Research Progress and Market Application Analysis of Degradable Packaging Materials

LYU Fengxiang; SU Yanqun; LIU Sen; LIU Zhongwei; SANG Lijun

doi:10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.03.002

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Packaging Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (3) : 10-18. DOI: 10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.03.002

Advanced Materials

Research Progress and Market Application Analysis of Degradable Packaging Materials

LYU Fengxiang¹, SU Yanqun², LIU Sen¹, LIU Zhongwei¹, SANG Lijun^1,*

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Abstract

The work aims to review and analyze the research progress and market application status of four types of degradable packaging materials, namely biodegradable plastics, photodegradable plastics, water-degradable plastics, and paper-based eco-friendly materials, so as to comprehensively outline the research directions, application prospects, and challenges faced by degradable packaging materials, and promote the green, safe, and market-oriented development of degradable packaging materials. Research reports on degradable packaging materials published in domestic and international journals from 2021 to 2025 were collected and examined. The latest developments, technical characteristics, and application statuses of biodegradable plastics, photodegradable plastics, water-degradable plastics, and paper-based eco-friendly materials were outlined. The costs, performance, degradation conditions, and life cycles of various biodegradable packaging materials were compared, and the main challenges in their application were analyzed. In recent years, significant breakthroughs have been made in the research and development of biodegradable packaging materials. However, high costs remain an issue. Compared with photodegradable plastics, water-degradable plastics, and paper-based materials, biodegradable plastics offer greater advantages in terms of renewable raw materials and material properties; nevertheless, their cost and degradation conditions still require optimization. Paper-based environmental protection materials have high market acceptance, but their development is hindered by limitations in material properties. While the market for water-degradable plastics is experiencing rapid growth, their poor physical properties limit their suitability for specific applications. Currently, photodegradable plastics depend heavily on light conditions, limiting their practical applications.

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degradable materials / packaging materials / research progress / market status / application challenges

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LYU Fengxiang, SU Yanqun, LIU Sen, LIU Zhongwei, SANG Lijun. Research Progress and Market Application Analysis of Degradable Packaging Materials[J]. Packaging Engineering. 2026, 47(3): 10-18 https://doi.org/10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.03.002

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