Research Progress and Future Trends in High-performance Plastic Packaging Materials for Liquid Foods

WANG Sirui; HE Ting; WANG Chuanlong

doi:10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.17.004

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Packaging Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (17) : 26-40. DOI: 10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.17.004

Special Topic on Sustainable Design and Systemic Transformation of Plastic Packaging for Liquid Foods

Research Progress and Future Trends in High-performance Plastic Packaging Materials for Liquid Foods

WANG Sirui, HE Ting^*, WANG Chuanlong

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Abstract

The work aims to provide a systematic review of the current research landscape and technical bottlenecks in high-performance plastic packaging materials for liquid foods, look forward to its development trend and green transformation direction, and provide theoretical references for the research and development of high-performance materials, safety assessment and green transformation of liquid food plastic packaging in China. The systematic analysis covered three major fronts, namely food-grade recycled plastics, bio-based and compostable materials, and functionally integrated materials, with particular attention paid to the stringent demands imposed by liquid systems, such as oxygen barrier performance, acid resistance, and stress-crack resistance, alongside the associated failure mechanisms. In the realm of food-grade recycled plastics, regulatory frameworks are well-established in Europe and the United States, whereas China is still navigating its policy formulation phase; the identification and migration behavior of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) remain critical hurdles, and there is an urgent need to establish a localized risk assessment system. Bio-based and compostable materials have shown performance improvements through blending, nano-reinforcement, and green cross-linking, yet their practical application boundaries in acidic or high-moisture liquid foods are still ill-defined, and corresponding safety data are insufficient. Research on functionally integrated materials, including antibacterial, active, and intelligent packaging, is highly active and offers advanced barrier solutions, but recyclability issues continue to pose significant challenges. Looking ahead, the sustainable advancement of liquid-food plastic packaging should be built upon a systematic engineering framework anchored in "same-level recycling" as the resource foundation, "scenario-adaptive design" as the technical orientation, and "easy-recyclability" as the key enabler for closed-loop systems, thereby fostering a tripartite synergistic system that harmonizes "same-level recycling (recycled plastics), scenario adaptation (bio-based materials) and easy-recyclability design (functionally integrated materials)".

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liquid foods / plastic packaging / high-performance materials

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WANG Sirui, HE Ting, WANG Chuanlong. Research Progress and Future Trends in High-performance Plastic Packaging Materials for Liquid Foods[J]. Packaging Engineering. 2026, 47(17): 26-40 https://doi.org/10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.17.004

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