from farming/processing wastes of plants, animals, fungi, insects, snails, etc. as antimicrobial edible packaging material; (ii) emerging methods of manufacturing antimicrobial packaging (e.g. extruded and co‐extruded antimicrobial casings, antimicrobial electrospun mats, and electrosprayed films, coatings and particles); (iii) emerging concepts in using natural antimicrobials in edible packaging such as using narrow‐ or broad‐spectrum antimicrobials, synergetic mixtures, and controlled release strategies based on nanoencapsulation (e.g. Pickering emulsions, nanoemulsions, inclusion complexes, solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers). This review helps discovering the future of active edible packaging that is expected to play a central role in improving food safety and quality, human health and environmentally friendly practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 16 different types of PET trays from LWP and SP's samples were characterised. • Composition of PET tray as packaging objects, polymers, contaminants was determined. • Mechanical and chemical recyclability assessment of PET trays was implemented. • A few less common PET trays are suitable to obtain rPET through mechanical process. • For the most common PET trays the more appropriate recycling is depolymerisation. The compositions of Dutch lightweight packaging waste (LWP) and sorted products named "PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) trays" have been determined on object level. Additionally, the PET trays from both waste types were sorted in 16 categories representing their packaging use and material build-up. The material composition of at least 10 representative trays from each category was determined with chemical and thermal analysis, based on which the average material composition per category was established. Based on this data the average material composition of sorted PET tray products was approximated. The recyclability of the various categories of PET trays was assessed based on their material build-up. The most ubiquitous PET trays in Dutch LWP and sorted products were only found to be suitable to produce opaque recycled PET with mechanical recycling processes. Whereas only some more uncommon PET trays can be used to produce transparent recycled PET with mechanical recycling processes. Depolymerisation is deemed to be a more appropriate recycling process that will allow the production of transparent food-grade recycled PET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a conventional packaging material. Its modification has attracted immense attention in the industry and academia. Here, office waste paper, white cardboard waste, and waste corrugated paper were first employed as raw materials for cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) extraction by acid hydrolysis. Thereafter, CNC/PET composite films with various CNC additions were prepared via a self‐assembly technique. The results revealed that the CNCs formed a self‐assembled film on the PET surface via the synergistic effect of the complex interactions among the CNCs as well as between the CNCs and PET. Moreover, the CNCs improved the barrier property of PET and decreased the oxygen and water vapor transmittances of CNC/PET by 30.7% and 21.7%, respectively. Additionally, the coating of the PET surface with 0.2 wt.% CNCs extracted from the waste paper decreased the surface wettability of PET, exhibiting application potentials in the hydrophobic modification of polymers. This study realized waste paper recycling and provided a basis for constructing self‐assembled functional films on PET surfaces. The findings and insights of this study could exhibit application potentials in the fields of waste recycling and packaging materials. Highlights: A functional cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) film is prepared from waste paper.Self‐assembled CNC is coated on a PET surface to form a CNC/PET composite film.The synergistic interactions among CNCs and between CNC and PET modified PET.The low addition of CNCs realized the efficiency modification of PET.The study achieves waste paper recycling and high‐value utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing use of plastics has simultaneously increased the accumulation of ubiquitous plastic waste in landfills and the environment, posing global aesthetic and ecological challenges. Consequently, various waste disposal procedures are implemented, with recycling or waste recovery occupying a prominent position in the waste management hierarchy. Plastic waste recovery includes mechanical, chemical, or energy-related processes, yielding products suitable for reuse. This method of plastic waste disposal is currently the most cost-effective solution, aiming to avoid landfill dumping and reduce waste volumes. In the past two decades, the focus of waste management has shifted increasingly from disposal methods to prevention and recycling, with European Union (EU) member states committed to implementing and harmonising current legal measures related to plastic items prescribed by EU directives. The ultimate goal is to transition toward a circular economy model, promoting the sustainable use of plastics and minimising waste generation. Despite the increasing waste production rate in the EU, the quantity of municipal waste dumped in landfills has decreased overall, partly due to the introduction of European legislation, such as the Directive 62/1994 on packaging and packaging waste. However, Croatia’s plastic packaging waste recycling rate still lags behind the EU average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronics have contributed to the advancement of healthcare, wellness, security, and mobility, resulting in a higher standard of living. However, these ever‐accelerating advancements and widespread application come at the cost of a shortened product life cycle and increase in produced E‐waste which poses a significant environmental challenge. Recycling E‐waste is challenging due to the complexity of electronics and packaging, hindering component retrieval for reuse. While sustainable materials for electronics have been researched, sustainable integrated circuit (IC) packaging for conventional electronics remains unexplored. This study introduces a method involving dissolvable additively manufactured packaging materials to recover commercial‐off‐the‐shelf (COTS) chips from used electronics, which will alleviate supply‐chain stress, reduce the need for manufacturing similar chips, and minimize environmental impact. In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), are explored as potential dissolvable semiconductor packaging materials. Optimal dissolving conditions allow chip recovery in less than 11 min for PVA and 2 min for ABS. This approach offers a sustainable packaging method for commercial electronic chips that matches conventional packaging performance with the added functionality of recoverable and recyclable components, contributing to the gap in sustainability and recycling for conventional electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the EU's ambitious goals is to ensure all plastic packaging is reusable or recyclable by 2030. However, achieving higher recycling rates, particularly in flexible multilayer food packaging, is challenging due to the combination of diverse materials. This highlights the importance of designing for recyclability and exploring alternative barrier solutions. In this study, several types of coatings, such as ORMOCER® (Fraunhofer-ISC, Würzburg, Germany) Michem® Flex B3513 (Michelman International Belgium SRL, Aubange, Belgium), and PVOH (Kuraray Europe GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany), are applied on different polypropylene substrates, including cast PP (CPP70), SiOx, and AlOx-coated PP films. The effect of double coating and optimized curing conditions of ORMOCER® on the oxygen permeability of CPP70 was also investigated. The results showed significant improvements in the barrier properties of PP/SiOx and OPP/AlOx films, and OTR values less than 0.1 cm3/m2·d·bar were achieved. It was also found that ORMOCER® and Michem® Flex B3513 could enhance the oxygen barrier property of CPP70 and the OTR value reduced by a factor of 88 and 551, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Plastic tablet containers contain pharmaceutical residues. • The residues are small compared to the amount of APIs stored in the containers. • Rinsing the containers substantially decreases API residues in plastic. • Rinsing waters from plastic recycling processes may have environmental impacts. High-density polyethylene tablet containers are potentially very suitable for recycling, but no data are publicly available on active pharmaceutical ingredients' (API) residues in empty containers and if they affect the recyclability of pharmaceutical packaging. Plastic tablet containers represented 15 % of pharmaceutical primary packages sold in Finland in 2020 and 2021, equalling 350 tons of plastic per year. We studied the residues of six APIs remaining or adsorbed inside plastic tablet containers. The effects of tablet coating and usage in dose-dispensing services versus households on the API residues, and rinsing water's ability to remove the residues were evaluated. Up to 940,000 µg/kg of carbamazepine was detected in a container of uncoated carbamazepine tablets. The residues from coated tablets containing the other five APIs were 2.4–6,100 µg/kg. Ten times higher paracetamol residues were obtained in containers from household use than from a dose-dispensing unit. Rinsing can remove most API residues, but it leads to environmental emissions. For example, rinsing water can double carbamazepine emissions from a Finnish wastewater treatment plant where plastic packaging waste effluents are processed. Considering the API concentrations, decreasing residues by rinsing and dilution with other plastic packaging waste, the residues of the studied APIs are not considered an obstacle to the recycling of plastic tablet containers. However, further research is needed on more toxic APIs and the fate of APIs in the plastics recycling process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights The goal of this project was to recycle the waste forming in the production of a flexible, multilayer food packaging film. The film consists of five layers, two polyamides containing three different polymers, a polyethylene and two adhesive layers of maleated polyethylene. The type of the components and the exact composition are not disclosed because they represent proprietary information. The key to recycling is the selection of an appropriate strategy and target product. In this case, glass fiber reinforced PA composites were produced with an acceptable property profile. The properties of the recycled product are comparable to those of commercial composites available on the market. The crucial question was the selection of the glass fiber grade with the appropriate sizing. The selection was further complicated by the possible interaction of the functionalized polymer with the sizing of the fiber. The implementation of the solution is feasible technologically, the properties of the product are comparable to those available on the market, and its price is very advantageous. An engineering material can be produced from flexible multilayer packaging waste. The properties of the recycled product are comparable with those on the market. The selection of the glass fiber is crucial for mechanical properties. The solution is feasible technologically and the final price is competitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Polypropylene (PP) recyclates face limitations in their use due to lower qualities compared with virgin PP, resulting from contaminations and the mixing of different PP grades. In particular, their high melt flow rate (MFR) hinders their suitability for applications requiring low MFR, such as pipes. This study investigates the feasibility of producing low MFR PP recyclates from packaging waste. For this purpose, recyclates were produced exclusively from manually sorted extrusion blow molding grades and compared with a recyclate derived from a conventional PP waste stream. Different washing temperatures and recyclate production processes were used to study their effects on the properties of the recyclates. The main objective was to determine the lowest achievable MFR and the rheological, mechanical, and thermal properties of the recyclates from improved sorting. The results are intended to serve as reference points for the evaluation of future automatic sorting trials. The enhanced sorting resulted in an 80% reduction in the MFR and improved ductility, thereby extending the potential applications of the recyclate. The different washing and production processes did not have a significant effect on the investigated properties, except for a slight decrease in the MFR with hot washing and the omission of the pelletizing step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high consumption of packaging has led to a massive production of waste, especially in the form of nonbiodegradable polymers that are difficult to recycle. Microbial cellulose is considered a biodegradable, low-cost, useful, ecologically correct polymer that may be joined with other biomaterials to obtain novel characteristics and can, therefore, be used as a raw material to produce packaging. Bagasse, a waste rich in plant cellulose, can be reprocessed and used to produce and reinforce other materials. Based on these concepts, the aim of the current research was to design sustainable packaging material composed of bacterial cellulose (BC) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB), employing an innovative shredding and reconstitution method able to avoid biomass waste. This method enabled creating a uniform structure with a 0.10-cm constant thickness, classified as having high grammage. The developed materials, particularly the 0.7 BC/0.3 SCB [70% (w/w) BC plus 30% (w/w) SCB] composite, had considerable tensile strength (up to 46.22 MPa), which was nearly thrice that of SCB alone (17.43 MPa). Additionally, the sorption index of the 0.7 BC/0.3 SCB composite (235.85 ± 31.29 s) was approximately 300-times higher than that of SCB (0.78 ± 0.09 s). The packaging material was also submitted to other analytical tests to determine its physical and chemical characteristics, which indicated that it has excellent flexibility and can be folded 100 times without tearing. Its surface was explored via scanning electron microscopy, which revealed the presence of fibers measuring 83.18 nm in diameter (BC). Greater adherence after the reconstitution process and even a uniform distribution of SCB fibers in the BC matrix were observed, resulting in greater tear resistance than SCB in its pure form. The results demonstrated that the composite formed by BC and SCB is promising as a raw material for sustainable packaging, due to its resistance and uniformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drastic increase in the amount of packaging waste from conventional plastics, caused by improper waste management, is a serious challenge for the planet. It is therefore worth considering how we can solve this problem. Thus, it is necessary to develop new polymeric materials that retain the functional properties of traditional plastics but are susceptible to degradation with the participation of microorganisms. The development of new eco-friendly materials requires a holistic approach in terms of their disposal. Organic recycling enables the disposal of biodegradable packaging along with food remains that are difficult to remove. The article presents a study on the degradation of biocomposites of polylactide with cork in various environments (water, buffer, and compost). The obtained results indicate a clear influence of the presence of the filler and its amount on the degradation profile of the composites. In addition, the effect of sample shrinkage was observed, especially during degradation in water, where the pH decreases during the process due to the appearance of degradation products. This effect may be important not only for the degradation profile of the packaging but also during its use. Packaging distorted due to shrinkage may be a sign of improper product storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic waste is utilized aggressively for food, product packaging, cosmetics, toys, clothes, and even furniture. As a result, discarded plastic as a waste has grown uncontrollably worldwide, most of it ending up as landfill. With increasing concern, researchers have made efforts to convert this plastic waste into a more useful product. Along these lines, this study focuses on producing 10 tons of diesel per day through fast pyrolysis at 450 °C in the fluidized bed reactor for a feed rate of 3000 kg of plastic waste per hour. The production was simulated in Aspen HYSYS V11 to ensure the desired yield. Further, a detailed economic analysis is carried out to estimate the return on investment and total cost per year, as well as the payback period and the profit for different scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilayer films are widely used in the food industry because they allow the combination of properties of different materials to increase product shelf life without sacrificing product value. Despite the associated benefits, these films are difficult to recycle due to material immiscibility and difficult layer separation. Thus, the purpose of this research is to investigate the feasibility of incorporating recycled plastic material from the multi‐material film industry into extruded films for food packaging. To simulate the thermomechanical recycling, two different post‐industrial polymeric wastes of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) (with linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) or with ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)), were reprocessed four times in a single‐screw extruder. Moreover, these polymeric wastes were blended with virgin LDPE to improve the extrusion process control and to assess their effect on the blend properties. The extrusion experiments demonstrate that reprocessing of multilayer films and processing of their blends with virgin LDPE is feasible. Moreover, the mechanical and thermal properties of the corresponding films are not negatively affected when compared with those of virgin LDPE films. Nevertheless, the optical properties of recycled EVOH films, were lower than those of virgin LDPE or recycled LLDPE, with high haze and low gloss. Highlights: Two multilayer film scraps were reprocessed and blended with virgin LDPE.Thin film samples were produced by blown film extrusion.Films containing EVOH presented the worst optical properties.The presence of EVOH did not negatively affect the extrusion process.Mechanical and thermal properties were not significantly affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This summary discusses the importance of transitioning from a linear economy to a circular economy in the agri-food sector. The document emphasizes the challenges and opportunities of implementing circular economy strategies in this sector, as well as the significance of life cycle thinking and assessment methods. It introduces a special issue of The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment that focuses on assessing circular economy strategies in the agri-food sector using life cycle assessment methods. The special issue includes 10 papers that cover methodological advancements, case studies, and literature reviews. The studies primarily focus on the environmental performance of circular strategies, with limited attention given to economic and social impacts. There is a need for more comprehensive assessments that consider all dimensions of sustainability and explore the interconnections between life cycle sustainability assessment and circularity assessment. [Extracted from the article]

[Display omitted] • Specific separate collection rates for packaging characteristics were calculated. • 46 % of plastic bottles in mixed waste are uncolored and 30 % are food-grade. • Residues and dirt content is two times higher in packaging from mixed waste. • Personal care and food product packaging have the highest share of residues and dirt. The low recycling rate of post-consumer plastic packaging waste (PPW), which is partly due to insufficient separate collection, heterogeneous composition and high levels of contamination, poses a challenge in Austria, where the recycling rate must double in order to meet the target of 55 %. This study analyzes key packaging characteristics of non-beverage plastic bottles influencing recyclability, using Vienna as a case study. Additionally, a net quantity indicator and separate collection rates were calculated. 738 bottles from mixed MSW and 1,159 bottles from separate PPW collection were analyzed. The main polymer's proportion described by the net quantity indicator was higher for bottles from separate collection (69–72 %) than from mixed MSW (58 %), showing that a large share of the foreign materials are residues and dirt, with significantly higher contents in mixed MSW (20 %) than in separate collection (11 %). With a separate collection rate of 19.2 %, the great potential for recycling currently lies in mixed MSW at 4,112 t/yr. Thereof, 46 % is uncolored, 54 % is colored/white and, in terms of material grade, 30 % is food grade. The most common filling volume for PET, PP and HDPE was 0.5 < x ≤ 1.5 L (23–59 %) and the most common decoration technology was label (60–85 %). PET and PP had the highest shares of food-grade bottles (37–46 %), while PP had the highest share of colored bottles (22–31 %). The mechanical recycling potential of bottles depends largely on packaging characteristics, influencing separate collection and also automatic sorting. Harmonized design specifications are therefore crucial for this heterogeneous PPW fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To avoid microplastic pollution, there is an urgent need to replace fossil-based cushioning materials in packaging with easily recyclable alternatives. Here, we investigated the potential of lightweight cellulose fibre materials as a solution for mechanical protection. The quasi-static compression was studied among a vast set of 129 different foam-formed trial points with material density ranging from 21 kg/m3 to 123 kg/m3. The trial points included two different fibre types, bleached softwood kraft pulp (BSKP) and bleached chemithermomechanical pulp (CTMP), with varied refining level, pulp consistency, foaming conditions, surfactant type, strength additives, and final material density and thickness. Besides a correlation analysis of factors affecting compression stress and resilience, the results were reflected against a new theoretical prediction of energy absorption for an ideal low-density random fibre network. The theory predicts the initially-high cushion factor to rapidly drop down to the level of 4‒5 at 40‒80% compression. A similar behaviour was seen among the actual samples, despite their various non-ideal features. At 50% compression, the average cushion factor across the whole data set was 4.84 ± 0.10, being close to the theoretical prediction of 4.61 for the ideal case. The smallest cushion factor of 3.6 was found for a CTMP sample. The recovery from compression varied slightly among the samples and appeared highest for the material density of 60‒100 kg/m3, following the predicted proportion of non-buckled fibre segments. According to the results, cellulose fibre-based cushions have a soft initial response, which is preferable for fragile items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This STEM research project asks middle school or high school students to work towards creating ecologically friendly packaging. Packaging that can be composted instead of thrown away and collected in landfills and oceans like plastics. This inquiry uses nanocellulose and focuses on water permeability. The fibers of nanocellulose can be dried to make a rather strong and thin film, but due to the spaces between the fibers the film is too water permeable and therefore makes poor packaging materials on its own. Students will create nanocellulose composite films with other biodegradable materials, in an attempt to fill the inter-fiber microscopic spaces and create a new film that can be easily tested for water permeability. Students set up a straightforward science experiment with films, water, and mason jars. They will collect and graph data to determine if their nanocellulose composite films reduce water permeability compared to plain nanocellulose and how close they are to the present standard, plastic. This research is an amalgam of disciplinary core ideas like properties and states of matter, as well as a combination of science and engineering practices. It ignites students' curiosity, provides an organic path to science fair extensions, while also helping to cultivate future scientists, engineers, and environmental activists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides a calendar of upcoming events in the plastic film and sheeting industry, including conferences, symposiums, and webinars from September 2024 to March 2025. These events cover a wide range of topics such as coating science, foams, thermoplastics, additives, and sustainability. The document also includes information on process safety, including recent bulletins from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and a report from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board on a fatal well blowout incident in Texas. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is currently investigating two toxic chemical incidents in Louisiana in 2023, aiming to identify the causes and develop safety recommendations. DuPont has announced plans to separate its Water Solutions business into a standalone company, which focuses on providing clean water across various market segments. The separation is expected to be completed within 18 to 24 months and will not require a shareholder vote. The new company is expected to have a strong financial position and maintain an investment grade credit rating. [Extracted from the article]

Paper sludge consists mainly of wet short cellulose fibers that are lost during papermaking and of residual chemicals used in the manufacturing process that remain dissolved in the water. Each ton of paper generates about 40–50 kg of dry sludge, of which 70% is primary sludge. Paper production, which exceeded 400 million tons globally in 2020, generates vast volumes of solid waste. Primary sludge is usually fiber-rich and hence suitable to be recycled back into the papermaking process. However, if the sludge is to be disposed of in landfills, sustainable practices must be developed in order to recover the fibers as they are valuable source for manufacturing high value-added products. This study investigates the valorization of paper sludge discarded by a filter paper manufacturer, with the purpose of producing cellulose acetate films for food packaging. The process involves recovering cellulose fibers from the sludge, purifying them and through acetylation reaction produce cellulose acetate films. FTIR spectra confirmed successful acetylation of fibers and also that acetyl groups reduced the hydrophilicity of cellulose—the contact angle was increased to over 80° from 50° in native cellulose. The films exhibited very good water barrier properties at both 50% and 90% relative humidity (RH). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how companies in the plastic value chain can comply with the requirements put forward in the European Union's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for plastic packaging wastes, which must be fully adopted in a Danish context ultimo 2024. Plastic packaging waste for recycling is expected to increase when the EPR scheme enters into force, just as national regulation seeks to avoid the incineration of plastics. Multiple case studies, applying an exploratory and qualitative approach, were conducted with three best-case companies within the plastic value chain to illuminate technical capabilities in sorting and further processing of plastics, current recycles strategies and market positioning. To access the possibility to prevent, reuse, recycle, and recover plastic wastes we make use of the waste hierarchy in combination with a circular economy approach, where suggestions to activities along the cascading chain are proposed to qualify the analysis. This paper reveals that only few recycling plastic value chains have been established that originate from plastic packaging waste from household, and there are none for food packaging reusage; the current unfavorable management practices mostly lead to downcycling of the plastic value chain to recovery only. It is further concluded that strengthening the EPR scheme is important, by applying, for example, eco-design, hereunder to utilize mono plastics of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and by fee-modulation using taxes/penalties to spur on the plastic industry to produce environmentally friendly products. Finally, alternative sources of handling and producing plastics are outlined as watermark technology, bio-plastics and PtX-nafta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is used in a variety of packaging applications, such as bottles, films, fibers, for its cost‐effective and excellent physical properties. However, the increase in plastic usage and packaging waste has become major global problems. Therefore, the importance of plastic recycling is being emphasized. In this study, the bottle‐grade PET was repeatedly melt processed up to three times to evaluate of PET recyclability. Intrinsic viscosity (IV) and mechanical properties have significantly decreased due to chain scission during the melt reprocessing. In particular, the IV of 3rP (reprocessing three times) decreased to 0.582 dL/g, and the mechanical properties decreased more than twice compared with 0rP. To enhance the physical properties of reprocessed PET (rP‐PET), it was modified using two chain extenders. The IV of the modified 3rP‐PET increased from 0.645 to 0.737 dL/g. And the tensile strength was improved up to approximately 93% of the 0rP properties, confirming the chain extension effect. Additionally, a biaxial orientation process was applied to confirm the feasibility of modified rP‐PET to various industrial packaging applications. Consequently, as the stretching ratio increased, the physical properties of modified rP‐PET improved, confirming the feasibility of rP‐PET in various packaging fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development involves constant efforts to reduce pollution by using resources as efficiently as possible. One of the sources of pollution is waste from packaging, recovery, and of course, the possibility of recycling them. The research theme of this paper is the reverse logistics of plastic packaging, which allows the realization of the idea of circular economy and green logistics, which promotes the idea of sustainable development. The EU is strongly committed to issues related to the management of plastic packaging and waste to reduce environmental pollution and achieve circularity goals. Through this article, we aim to highlight the degree to which the EU member states are included in the plastic packaging recycling targets for the year 2030. To highlight the evolution trend for the recycling rate of plastic packaging, we used an advanced forecasting model that runs a series of variables in order to draw up a forecast as accurate as possible. After highlighting the recycling rates for plastic packaging at the level of the EU member states, we proceeded to outline some recommendations in order to encourage the EU member states to make the recycling process more efficient. The current study continues the series of studies dealing with the problem of recycling, but it covers a topic not addressed until this moment, namely the behavior of the citizen regarding the recycling activity seen through the prism of national culture. The current study aims to strengthen the specialized literature in this field and to offer innovative solutions that appeal to the respective national cultures regarding the availability of the populations of the EU member states to address the problem of recycling plastic packaging, not only from a legislative perspective but also from a cultural one. In conclusion, this study generates a model of approach to government policies regarding the recycling of plastic packaging considering the types of national cultures prevailing in the EU member countries, with this being possible by grouping the countries into culturally homogenous clusters. In this way, the environmental policies enunciated by governments can be adapted to convey the message in a more personal way, considering the cultural differences between the EU member states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conversion of chemical feedstocks derived from fossil fuels to virgin polymer, manufacturing of plastics in coal-dependent economies, and increasing consumption of virgin polymers for plastics packaging contribute significantly to environmental issues and the challenges we face. Nowadays, promoting sustainable development has become the consensus of more and more countries. Among them, the recycling of multilayer packaging is a huge challenge. Due to the complexity of its structure and materials, as well as the limitations of existing recycling frameworks, currently, multilayer packaging cannot be commercially recycled thus resulting in a series of circular economy challenges. It is undeniable that multilayer packaging offers many positive effects on products and consumers, so banning the use of such packaging would be unwise and unrealistic. Developing the appropriate processes to recycle multilayer packaging is the most feasible strategy. In recent years, there have been some studies devoted to the recycling process of multilayer packaging. Many of the processes being developed involve the use of solvents. Based on the recycled products, we categorised these recycling processes as solvent-based recycling, including physical dissolution and chemical depolymerisation. In physical dissolution, there are mainly two approaches named delamination and selective dissolution–precipitation. Focusing on these processes, this paper reviews the solvents developed and used in the last 20 years for the recycling of polymers from multilayer packaging waste and gives a summary of their advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, product quality, ease of processing, and environmental impact. Based on existing research, one could conclude that solvent-based recycling methods have the potential to be commercialised and become part of a standard recycling process for polymer-based multilayer packaging. The combined use of multiple solvent-based recycling processes could be a breakthrough in achieving unified recycling of multilayer packaging with different components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a growing population of about 7.8 billion, humans are generating tons of waste in the form of non-biodegradable plastics on a daily basis that ends up in landfills and oceans. The introduction of packaging has been a blessing to mankind by facilitating the ease of convenience in transportation, delivery and general usage. The downside, however, is that majority of the packaging currently available is harmful to the environment and takes thousands of years to decay. This paper discusses the use of chitosan from shrimp shells and other marine animals' exoskeleton waste in food packaging industries. Chitosan extracted from marine organisms is modulated in the form of packaging material. Compared to conventional packaging, chitosan films are 73.4% biodegradable in soil under laboratory conditions whereas 100% degraded in an open field. Chitosan with metal oxides, essential oils, natural extracts, proteins and other polymers show enhanced tensile strength, water vapor permeability, oxygen and ultraviolet barrier. Chitosan and composite film show antimicrobial activity against gram positive and negative bacteria. Comparative approaches on environmental impacts between conventional plastics and chitosan films are enlightened, thereby highlighting the importance of natural polymers as packaging films that are considered economic based on the addition of additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and validate methylene blue migration from printed time–temperature indicators (TTIs) into food. It also highlights the importance of establishing regulatory measures and safety standards for food packaging, suggesting that this can contribute to improving food packaging safety. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to quantify methylene blue migration in various food simulant and food matrix samples. The results show that the level of methylene blue migration varies significantly depending on the chemical properties of the food mimetic and the composition of the food matrix. The established method demonstrated a high sensitivity, with limits of detection (LODs) of 0.0019–0.0706 μg/L (kg) and limits of quantification (LOQs) of 0.0057–0.2138 μg/L (kg). This study highlights the need for a regulatory framework to mitigate the health risks associated with methylene blue in intelligent packaging systems and argues that regulatory thresholds should be set to ensure food safety and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The proper management of isolation waste is of utmost importance in healthcare facilities to prevent the spread of infections and protect both healthcare workers and the general public. This study investigated waste handlers' knowledge of the management of isolation waste at Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Gauteng, South Africa. Methods: A survey was conducted to assess waste handlers' understanding of waste types, colour codes, safety precautions, and awareness of internal policies related to isolation waste management. Results: The study found that the majority of waste handlers demonstrated a good understanding of waste types generated in the isolation unit, including sharps waste, human tissue waste, infectious waste, and general waste. They also correctly identified examples of sharp waste, such as injections, blades, glass slides, and needles. Additionally, most respondents were aware of the colour code used for representing infectious waste as "yellow" and "red." The study revealed a statistically significant association between waste handlers' age and their knowledge of isolation waste, suggesting that age may influence their understanding of waste management practices. Furthermore, experience was found to be significantly associated with waste handlers' knowledge of the health-hazardous nature of isolation waste. While the majority of waste handlers recognized the importance of wearing protective clothing and correctly marking isolation waste, some respondents were not aware of the internal policy for waste handling such as guidelines and protocols specific to the segregation, packaging, labeling, and disposal of waste generated within the isolation units. Conclusion and contribution: These findings highlight the importance of continuous training, targeted education, and policy dissemination to ensure effective waste management and adherence to safety protocols among waste handlers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic pollution is a global environmental threat with potentially irreversible impacts on aquatic life, ecosystems, and human health. This study is a comprehensive assessment of the global apparel industry's contribution to plastic pollution. It includes plastic leakage of packaging and end-of-life apparel waste in addition to fiber emissions during apparel production and use. We estimate that the apparel industry generated 8.3 [4.8–12.3] million tons (Mt) of plastic pollution in 2019, corresponding to 14% [5.5%–30%] of the estimated 60 Mt from all sectors. In this study, we demonstrate that the main source of plastic pollution from the apparel supply chain is synthetic clothing as mismanaged waste either in the country of its original use or in the countries receiving used apparel exports. A fundamental transformation of the apparel economy towards a circular framework and decreased synthetic apparel consumption is needed to tackle apparel-related plastic pollution. Synthetic apparel is a major contributor to global plastic leakage driven by mismanaged apparel waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the environmental impact of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) disposal highlights the need for efficient recycling methods. Chemical recycling, specifically alkaline hydrolysis, presents a promising avenue for PET waste management by depolymerizing PET into its constituent monomers. This study focuses on optimizing the pressurized alkaline hydrolysis process for post-consumer PET residues obtained from packaging materials. Post-consumer PET packaging waste was chemically recycled by means of an alkaline hydrolysis reaction in a 2 L pressurized reactor under varying conditions of the NaOH/PET ratio and temperature. The reaction's progress was monitored by sampling the liquid phase hourly over a four-hour period. The obtained products were purified, with a focus on isolating terephthalic acid (TPA). Higher temperatures (150 °C) resulted in superior TPA yields (>95%) compared to lower temperatures (120 °C). The NaOH/PET ratio showed minimal influence on the TPA yield. The optimal conditions (T = 150 °C; NaOH:PET = 2) were identified based on TPA yield and reaction cost considerations. This study demonstrates the feasibility of pressurized alkaline hydrolysis for PET recycling, with optimized conditions yielding high TPA purity and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review discusses the recent advancements in cost-effective fermentation methods for producing bacterial nanocellulose (BC) from food and agro-industrial waste. Achieving economical cell culture media is crucial for large-scale BC production, requiring nutrient-rich media at low cost to maximize cellulose yield. Various pretreatment methods, including chemical, physical, and biological approaches, are stated to break down waste into accessible molecules for cellulose-producing bacteria. Additionally, strategies such as dynamic bioreactors and genetic engineering methods are investigated to enhance BC production. This review also focuses on the environmental impact assessment and updated application challenges of BC such as medical applications, energy storage/electronics, filtration membranes, and food packaging. By providing insights from the recent literature findings, this review highlights the innovative potential and challenges in economically and efficiently producing BC from waste streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Packaging waste's ecological impact, stemming from resource depletion, plastic pollution, and climate concerns, is prompting environmental worries. Within the baby cosmetics domain, management task involves balancing safety, hygiene standards, consumer preferences, and regulations, all while adopting eco‐friendly packaging. This study presents a holistic global assessment of sustainable packaging options tailored for the baby cosmetics sector. By employing a systematic methodology encompassing planning using Python programming, data evaluation, analysis, and synthesis, the investigation scrutinized packaging claims from 2048 brands, including 76 specializing in baby cosmetics. Findings reveal that while 39% of brands omit packaging material details, 61% embrace recyclable, refillable, or bio‐based alternatives. This shift underscores a growing sustainability inclination, though undisclosed packaging materials indicate transparency gaps, urging enhanced regulations. Remarkably, only 14 baby cosmetic brands among those studied incorporate diverse certifications and standards. This study's novelty lies in its exhaustive analysis of sustainable packaging solutions tailored for the baby cosmetics sector. It highlights the pressing need for cosmetic companies to adopt sustainable packaging, ensure transparency, and collaborate industry‐wide to ensure a sustainable future for baby cosmetic packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the initial prototypes of solutions designed using plastic caps, seeking acoustic applications for both airborne sound insulation and the acoustic conditioning of rooms. Plastic caps are a waste product from the packaging sector and they constitute a major waste problem, given that, if they are not attached to the packaging, they get lost during the recycling cycle and end up in landfill. Finding an application for this waste that can provide acoustic improvements is a sustainable alternative. This paper shows the results of airborne sound insulation measurements obtained in a scaled transmission chamber and sound absorption measurements obtained in a scaled reverberation chamber for different combinations of single and double plastic caps and combinations with thin sheets of sustainable materials, such as jute weaving, textile waste, hemp felt and cork board. Tests have shown that obtaining sound reduction index values of up to 20 dB is possible with plastic cap configurations, or even up to 30 dB is possible at some frequencies with combinations of caps and certain eco-materials. With regard to the sound absorption coefficient tests, close to unity absorption values have been achieved with the appropriate configuration at frequencies that can also be selected. The results indicate that these panels can be eco-solutions for airborne sound insulation as lightweight elements, or they can be used for the conditioning of rooms, tailoring the sound absorption maximums to the desired frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A crop pretreatment with silicon was combined with passive modified atmosphere packaging (PMAP) in a thermoformed recycled PET packaging format as a novel approach to minimize the quality degradation in mushrooms. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of (a) two preharvest treatments, namely preharvest control (PHTC) and preharvest silicon treatment (PHTS) and (b) four packaging lid formats, namely PMAP1: a single hole of 1.1 mm size, PMAP2: two holes of 0.53 mm size, PMAP3: three holes of 0.53 mm size, and PMAPC: OMNI-PW micro perforated cling film as a control on the quality and shelf life of mushrooms during five days of storage at 4 °C and 99.9% RH. The results of the analysis of variance showed that packaging type, storage days, and the double interaction effects of storage days × packaging type had significant effects (p < 0.0001) on the changes in O2, CO2, colour L* and a* values, ΔE, total soluble solids (TSS), and the density of mushrooms. Density, electrolyte leakage (EL), and TSS were significantly affected by the double interaction effects of preharvest treatment × packaging type. Overall, PMAP1, PMAP2, and PMAP3 resulted in lower O2 + higher CO2 within packages compared with the conventional control. A preharvest silicon treatment had little overall effect. PMAP 1, 2 and 3 had a significantly lower ΔE (=better quality) after 5 days storage compared to PMAPC which had the highest ΔE (lowest quality) overall. PMAP1 and PMAP2 had the lowest EL values compared to PMAP3 and PMAPC. PMAP1, PMAP2, and PMAP3 all gave better TSS levels and density compared to PMAPC. Notably, this study proved that a perforation-mediated MAP design for mushrooms packaged in a thermoformed recycled PET packaging format maintained improved CO2, lowered O2, and reduced EL while maintaining TSS and the density of the mushrooms during the storage period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cosmetics industry plays a significant role in the global economy and consumer lifestyles. Its dynamic and adaptable characteristics make it a key player worldwide. The cosmetics industry generates enormous profits globally, injecting billions of dollars into the world's economy each year. The industry's marketing efforts, product launches, and trends influence consumer behavior and perceptions of beauty, contributing to cultural dialogues and societal norms. This study, conducted with a rigorous bibliometric and systematic literature review, offers a comprehensive overview of recent progress in edible cosmetics. The "skincare you can eat" is an innovative branch of cosmetics that employs food co-products and by-products to create edible skincare and hair products and edible packaging materials to advance human well-being and sustainability while honoring the ecological boundaries of our planet. Nutrients and antioxidants derived from organic waste are used in cosmetics and packaging. Some doubts remain about the capacity of edible packaging to be attractive to consumers and offer a reasonable shelf life for cosmetics, and also about safety. It is desirable for the authorities to guarantee consumer health through carefully regulating labeling requirements and good manufacturing practices for cosmetics and edible packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic pollution has been a topic of grave concern worldwide due to major environmental, economic, health, and social impacts. Nevertheless, our society is far from casting plastics aside since they are essential for several applications (e.g. food packaging, automotive, electronics, building, and construction). Poly(terephtalate ethylene) (PET), an important synthetic polyester derived from petroleum, is extensively used in plastic packaging (mainly bottles and trays). Unfortunately, no greener polymer alternative has large-scale production to meet global demand. Consequently, plastic recycling is the most sustainable approach to manage the massive amounts of post-consumed PET materials, by recovering its monomeric units: terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. However, current recycling methods are still costly, leading to more expensive reclaimed PET monomers than virgin ones obtained from fossil sources. Recently, PET upcycling emerged as a profitable strategy to value the reclaimed monomers by converting them into molecules with higher added value, enhancing the recycling process viability. In this review, we addressed all valuable commodities produced from the conversion of PET monomers catalyzed by microorganisms, as an eco-friendly process known as biological upcycling or bio-upcycling. We provided an outlook regarding potential markets and highlighted the benefits of the PET bio-upcycling route over the actual industrial production of each commodity. Moreover, we discussed different PET recycling methods employed to recover monomers prior to the bio-upcycling step, highlighting the pros and cons. Additionally, we addressed critical considerations about the major challenges regarding this novel recycling strategy, particularly in upscaling from lab-scale stage to real-world implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Automated sorting of mixed municipal solid waste in material recovery facilities. • Average recovery potential of plastic packaging in Austria 83,000 t/a. • Average increase in plastic packaging recycling rate from currently 25% to 35% Austria must recycle more packaging materials. Especially for plastic packaging waste, significant increases are necessary to reach the EU recycling targets for 2025 and 2030. In addition to improving separate collection and introducing a deposit system for specific fractions, the share of plastic packaging in mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) could be utilized. In Austria, about 1.8 million tonnes of mixed MSW are generated. This includes about 110,000 t/a of plastic packaging waste. Most of the mixed MSW (94 %) is sent directly or via residues from pre-treatment, such as mechanical–biological treatment or waste sorting, to waste incineration. While materials such as glass and metals can also be recovered from the bottom ash, combustible materials such as plastics must be recovered before incineration. This work aims to evaluate the recovery potential of plastic packaging waste in mixed MSW with automated waste sorting. For this purpose, two of the largest Austrian waste sorting plants, with a total annual throughput of about 280,000 t/a, were investigated. The investigation included regular sampling of selected output streams and sorting analysis. The results show that the theoretical recovery potential of plastic packaging from these two plants is 6,500 t/a on average. An extrapolation to Austria results in a potential of about 83,000 t/a. If losses due to further treatment, such as sorting and recycling, are considered, about 30,000 t/a of recyclate could be returned to plastic production. This would correspond to an increase in plastic packaging recycling rate from 25 % to 35 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]