Package Research Articles

The Effectiveness of Green Marketing in Starbucks: An Assessment

Green marketing practices have become increasingly significant as businesses aim to reduce their environmental impact and cater to the growing number of environmentally conscious consumers. The primary goal of green marketing extends beyond appealing to eco-conscious buyers; it also aims to generate positive environmental and societal effects. Green marketing integrates sustainability principles across various aspects of marketing, including product design, packaging, messaging, production processes, and promotion. Its importance lies in enhancing profitability, fostering brand loyalty, and attracting a new market segment that prioritizes sustainability. For instance, businesses may promote reduced emissions in manufacturing or use post-consumer recycled materials in packaging. Some also demonstrate environmental responsibility by donating a portion of sales proceeds to eco-friendly initiatives, such as tree-planting campaigns. This study examines how Starbucks' green marketing practices have contributed to its overall success, profitability, brand reputation, customer loyalty, and employee engagement. Additionally, it investigates challenges and limitations Starbucks may have faced in implementing these practices and explores potential areas for improvement. The study’s findings will provide valuable insights for other businesses aiming to adopt green marketing strategies and contribute to the broader discourse on sustainability's role in business.

Inter riverine variability in microplastic distribution among two tropical rivers – Chalakudy and Periyar, Southwest India

ABSTRACT The study intends to bridge the lack of baseline information on microplastic (MPs) contamination in two river systems (Periyar: the longest river, lifeline of the Kerala State and Chalakudy: the fifth longest river) and hence is highly relevant. Sampling was carried out twice during December 2020 and January 2021. Elevated level of contamination was recorded at midstream sites in Chalakudy and downstream sites at Periyar. Small-sized particles (<100 µm) constituted the majority (>45%) in both river systems resulting from the disintegration of larger particles or direct release of primary MPs. Prevalence of fragment shape, accounting for ≈48–71% across all sites in both rivers, resulted from the disintegration of meso or macro plastics. Preponderance of blue-coloured particles (≈33–67%) inferred potential risk to aquatic organisms. Low-density polyethylene emerged as the dominant polymer group, originated from packaging materials and bottles. Overall abundance and recovery rate in both rivers indicate that MPs occur at all sites, irrespective of land use patterns, sourced to the degradation of abandoned fishing gears, shipping, tourism activities, and untreated waste disposal. The high risk of microplastic pollution in the study area was endorsed by polymer hazard index and coefficient of microplastic impact index.

Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Training Package for Violence Prevention in Adolescents: Its Effect on Self-control and Social Skills

Background: Adolescence is a period marked by significant changes, during which individuals face major emotional, cognitive, and behavioral challenges. Violence remains a significant global concern, and factors such as self-control and social skills play a crucial role in reducing and managing adolescent violence. Objectives: This study aimed to design, implement, and evaluate a training package for violence prevention (TPVP) in adolescents and assess its impact on self-control and social skills among students in Isfahan. Methods: This study was conducted on sixty 13 - 15-year-old female students in Isfahan, Iran, during the 2022 - 2023 academic year. First, the TPVP was developed after reviewing relevant theories and existing training packages, then it was evaluated by a panel of faculty members from the Department of Social Medicine, psychiatrists, and clinical psychologists. The students were randomly divided into two groups: (1) an intervention group, and (2) a control group, with 30 students in each group. The intervention group received the TPVP and attended five training sessions. To assess social skills and self-control, the Inderbitzen and Foster Social Skills Questionnaire and the Tangney Self-control Questionnaire were administered to both groups before and three months after the intervention. Results: Sixty female students aged 13 - 15 participated in this study. The mean self-control score in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the control group after the intervention (46.33 ± 6.488 vs. 40.44 ± 7.307, P = 0.002). Prior to the training, there was no significant difference in social skills scores between the two groups. However, following the intervention, the mean social skills score in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the control group (118.38.726 vs. 102.913.468, P &lt; 0.0001). Conclusion: The violence prevention training package was effective in improving self-control and social skills among students. The study demonstrated that the implementation of a structured TPVP can enhance both self-control and social skills in adolescents.

A sustainable approach to enhance biodegradability of recycled LDPE with starch biofillers derived from potato peels and rice husk ash*

ABSTRACT This study investigates the potential of using starch derived from potato peels and rice husks as biofiller for the production of biodegradable plastics. Starch was extracted from potato peels and modified using phthalic anhydride, formamide and potassium acetate to ensure its homogeneous dispersion into the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) matrix. The modified potato peel starch and rice husk ash were characterised using various techniques such as SEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD and were blended with recycled LDPE to enhance its biodegradability for making it an applicable environmental friendly packaging material. The quantity of the biofiller was varied from 4 to 12 g while rice husk ash content was kept constant (0.6 g). The addition of the biofiller reduced the tensile strength, tear strength and transparency of the film with an increase in haze %, weight loss both in garden soil and vegetable waste environment indicating the enhancement in biodegradability of the produced blend. Considering the applicability constrain biodegradable blend containing 20% starch was considered as the best one having tensile strength of approximately 10.42 MPa, tear strength 69.4 N, weight loss percentage of 13.29% in garden soil and 11.34% in vegetable waste when studied for a period of 360 days. Modification of starch has however increased both the mechanical (tensile strength – 12.628 MPa, tear strength – 80.47 N) and biodegradability (weight loss percentage of 15.19% in garden soil and 14.45% in vegetable waste) of the films when studied under the same conditions for the sample containing 30% starch in the matrix.

Effects of Various Packaging Materials on Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Vacuum Fried Carrot Chips during Storage

Aims: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of type of packaging materials and time of storage on the physicochemical characteristics of vacuum fried carrot chips. Place and Duration of Study: The research work was carried out at the Dept. of Processing and Food Engineering (P&amp;FE), Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, Kerala during the year of 2019-20. Methodology: The vacuum fried carrot chips were packed into three different packaging materials namely low-density polyethylene stand pouch (LDPE), laminated aluminum flexible pouch and polypropylene. All three packaging materials were tested with and without N2 gas filling. The storage studies were conducted for the vacuum fried carrot chips which was fried under optimized processing conditions: Frying Temperature-100⁰C; Frying Pressure-13 kPa; and Frying Time- 20 min. The experimental study was conducted for 4 months period and data was recorded for every 30 days interval. The packed samples were stored at the ambient temperature (25±5ºC) and relative humidity (70±10%) for storage studies. The quality attributes such as moisture content, water activity, oil content, hardness and colour values of the chips were determined during the storage studies. Results: Based on the research study, the results shown that the oil content remained constant throughout 120 days of storage period in all packaging materials. The water activity, moisture content, hardness and colour values got increased with increase in storage time. The moisture content, water activity and hardness values were less in laminated aluminium pouches with N2 gas filling compared to polypropylene and LDPE.

The Impact of Green Supply Chain Management on Green Innovation, Environmental Performance, and Competitive Advantage

Environmental issues are increasing in importance for businesses day by day. Businesses are undergoing an environmentally focused transformation in all their activities within the value chain. Therefore, the necessity of integrating and maintaining the concept of “green” in all processes such as production, technology development, marketing, and supply chains has emerged. Topics such as environmentally sensitive production systems, green supply, and green innovation (GI) are both accepted in practice in various sectors and are examined in the literature. When the impact of green practices on the performance items of businesses is taken into consideration, it is important to examine the issue from this perspective. In this context, the aim of this study is to examine the impact of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices on GI, environmental performance (EP), and competitive advantage (CA). Within the framework of this aim, a survey was conducted on 283 businesses producing plastic, packaging, and textile products in Gaziantep (169) and Konya (114) provinces in Türkiye. In this study, where the quantitative research method was adopted, the hypotheses established were tested by using structural equation modeling (SEM). SPSS 22.0 package program and AMOS 22.0 program were used in the analysis. Within the scope of the analysis, the measurement model (confirmatory factor analysis) was first tested. As a result of the analysis, GSCM practices have a positive impact on GI and CA; GSCM has a positive impact on EP; GI has a positive impact on CA; and EP has not a positive impact on CA. This study is significant as it examines the combined impact of GSCM, GI, EP, and CA. Also, this study is important as it is the first study to examine the impact of GSCM practices on GI, EP, and CA in Türkiye.

Tolerances of the alignment of fibers to photonic integrated circuits

This work presents the solutions to the alignment of two Gaussian beams representing two sides of the optical connection between a fiber and a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). The focus is to use these solutions to derive equations that allow for the straightforward calculation of alignment tolerances for displacement in all three directions, as well as two axes of rotations. These equations can be used to aid in the design of photonic packages by allowing the determination of precision necessary for fabrication of mechanical alignment features, in addition to packaging process development.

Antimicrobial and biodegradable hydrogel based on nanocellulose/alginate incorporated with silver nanoparticles as active packaging for poultry products

In this research, active packaging which was made of all-natural component hydrogels from nanocellulose composited with silver nanoparticles at various concentrations (AgH) was studied. The concentration of silver nanoparticles ranged from 0.0078 to 0.0624 phr. AgH was characterized in terms of basic properties, functional properties, and packaging applications. Biocompatibility testing with the Caco-2 cell line showed that higher concentrations of silver (higher than 0.0312 phr) provided a lower cell viability rate (lower than 70% cell viability). Here, 0.0156 phr of silver nanoparticle concentration was the maximum loading that is safe for the target cell (82% cell viability) and was thus selected for use as active packaging. The antimicrobial activity showed that AgH at all concentrations inhibited both Gram bacteria up to 99.99%. Total volatile basic nitrogen compound testing showed that chicken meat preserved by AgH had the lowest values, indicating that AgH can prolong the shelf life in freshness level 1 (15% TVB-N) for 6.2 days compared to 3.9 and 4.1 days of blank and neat cellulose hydrogel. In addition, all AgH were gradually degraded over time and eventually disappeared within 15–30 days in organic soil.

An Intelligent Indicator Film Based on Food Derived Materials for Real-Time Visual Monitoring of Salmon Freshness

ABSTRACT Determining the freshness of aquatic products during food processing, transportation, and preservation is critical for ensuring food safety and quality. In this study, we developed intelligent indicator films sensitive to nitrogen compounds using sodium alginate, glycerol, and natural pigments. These films exhibited excellent indicating performance in monitoring the freshness of salmon, including total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and pH levels. Additionally, the intelligent indicator films exhibit both thermal stability and good biocompatibility. This finding paves the way for developing safe and effective food freshness indicators with potential uses in transportation, packaging, and related industries.

Can the Manufacturing Process Be Improved by FMEA? A Study on X Company in Plastic Packaging Industry in Vietnam

This study based on the FMEA method, provides a systematic approach, which include identifying potential errors in the production process, tracking priority issues, proposing improvement solutions, and putting those solutions into practice in order to improve the flexible plastic packaging manufacturing process at a typical X company in the plastic packaging industry in Vietnam. It is found that four large errors &amp;ndash; GP8, SM4, LM4, and BF4 &amp;ndash; stand out as having an RPN index higher than 250. The aforementioned issues are also analyzed, and their root causes are tracked down using techniques like brainstorming, cause-effect diagram, and 5 Whys. Then, appropriate actions are taken to deal with these causes. Overall, the findings can serve as an insightful reference for Vietnamese manufacturing companies using the FMEA method to identify any potential errors in their production processes. After that, the company is able to organize proper inquiries and make recommendations for potential failure prevention strategies as well.

Preparation of modified cellulose/PBAT films and its application in food preservation

In recent years, PBAT, i.e., Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) stands out as a potential material for packaging due to its favorable characteristics. However, its high manufacturing costs, poor crystallization, and inadequate barrier properties have impeded its broader acceptance in the industry. To tackle these issues, our study introduces a novel approach by incorporating octadecylamine (ODA)-modified cellulose (OMCC) as an eco-friendly additive. OMCC not only enhances the dispersion of cellulose within the PBAT matrix but also prevents its re-agglomeration. The integration of OMCC into PBAT has led to its significant improvements in mechanical strength, UV resistance, compatibility, hydrophobicity, and effectively enhances gas barrier properties. This work provides a new and biodegradable composite film for food packaging.

Fabrication of Ultrathin Al Foils by Accumulative Pack Rolling: Influence of Pack Materials

Fabrication of Ultrathin Al Foils by Accumulative Pack Rolling: Influence of Pack Materials

A Decision Framework for Selecting Highly Sustainable Packaging Circular Model in Mass-Customized Packaging Industry

A Decision Framework for Selecting Highly Sustainable Packaging Circular Model in Mass-Customized Packaging Industry

Sustainable barrier coatings for paperboard packaging: Effect of VeoVa-10 on 2-EHA and MMA containing water-based emulsions

Developing environmentally benign barrier coatings may provide a sustainable alternative to the packaging sector and facilitate minimizing the consumption of single-use plastics in packaging. The synthesis of seven different water-based (W/B) emulsions was achieved via seeded emulsion polymerization using 2-Ethylhexylacrylate (2-EHA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and a varying amount of vinyl ester of Versatic™ acid 10 (VeoVa-10) to impart the hydrophobic properties. Potassium persulfate (K2S2O8) was used as an initiator. Antifoaming agent and biocide were also added to improve the application and shelf-life of these coatings. The coatings were evaluated by conducting various analytical tests, including pH measurement, viscosity assessment, determination of solid content, measurement of drying time, evaluation of gloss, water absorption testing using Cobb's Test, and assessment of oil and grease resistance via the Kit Test. The coatings were also analyzed using advanced characterization techniques, including Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Zetasizer Nano ZS, and contact angle analysis. The results indicated that as the amount of VeoVa-10 increases in barrier coatings, the coated paperboard demonstrated improved moisture and oil/grease resistance compared to the control paperboard (uncoated). Furthermore, the coatings were also applied on paperboard trays and stored at 0 °C and 90 °C to confirm their practical usefulness, a careful examination after an hour showed no leakage/seepage of hot and cold water through the coated trays, unlike the uncoated ones. Barrier coatings offer sustainable and eco-friendly options that could positively impact the packaging industry, helping reduce environmental footprints while enhancing packaging performance.

Multifactor Quality and Safety Analysis of Semaglutide Products Sold by Online Sellers Without a Prescription: Market Surveillance, Content Analysis, and Product Purchase Evaluation Study.

Over the past 4 decades, obesity has escalated into a global epidemic, with its worldwide prevalence nearly tripling. Pharmacological treatments have evolved with the recent development of glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists, such as semaglutide. However, off-label use of drugs such as Ozempic for cosmetic weight loss has surged in popularity, raising concerns about potential misuse and the emergence of substandard and falsified products in the unregulated supply chain. This study aims to conduct a multifactor investigation of product quality and patient safety risks associated with the unregulated online sale of semaglutide by examining product availability and vendor characteristics and assessing product quality through test purchases. We used a complex risk and quality assessment methodology combining online market surveillance, search engine results page analysis, website content assessment, domain traffic analytics, conducting targeted product test purchases, visual quality inspection of product packaging, microbiological sterility and endotoxin contamination evaluation, and quantitative sample analysis using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. We collected and evaluated 1080 links from search engine results pages and identified 317 (29.35%) links belonging to online pharmacies, of which 183 (57.7%) led to legal pharmacies and 134 (42.3%) directed users to 59 unique illegal online pharmacy websites.Web traffic data for the period between July and September 2023 revealed that the top 30 domains directly or indirectly affiliated with illegal online pharmacies accumulated over 4.7 million visits.Test purchases were completed from6 illegal online pharmacies with the highest number of links offering semaglutide products for sale without prescription at the lowest price range. Three injection vial purchases were delivered; none of the 3 Ozempic prefilled injection pens were received due to nondelivery e-commerce scams.All purchased vials were considered probable substandard and falsified products, as visual inspection indicated noncompliance in more than half (59%-63%) of the evaluated criteria. The semaglutide content of samples substantially exceeded labeled amounts by 28.56%-38.69%, although no peptide-like impurities were identified. The lyophilized peptide samples were devoid of viable microorganisms at the time of testing; however, endotoxin was detected in all samples with levels ranging between 2.1645 EU/mg and 8.9511 EU/mg. Furthermore, the measured semaglutide purity was significantly low, ranging between 7.7% and 14.37% and deviating from the 99% claimed on product labels by manufacturers. Glucagon-like peptide 1 agonist drugs promoted for weight loss, similar to erectile dysfunction medications more than 2 decades ago, are becoming the new blockbuster lifestyle medications for the illegal online pharmacy market. Protecting the pharmaceutical supply chain from substandard and falsified weight loss products and raising awareness regarding online medication safety must be a public health priority for regulators and technology platforms alike.

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Indian Oyster Mushroom Mycelium/Sawdust Composites for Biodegradable Packaging Materials

Mycelium-based composite (MBC) offers an excellent sustainable alternative to hydrocarbon-based materials, especially styrofoam for packaging, due to its abundance of fungal mycelium that grows quickly on agricultural substrates, its biodegradable and its lightweight. The mycelium of a commercial mushroom species, Pleurotus ostreatus (PO), is used to fabricate MBC for packaging materials. Another species, Pleurotus pulmonarius (PP), prefers warmer weather, making it more common in tropical countries. Nevertheless, there is a lack of studies of PP mycelium-based composites and their mechanical and physical properties. This study investigated the physical and mechanical properties of PP mycelium/sawdust composite and compared to PO mycelium/sawdust composite. The results showed that the average density of PP/sawdust and PO/sawdust composites were 292.14 and 272.17 kg/m3, respectively, which fell within the range of low-density polyurethane foam. The final mass gain due to water absorption into PO/sawdust specimens was 144.04%, 1.41 times lower than PP/sawdust specimens. Furthermore, PP/sawdust composite exhibited 7.5 times faster water absorption rate than PO/sawdust composite, indicating that PO/sawdust had better water resistance. The PP/sawdust composite produced an equivalent compressive modulus to the PO/sawdust composite under compression up to 1.34 MPa of maximum value. Thus, the PP/sawdust composite showed excellent potential for substitution of biodegradable packages made from PO/sawdust composite as they contributed the equivalent strength; however, the PO/sawdust composite exhibited superior water resistance to the PP/sawdust composite. Consequently, PO/sawdust should be more advantageous if the biodegradable packaging is required to be of strength as high as the low-density polyurethane foam and of compatible water resistance.

Novel Graphene‐Epoxy Composite with Aligned Architecture and Ultrahigh Thermal Conductivity

AbstractBecause of the surge in the power density of electronic devices, there is an urgent need for improvements in the thermal conductivity of packaging materials. Nowadays, epoxy composites supplemented with thermally conductive fillers are widely used for this purpose, but unfortunately, none of them can satisfactorily meet industrial requirements. Herein, this article reports on a novel method to prepare well‐shaped and highly ordered graphene‐epoxy composite architecture; that is, the epoxy infiltrates into tubular graphene columns that have been restored to the high thermally conductive structure of graphene. As a result, the newly developed graphene‐epoxy composite exhibits record‐high thermal conductivity of 69.74 W m−1 K−1 with filler content of only 11.22 wt.%. The unprecedentedly high thermal conductivity stems from the construction of thermally conductive channels and restoration of the inherent π–π conjugate structure of graphene. These findings not only offer a breakthrough in packaging materials with significantly enhanced thermal conductivity but also provide a promising avenue for the development of other advanced graphene‐added composites.

To Be Uniqueness or To Be Conformity? Exploring the Influence of Sense of Power on Consumers' Preference for Uniqueness

Continuously launching new products has become a key strategy for enterprises to enhance their market competitiveness, but this approach is not always effective due to variations in consumers' sense of power, which can influence their preferences for uniqueness. This article investigates the impact of sense of power on consumers' preferences for unique products through three sets of five experiments. The study found that high-power consumers tend to adopt an independent self-construal, which increases their preference for unique products. However, when making decisions for others, their preference for uniqueness decreases. In contrast, low-power consumers tend to adopt a dependent self-construal, which diminishes their preference for uniqueness, and this preference remains unaffected whether they are making decisions for themselves or for others. This article expands the research on uniqueness preferences and offers valuable insights for marketers in areas such as product design, promotion, and packaging.

Effects of guar gum/chitosan edible films functionalized with citronellal/HPβCD inclusion complex on Harbin red sausage preservation

Harbin red sausage is a traditional local pork meat product in China, but it is susceptible to microbial contamination and lipid oxidation, leading to quality deterioration. Herein, guar gum (GG)/chitosan (CS) edible films functionalized with citronellal/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex (CIT/HPβCD-IC) were fabricated for Harbin red sausage preservation. Results demonstrated CIT/HPβCD-IC was successfully prepared and observed by SEM due to the bathochromic shift of maximum absorption peak of CIT, and the formation of new bonds was confirmed by FTIR analysis, suggesting the embedding of CIT into HPβCD cavity. The changes of functional groups stretching vibrations suggested successful loading of CIT/HPβCD-IC into the GG/CS edible films. Furthermore, the incorporation of CIT/HPβCD-IC enhanced the microstructural, mechanical and barrier properties, and improved the antibacterial activities, biodegradability and thermal stability of the GG/CS edible films. Particularly, the GG/CS edible films incorporated with 1 % CIT/HPβCD-IC (GG/CS-IC 1 %) enhanced the storage stability of Harbin red sausage at 4 °C by decreasing the weight loss rate, maintaining the pH, color, and textural stabilities, retarding the microbial growth and lipid oxidation of the sausage samples. Findings here suggested that GG/CS-IC 1 % edible films showed great potential as novel multi-functional edible packaging materials for Harbin red sausage preservation.

Metal organic framework derived composite as a new sorbent for micro-solid phase extraction of parabens from breast milk samples

In an attempt to enhance the adsorptive properties while addressing the limitations associated with powdered nature, zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67)-derived cobalt-doped nanoporous carbon (Co-NPC) was incorporated into chitosan and then shaped like hollow fiber by a simple casting method. Further modification with polyaniline (PANI) was also performed to improve extraction efficacy. The applicability of the modified hollow fibers was then investigated by packing them into a cartridge and utilizing them for conducting hollow fibers-packed in-cartridge micro solid-phase extraction (HF-IC µ-SPE) of parabens including methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), and propylparaben (PP) from human breast milk samples. Factors affecting extraction performance were studied using central composite design (CCD). Under the optimal conditions, good linearity was achieved within the range of 0.5–500 μg L−1 with the determination coefficient (R2) higher than 0.9901. All analytical parameters were obtained by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis. In this regard, the limits of detection values (LODs) were 0.5 to 1.0 μg L−1. Intra- and inter-assay precision RSDs % were lower than 7.9 % and 8.4 %, respectively. Relative recoveries of breast milk samples were found in the range of 88.0–109.5 %. Accordingly, the novel nanocomposite sorbent based on PANI@Co-NPC/Chitosan hollow fiber was found to be an efficient, simple, and cost-effective packing material for HF-IC µ-SPE. It can also be offered as a promising alternative adsorbent to coated conventional hollow fiber.