Valentina Siracusa is Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of Catania, Department of Chemical Sciences, Italy. Her research activity focuses on polymeric materials for food packaging, with particular attention to bio-based and biodegradable polymers, structure–property relationships, gas barrier performance, compostability and environmental sustainability. She has extensive experience in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) applied to polymers, packaging and food systems, and has coordinated and participated in several national and international research projects and collaborations. She is also Visiting Professor at the University of Bologna and is actively involved in international scientific networks, editorial boards and peer-review activities. She is author or co-author of more than 160 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and contributions to international scientific encyclopedias. Her research has received wide international recognition, and she has been included among the Stanford/Elsevier World’s Top 2% Scientists.
Summary
Designing Sustainable Food Packaging: Material Performance, Food Protection and Life-Cycle Impact
The transition to more sustainable food packaging requires an integrated design approach that simultaneously considers material performance, food protection, and environmental sustainability. The development of new packaging materials cannot rely solely on replacing conventional fossil-based polymers, but must also consider the packaging’s ability to preserve food quality and safety, reduce spoilage, and help extend shelf life.
This keynote lecturer will analyze the relationships between polymer structure, material properties, and packaging performance, with a focus on thermal and mechanical behavior, mass transport, and barrier properties. Bio-based and biodegradable polymer systems will be considered as examples of how material design can be adapted to specific food packaging needs while maintaining the functional performance required for effective food protection.
Further focus will be on the environmental assessment of packaging solutions. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and life cycle thinking provide valuable tools for identifying the environmental trade-offs associated with raw materials, processing, use, and end-of-life options, helping to avoid solutions that appear sustainable when packaging materials are considered in isolation.
By integrating material performance, food protection, and life cycle impact, sustainable packaging design can move beyond simple material replacement toward more science-based and environmentally responsible solutions for future food systems.