Package Research Articles

Food waste is a global challenge, with nearly 40% of food discarded annually, leading to economic losses, food insecurity, and environmental harm. Major factors driving spoilage include microbial contamination, enzymatic activity, oxidation, and excessive ethylene production. Active packaging offers a promising solution by extending shelf life through the selective absorption or release of specific substances. In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films incorporating metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were prepared via solvent casting to enhance their mechanical and barrier properties. Five MOFs (HKUST-1, MIL-88A, BASF-A520, UiO-66, and MOF-801) were embedded in the PVA matrix and analyzed for their physical, mechanical, and optical characteristics. The incorporation of TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (CNF) improved MOF dispersion, significantly strengthening film performance. Among the formulations, PVA-CNF-MOF-801 exhibited the best performance, with a 130% increase in tensile strength, a 50% reduction in water vapor permeability, and a 168% improvement in UV protection compared with neat PVA films. Ethylene adsorption tests with climacteric fruits confirmed that CNF-containing films retained ethylene more effectively than those without CNFs, although the differences among the MOFs were minimal. These results highlight the potential of PVA-CNF-MOF composite films as sustainable active packaging materials, providing an effective strategy to reduce food waste and its environmental impact.

A poly(vinyl alcohol)/tannin/anthocyanin composite film for food spoilage monitoring.

BackgroundAs the global burden of oral diseases rises, cost-effective solutions are needed to overcome accessibility barriers in oral healthcare. In Indonesia, geographical challenges further limit access to dental services. Teledentistry has emerged as a promising intervention to bridge these gaps by enhancing access to professional guidance and promoting better oral hygiene practices. This paper evaluates a Teledentistry initiative that aims to support progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for oral health.MethodsThis mixed-methods study evaluated the effectiveness of Unilever Oral Care’s Teledentistry initiative (the Tanya Pepsodent “Talk to a Dentist” programme) rolled out in Indonesia. The quantitative component compared oral health outcomes between individuals who voluntarily engaged with the Teledentistry service after scanning a QR code printed on Pepsodent product packaging (test group) and those who participated via an online consumer panel and were demographically matched to the test group (control group). The qualitative component involved in-depth interviews with General Dentists to assess the app’s usability and feasibility in providing dental care.ResultsQuantitative findings showed that post-test group respondents increased their brushing frequency by an average of 1.06 times per week (i.e., cumulative weekly brushing frequency) and brushing duration by 0.15 min. They also experienced fewer difficulties with chewing and speech, and 62% reported intending to reduce the interval between dental visits. Qualitative findings revealed that dentists viewed the teledentistry service as an efficient alternative due to its flexible availability, including on weekends. They also noted that it helped reduce dental anxiety among patients. However, some challenges were identified, including long wait times and usability difficulties.ConclusionsThe Teledentistry service led to improvements in average weekly brushing frequency and oral health awareness but did not improve perceived control or self-rated oral health. These mixed results suggest that while the service supports behaviour change, sustained impact may require integration with in-person care and continued professional support.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12903-025-06830-5.

Introduction More than one-half of the United States have legalized medical or retail cannabis. Pediatric exploratory ingestions commonly involve children who ingest edible tetrahydrocannabinol products. Cannabis product package sizes and contents vary considerably. Determining the rate of severe symptoms in children who ingest specific doses of tetrahydrocannabinol products may help guide education and regulation. Methods We searched the Oregon Poison Center records for a three-year period and included cases that were human, age <6 years old, ingestion, and single-substance edible tetrahydrocannabinol products. Exclusion criteria were incomplete symptom or outcome data, no follow up, and cases without a reliable report of the dose ingested. Results One-hundred thirty-two cases met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Sixty-one children had tetrahydrocannabinol ingestions that were >30 mg, 28% of whom developed severe symptoms and 84% had moderate/major effects. Central nervous system depression was reported in 66% and respiratory depression was reported in 17% of patients who ingested >30 mg of tetrahydrocannabinol. Discussion These data may be helpful in developing risk reduction education to mitigate harms from pediatric exploratory ingestions of tetrahydrocannabinol edibles. Conclusion Children who ingest >30 mg tetrahydrocannabinol in edibles had a higher risk of respiratory depression, central nervous system depression, hypotension, and severe symptoms.

Abstract BackgroundMedication packaging contributes significantly to the overall carbon footprint of pharmaceuticals. Packaging design and material choices greatly influence environmental impact.AimTo assess the carbon footprint of packaging for a range of medications on an Australian tertiary hospital formulary and identify opportunities to reduce environmental impact.MethodA life cycle assessment was undertaken to calculate the carbon footprint (as CO2 equivalent, [CO2e]) of medication packaging across six common product categories: blisters, tablets in bottles, oral liquids in bottles, vials, glass ampoules, and plastic ampoules. Ethical approval was granted by the Alfred Health Ethics Committee (Reference no: 465/23) and the study conforms with the National Health and Medical Research Council Ethical considerations in quality assistance and evaluation activities.ResultsTwenty‐six products were assessed across the six categories. Within each category, the CO2e of the lowest footprint products was between 19% (for glass ampoules) and 76% (for blisters) lower than the highest footprint products. Differences in carbon footprint were mostly due to the use of alternative materials or from smaller packaging (e.g. from less empty space). Recycling aluminium from blisters, or the glass or plastic comprising tablet bottles, also improved the environmental performance of those products, with CO2e reductions of up to 81% and 56%, respectively. Some safety features (e.g. printing information over every blister‐packed tablet) may conflict with sustainability principles (avoiding empty space).ConclusionThe environmental impact of packaging can be reduced by using materials with a lower footprint, decreasing packaging size and weight, and/or promoting greater recycling of waste materials. Some safety features promote larger packaging and increased use of raw materials, but this is not universally the case.

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate the effect of social exclusion on conspicuous consumption. The research utilizes the dimensions of social exclusion to investigate their isolated impacts on conspicuous consumption. Furthermore, the study also examines the mediating effects of retail environment and packaging design on the path to conspicuous consumption. Three lab experiments among university students were conducted, followed by three replicating mall intercept experiments among shopping mall consumers, incorporating alternative measurement items, to test and confirm the hypothesized relationships. The results indicate that dominant and implicit exclusions positively impact conspicuous consumption tendencies. Moreover, crowding perception mediates the impact of social exclusion on conspicuous consumption propensity. The findings also indicated that the effect of implicit exclusion on conspicuous consumption is mediated by crowding perception. The results also showed that design density does not mediate the impact of implicit exclusion on conspicuous consumption. However, packaging design mediates the effect of dominant exclusion on conspicuous consumption. The study contributes to the literature and practice by examining the impact of social exclusion and its dimensions on conspicuous consumption. The result adds to the previous findings regarding social exclusion and the external environment’s effects on consumption patterns in socially excluded individuals.

The butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) contains anthocyanins and flavonoids with antioxidant, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic properties. However, in Maliku Baru Village its use remains limited to ornamental purposes, resulting in low economic value. This community engagement program aimed to enhance the skills of the local women’s group (PKK) in processing butterfly pea into healthy, marketable beverages, while also introducing basic digital marketing strategies to strengthen village-based micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The program employed a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, involving problem identification, production training, hygienic packaging, and digital promotion. Fifteen participants took part in the training, with outcomes evaluated through pre- and post-tests. The results demonstrated significant improvement in both production and marketing skills, particularly in digital marketing, which increased by nearly 90%. Participants were able to produce butterfly pea beverages independently and began promoting their products through official village social media platforms. This program proved effective in improving community capacity in utilizing local resources and is expected to continue with further assistance in business management, product packaging, and food safety certification to enhance product competitiveness.

Abstract Background Clinical laboratory operations generate large amounts of waste despite several initiatives for implementation of sustainable practices in laboratory medicine. The basic metabolic panel (BMP) is one of the most routinely performed tests in clinical chemistry. This study evaluated identifiable waste generated to perform BMPs across major chemistry analyzer platforms for a period of one year and estimated the waste that would be produced for running 1 million BMPs. Methods Measurements for readily identifiable consumable waste for BMPs were performed across five academic medical centers encompassing four different wet chemistry platforms (Abbott Alinity, Beckman AU5800, Roche cobas c502 and Siemens Atellica) and one dry chemistry platform (Ortho Vitros 4600). For each study site, vendor purchases during the calendar year 2022 were used to calculate annual consumable consumption for materials required for a BMP. Consumable waste was defined as any quality control (QC), calibrator, reagent, dry slides, package insert paperwork and associated packaging material required for the analysis of the BMP and were separated into plastic, cardboard, paper, glass, and rubber solid waste categories. Each of these components were weighed separately. To account for à la carte, comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) and other panel orderings, a correction factor (45%) was applied across all reagent consumables. The projected solid waste for 1 million BMPs was estimated for each study site. Results The total amount of waste generated from 1 million BMPs across the four sites using wet chemistry platforms was 3337 kg and 160593 kg for the dry chemistry platform. Total estimated solid waste for the wet chemistry analyzer systems (n=4) to perform 1 million BMPs were 995 kg, 1274.4 kg, 579.2 kg and 488.6 kg out of which 298 kg, 379 kg, 163.3 kg, and 60 kg accounted for QC waste processes on the Abbott Alinity, Beckman AU5800, Roche cobas c502 and Siemens Atellica automated analyzers, respectively (Figure A). Similarly, total waste generation for the dry chemistry analyzer (Ortho Vitros 4600) for 1 million BMPs was estimated to be 160593 kg, which included 160.5 kg for QC materials (Figure B). Variations in QC practices (2 vs 3 levels) as well as conventional and tube-based QC materials used were noted at each site. Conclusion Analysis of BMPs generates enormous amounts of solid waste across major diagnostic platforms. These findings emphasize the urgent need for recycling and waste-reduction strategies in diagnostic laboratories to reduce their environmental footprint.

Polyethylene furanoate (PEF) and TritanTM copolyester are sustainable polyester polymers. PEF is made from biobased resources, whereas Tritan is mainly used for reusable food contact articles. Both polyesters are alternatives for polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is currently the most used polyester in food packaging. Like all packaging polymers, sustainable alternatives to fossil-based PET must also comply with food law requirements. Prediction of the migration can be used as an alternative to complex and time-consuming experimental migration measurements. Since there are no such predictive models for either PEF or Tritan, the modelling parameters for PEF and Tritan were determined in this study from experimentally determined diffusion coefficients and activation energies. The diffusivity of PEF and Tritan was compared with PET and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN). Of the four polyester polymers, PEF shows the lowest diffusion, followed by PEN, PET, and Tritan. Overall, the results show that the investigated polyesters are low-diffusivity polymers.

This study demonstrates the valorization of robusta coffee husk as a sustainable source of pectin via ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The optimized process yielded 16.4% pectin with favorable gelling and physicochemical properties, comparable to commercial citrus pectin. In food application, incorporation of 0.5% coffee husk pectin into roselle marmalade, together with 1.0% citric acid and 50% sucrose, produced a desirable texture and sensory quality. In packaging application, the extracted pectin was blended with chitosan to form biofilms enriched with curcumin (CPC) or pomegranate peel extract (CPP). These composite films exhibited enhanced stability and antioxidant activity, with CPP showing the strongest effect. Postharvest trials confirmed that CPP coatings extended the storage of lychee and Japanese plum by reducing weight loss and preserving texture compared to CPC and uncoated controls. This work highlights the multifunctional potential of coffee husk-derived pectin as a food ingredient and active packaging material, contributing to waste upcycling and circular bioeconomy strategies.

MXenes, particularly titanium-based carbides, have been extensively studied, while other compositions remain relatively unexplored. Ti3CNTx (carbonitrides) exhibit unique catalytic, optical, and electronic properties, yet their bioactivity is under-investigated. This study utilizes a microwave-assisted method to selectively etch aluminum from the Ti3AlCN MAX phase, producing multi-layered (ML) Ti3CNTx. In situ silver (Ag) nanoparticles are grown on these layers, forming Ag/Ti3CNTx MXene nanocomposites. Unlike conventional approaches using prolonged 48% HF treatments (24 h), this work employs a more efficient, safer, and time-effective method with 6 M HCl for just 4 hours. The antimicrobial potential of ML Ti3CNTx and Ag/Ti3CNTx is evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis) via bacterial growth curve analysis, revealing a 20% enhancement in antibacterial efficacy with Ag/Ti3CNTx. When incorporated into food packaging materials such as paper, these nanocomposites exhibit strong potential for biomedical and food safety applications. However, thorough market analyses and material safety evaluations are essential before commercial deployment.

Ultrasound-enhanced bio-based active packaging films derived from passion fruit waste pectin: structural evolution, property correlations, and antioxidant activity through eggshell and oleuropein integration

A comprehensive review of up-to-date strategies and future trends toward the engineered guar gum for packaging applications.

Evaluation of salami packed under different packaging materials.

Impact of various bio-extracts and packaging material on the quality and shelf life of Papaya

Identification and quantification of intentionally and non-intentionally added substances occurring from biodegradable food packaging: A review.

Pickering emulsion system of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs)-stabilized essential oils (EOs) and their effect on food packaging characteristics: A review.

Development of cellulose and banana bract extract reinforced poly(vinyl alcohol) film incorporated with in-situ generated nano silver as freshness indicating packaging film.

ABSTRACTDry beans and other pulses have many environmental, nutritional, and health benefits—yet are continuously undervalued by consumers. Barriers to pulse consumption extend to ready‐to‐eat (RTE) canned options, as they are viewed as a low‐quality food. Additionally, consumers currently have misperceptions related to food packaging sustainability, as glass sustainability is overestimated, while plastic sustainability is underestimated, despite the sustainability of food packaging being very multifaceted. This study aimed to understand the impact of packaging on the acceptance (overall, appearance, texture, flavor liking) of RTE yellow beans and chickpeas within metal can, glass jar, and plastic pouch packaging. Perceptions of the product quality, product convenience, trust in product, and perceived sustainability of each product and packaging were also assessed, along with how consumers’ sustainability attitudes and demographics influenced packaging attribute responses. Blind‐coded serving samples processed within metal cans performed the most consistently for participants (n = 109) across sensory modalities, while yellow beans within plastic pouches and chickpeas within glass jars were least preferred. Glass jars were rated to be the highest quality and most sustainable packaging material, while plastic pouches were rated to be lowest quality and least sustainable, with most participants selecting to purchase the glass jar over the metal can or plastic pouch. Age, diet type, and certain sustainability attitudes were significant (p < 0.05) predictors of packaging attribute ratings. Results from this study can contribute to innovation and improvements to RTE pulse products, while also expressing a need for increased consumer education pertaining to packaging sustainability.Practical ApplicationsThis study provides a better understanding of consumer perceptions related to retort‐processed pulse products, food packaging materials, and food packaging sustainability. This will allow for possible innovation opportunities to increase the availability and acceptability of pulses, a sustainable and nutritious food, as well as combat misconceptions related to food packaging sustainability.

In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial food packaging: Assessing its inflammatory and sensitization potential.