Biobased Food Packaging Systems Functionalized with Essential Oil via Pickering Emulsion: Advantages, Challenges, and Current Applications

The development of innovative active food packaging is a promising strategy to mitigate food loss and waste while enhancing food safety, extending shelf life, and maintaining overall quality. In this review, Pickering emulsions with essential oils are critically evaluated as active additives for sustainable food packaging films, focusing on their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, stabilization mechanisms, and physicochemical performances. A bibliometric approach was used to contextualize the current research landscape and new trends. Data were collected from the Web of Science and Scopus databases to find studies published between 2020 and 2024. The analysis of 51 articles shows that cinnamon, clove, and oregano are the most used essential oils, while cellulose and chitosan are the predominant polymer matrices. Pickering emulsions as stabilizers in food science represent a step forward in sustainable emulsion technology. The incorporation of essential oils into biobased films via Pickering emulsions can improve the mechanical and barrier properties, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, and shelf life of foods. This approach offers a natural, environmentally friendly alternative to conventional materials and is in line with the 2030 Agenda goals for sustainability and responsible consumption. Recent advances show that composite particles combining polysaccharides and proteins have higher stability and functionality compared to single particles due to their optimized interactions at the interfaces. Future research should focus on developing scalable, cost-effective production methods and conducting comprehensive environmental testing and regulatory compliance, particularly for nanotechnology-based packaging. These efforts will be crucial to drive the development of safe and effective biobased active food packaging

The University At Your Fingertips: Ein neues Studienmodell für die Verbindung von Hochschule und Beruf

Dr. Christina Terpstra-Rundel und Prof. Dr. Clemens Möller berichten über die Entwicklung des interdisziplinären Masterstudiengangs „Sustainability Studies“ an der Hochschule Albstadt-Sigmaringen, der zum Wintersemester 2024/25 gestartet ist. Im Zentrum stehen der Erwerb von Zukunftskompetenzen sowie die Verknüpfung von Praxis und wissenschaftlichem Lernen durch digitale Methoden

PLA2Scale: Entwicklung kreislauffähiger PLA-Blend-basierter Lebensmittelverpackungen

Das Projekt PLA2Scale entwickelt nachhaltige, recyclingfähige Lebensmittelverpackungen aus PLA-Blends. Ziel ist es, biobasierte Kunststoffe wie PLA wirtschaftlich und ökologisch sinnvoll im Verpackungsbereich zu etablieren – durch Materialoptimierung, Tests, Recycling und ökologische Bewertung

Kreislauforientierte Bioökonomie in der Verpackungsindustrie – Die neue EU-Verpackungsverordnung: Überblick, Chancen & Herausforderungen

Die neue EU-Verpackungsverordnung und ihre Chancen und Herausforderungen

Fortbildung zum Packmittelexperten

Verpackungswissen praxisnah vermitteln – Alina Kleiner im Gespräch In dieser InnoTalk-Episode begrüßt Karsten Schröder die Verpackungsexpertin Alina Kleiner. Gemeinsam beleuchten sie die Bedeutung praxisorientierter Weiterbildung in der Verpackungsbranche – mit besonderem Fokus auf Nachhaltigkeit und industrielle Anwendung. Alina Kleiner berichtet von ihrer Arbeit am Sustainable Packaging Institute (SPI) der Hochschule Albstadt-Sigmaringen und ihrem Engagement in der berufsbegleitenden Fortbildung zum „Packmittelexperten“. Themen dieser Episode: Verpackungsgestaltung und Nachhaltigkeit – strategisch und praxisnah Berufsbegleitende Qualifikation zum Packmittelexperten in Sigmaringen Inhalte der Fortbildung: Materialien, Prozesse, Nachhaltigkeit, Recht Bedeutung regionaler Kooperationen zwischen Forschung, Wirtschaft und Industrie Weiterbildung als Schlüssel für nachhaltige Verpackungslösungen Struktur der Fortbildung „Packmittelexperte“: Grundlagen Verpackungen Grundlagen Nachhaltigkeit Packstoffe und Packmittel (Kunststoffe, Papier/Pappe/Karton, Metall, Glas) Regulatorische Rahmenbedingungen (online) Verpackungsprozesse und -technologien Projekt- und Qualitätsmanagement Praxisworkshops und Case Studies Fazit: Die Episode zeigt, wie Weiterbildung gezielt zur nachhaltigen Transformation der Verpackungswirtschaft beitragen kann – praxisnah, industrienah und mit starkem Fokus auf zukünftige Anforderungen

Sustainable food packaging in a circular bioeconomy - a more holistic perspective

The development of more sustainable food packaging is of paramount importance in order to minimise the utilisation of resources and the generation of waste. The protective function of food packaging plays a pivotal role in the reduction of food waste. In the preponderance of cases, the majority of resources within the food packaging system are associated with the food itself, rather than with the packaging materials. It is therefore imperative that the functionality of the packaging forms the basis of any sustainability strategy and assessment. However, current approaches to sustainability assessment frequently neglect this essential functionality and its capacity to reduce food waste. This paper proposes a more comprehensive sustainability perspective and assessment of food packaging that integrates ecological, economic, and social dimensions while also considering the role of packaging in avoiding food waste. In addition to fundamental sustainability strategies, the paper also addresses the potential and limitations of a circular economy and bioeconomy, as evidenced by the need for a circular bioeconomy in the packaging industry

Future packaging strategies: AI for a more circular bioeconomy

The packaging industry is facing considerable pressure to transform: increasing and stricter environmental regulations, rising raw material prices and growing demands for sustainability along the entire value chain. AI – especially in combination with a more sustainable circular bioeconomy – offers decisive approaches for making material cycles more efficient, conserving resources and optimising processes. This article outlines how AI can specifically accelerate the transformation of the packaging industry towards a more sustainable, circular bioeconomy and what opportunities this presents for companies and the environment

Using ChatGPT in Diverse Teams: Addressing Sexual Discrimination Through AI

The session presents empirical findings on the use of artificial intelligence (AI), specifically ChatGPT (version 3.5), by intergenerational and gender-diverse teams in the context of sexual discrimination. At its core, the session explores the following question: How does the use of ChatGPT in the context of sexual discrimination impact the user experience of this AI tool in intergenerational and gender-diverse teams

Nanoscale Surface Modification by Fatty Acid Grafting Technologies

An innovative nanoscale surface modification approach for the development of hydrophobic surfaces is outlined in this book chapter. The technology, namely, the chemical fatty acid grafting, provides a fast, highly material efficient, nanoscale, and sustainable technique to hydrophobize substrates that obtain functional groups on their surfaces. In this chapter, the chemical process, as well as the influencing grafting parameters, are outlined and discussed in detail. The fatty acid grafting efficiency can be confirmed by the water contact angle, water repellence, solubility, or water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), which are represented based on the literature about different substrates such as paper or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) coatings or films. Different processing techniques will be introduced, and their respective advantages and challenges, as well as upscaling options and requirements will be described. Current results obtained from an EU project comparing two grafting methods point out the challenges and potentials of possible upscaling of the technique. In addition, industrial fields of application for fatty acid grafting will be presented mainly for packaging and textile applications. Further emphasis is given to challenges in upscaling, sustainability aspects, and various future scenarios, as well as aspects regarding occupational safety and legal aspects related to the chemical fatty acid grafting technique

Reevaluating Transfer of RTU Containers into Grade A

At first glance, ready-to-use (RTU) primary packaging material (tub systems) give production lines more flexibility and reduce container preparation complexity for aseptic fill/finish operations. However, the aseptic introduction of RTU tub systems requires a thoroughly designed transfer process to avoid contamination of the sterile RTU items and the aseptic core