Research Status and Future Development of Cellulose-based Food Preservation Paper

MO Qianbin; CHENG Zheng; LUO Guiling; ZHUANG Bingqi; NONG Xinmei; NING Mei; XIAO Naiyu; ZHONG Le

doi:10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.05.008

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Packaging Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (5) : 60-69. DOI: 10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.05.008

Agro-products Preservation and Food Packaging

Research Status and Future Development of Cellulose-based Food Preservation Paper

MO Qianbin^1,2,3, CHENG Zheng^1,2,3,*, LUO Guiling^1,2,3, ZHUANG Bingqi^1,2,3, NONG Xinmei^1,2,3, NING Mei^1,2,3, XIAO Naiyu^1,2,3, ZHONG Le^1,2,3

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Abstract

The work aims to systematically summarize the research progress of cellulose-based food preservation paper with respect to material composition, functional modification strategies, and key performance realization mechanisms, thereby providing theoretical support for the development of sustainable cellulose-based food packaging systems and the green transformation of food packaging. Based on the fundamental properties and classifications of cellulose and cellulose-based materials (including nanocellulose, regenerated cellulose, and paper-based materials), the recent research progress on cellulose-based food preservation paper was systematically summarized, with emphasis on material composition, functional composite strategies, and key performance enhancements. Focusing on food preservation requirements, the mechanisms and evaluation indicators related to water and oil resistance, gas barrier properties, mechanical reinforcement, antimicrobial and antifungal performance, as well as intelligent responsiveness were comprehensively analyzed. In addition, typical application cases (involving fruits and vegetables, meat products, and bakery food) were discussed to illustrate the effectiveness of cellulose-based preservation paper in extending shelf life and maintaining food quality. Meanwhile, the characteristics and applicability of key fabrication technologies, such as surface grafting, coating and spraying, emulsion compounding, layer-by-layer assembly, and metal-organic framework (MOF) loading, were also reviewed. Through multi-component compositing and structural design, cellulose-based food preservation paper has demonstrated significant advantages in multifunctional integration and shows great potential to partially replace conventional plastic packaging. Nevertheless, challenges remain in terms of industrial-scale fabrication, performance synergy optimization, environmental friendliness, and cost control. Future research should focus on the development of simplified processing techniques and modification strategies that balance multifunctionality with biodegradability, thereby promoting the large-scale, practical, and high value-added application of cellulose-based food preservation paper.

Key words

cellulose / paper-based packaging / food preservation paper / biodegradable

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MO Qianbin, CHENG Zheng, LUO Guiling, ZHUANG Bingqi, NONG Xinmei, NING Mei, XIAO Naiyu, ZHONG Le. Research Status and Future Development of Cellulose-based Food Preservation Paper[J]. Packaging Engineering. 2026, 47(5): 60-69 https://doi.org/10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.05.008

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