Packaging, widely used across industries such as food, cosmetics, and health care, contributes significantly to pollution due to waste accumulation in landfills and energy-intensive production processes. Achieving sustainability in packaging requires implementing clean production technologies, utilizing recyclable materials, and sourcing renewable, natural resources. Composites, which combine fibers and powders to enhance material properties, present additional challenges in terms of production and recycling compared to common materials like polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This chapter highlights the importance of sustainability in polymeric composites for packaging, exploring both current and emerging materials and technologies. Topics covered include biopolymers from natural sources, such as chitosan, starch, and cellulose, as well as polyhydroxyalkanoates and biodegradable polymers like polylactic acid (PLA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), and polybutylene succinate (PBS). The chapter also examines recyclability, process efficiency strategies, and the role of bioplastics such as bio-PE and bio-PP in promoting a circular economy in packaging.

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Revolutionizing Packaging with Sustainable Polymer Composites

  • Erika Blanzeanu,
  • Ionut-Cristian Radu,
  • Derniza-Elena Cozorici,
  • Catalin Zaharia

摘要

Packaging, widely used across industries such as food, cosmetics, and health care, contributes significantly to pollution due to waste accumulation in landfills and energy-intensive production processes. Achieving sustainability in packaging requires implementing clean production technologies, utilizing recyclable materials, and sourcing renewable, natural resources. Composites, which combine fibers and powders to enhance material properties, present additional challenges in terms of production and recycling compared to common materials like polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This chapter highlights the importance of sustainability in polymeric composites for packaging, exploring both current and emerging materials and technologies. Topics covered include biopolymers from natural sources, such as chitosan, starch, and cellulose, as well as polyhydroxyalkanoates and biodegradable polymers like polylactic acid (PLA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), and polybutylene succinate (PBS). The chapter also examines recyclability, process efficiency strategies, and the role of bioplastics such as bio-PE and bio-PP in promoting a circular economy in packaging.