Earticle

As the demand for cold chain logistics for the distribution of fresh food or medicine increased, the domestic cold chain logistics center increased rapidly. Due to the nature of managing low temperature, cold chain logistics requires a lot of energy consumption. In order to cope with the rise in global energy prices and carbon neutrality policies, the establishment of a platform for converting cold chain warehouses to energy efficiency and low energy consumption structures continues to be required. In this study, we focused on the energy efficiency of the refrigeration system with the largest energy load in the operation of the cold chain distribution center, and developed an energy management system operation model through two AI-based refrigeration system control algorithms for effective energy reduction; 1) 3 dimentional temperature mapping and unit-cooler control algorithm through AI learning; 2) AI based automatic defrosting algorithm. In order to verify the energy reduction effect of this control system, it was quantitatively analyzed through experiments in an area of 100? chamber; 1) By applying 3D temperature mapping and unit-cooler control algorithm, unit cooler power consumption is reduced by 19.8% (from 65.85 kWh to 51.97 kWh for 12 hours) ; 2) By applying AI-based automatic defrosting algorithm, 48% reduction in defrosting power consumption (from 532.2 kWh to 271.9 kWh for 24 hours). In the future, it is expected to contribute to reducing the national energy load and carbon neutrality by applying it to the actual cold chain distribution center.

The food packaging industry plays a critical role in ensuring food safety, extending shelf life, and enhancing convenience. However, as the industry has developed, concerns have emerged regarding the safety of packaging materials and their impact on human health. This has led to scientific investigations and regulatory actions, particularly concerning the migration of chemicals from packaging into food. New materials like biodegradable plastics and nanomaterials have introduced additional complexity, raising questions about their long-term safety and the environmental impact. Regulatory bodies worldwide have established frameworks to reduce health risks, but challenges remain due to regional differences in regulations and emerging technologies. Key safety concerns include the migration of harmful chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from packaging to food, as well as the potential ingestion of microplastics. Major countries, including the EU, the US, and Korea, have strengthened regulations to control these risks, focusing on harmful substances and promote environmentally friendly packaging options. Scientific research has played a critical role in understanding the mechanisms of chemical migration and the health effects of these substances, particularly their impact on the endocrine system and absorption by the human body. This paper explores six key areas of food packaging safety, reviews the trends in regulations and scientific studies addressing these ongoing concerns.

Recently, packaged leafy vegetables, including perilla leaves, whose consumption has been rapidly increasing, are easily spoiled and have a short shelf life. Currently, various methods such as pre-cooling, washing, and packaging are used to maintain the quality of leafy vegetables. Among these, the pre-treatment washing method effectively reduces the spoilage rate of leafy vegetables and helps maintain freshness by removing contaminants on their surfaces. However, the research related to maintaining the quality of perilla leaves remains limited. Therefore, this study aims to establish optimal eco-friendly pre-treatment conditions that can maintain the freshness of perilla leaves and extend their shelf life. The perilla leaves were washed under various pre-treatment conditions and packaged with commercially available OPP film. Then, quality changes in the perilla leaves during storage were evaluated by analyzing factors such as microbial counts, electrolyte leakage amounts, surface color, hardness, and spoilage rate under different pre-washing conditions. As a result, it was confirmed that pre-treatment washing using medium-temperature microbubble water is effective in maintaining the freshness and extending the shelf life of perilla leaves. In addition, the effects were further enhanced when sequential combined washing methods were applied. In the future, the research will focus on developing packaging methods that enhance the washing effects of medium-temperature microbubble water and exploring combined treatments with other washing solutions to further improve the freshness preservation and shelf life extension of perilla leaves.

Conventional phase change materials (PCMs) are typically composed of pure water combined with superabsorbent polymers (SAPs), raising concerns regarding environmental sustainability, complex synthesis processes, and high material costs. In this study, we propose a pulp-water composite as an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional PCMs. Recycled paper pulp (1-5 wt%) was incorporated into water-based PCMs to investigate its effects on thermal retention and phase transition behavior. The use of pulp offers advantages over SAP-based PCMs, including simpler synthesis, lower production costs, and easier material availability. Thermal and chemical properties were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and data loggers. The results indicate that a 3 wt% pulp-water mixture extends temperature retention by 70 minutes compared to pure water. These findings suggest that pulp-enhanced water-based PCMs can serve as a sustainable, biodegradable, and economically viable alternative to conventional SAP-based PCMs, providing improved thermal performance while minimizing environmental impact.

Due to the increase in environmental issues and public awareness, many stakeholders including consumers, investors, governments, and corporations, are demanding green (eco-friendly) products. This is putting pressure on many companies to make green products and disclose their environmental performance. Greenwashing is a marketing strategy used by some companies to make their products or services appear more environmentally friendly than they really are. This can mislead consumers into making more sustainable choices. However, these terms are not known or heard much by customers, other employers, or the public. Hence, this short review aims to i) provide a general introduction to greenwashing, ii) introduce some terms such as green hushing and green marketing, iii) discuss the impacts of greenwashing on business and environment, iv) explore green certifications and regulations by countries, and v) explore the various challenges, recommendations and future directions.

The material composition and structural design of packaging significantly influence its recyclability, with certain types classified as “Poor recyclability” due to inherent structural limitations. This study investigates the primary factors that hinder recyclability, focusing on paper cartons, PET bottles, and glass bottles, and explores strategies for structural improvement and alternative technologies. Key limitations were identified, including aluminum-laminated layers in paper cartons, non-standard coloring in glass bottles, and the use of composite materials in PET bottles. To address these challenges, various alternative technologies were reviewed, such as SiOx-coated films, mono-material PET, Diamond- like Carbon (DLC) coatings, and full-body shrink labels. Additionally, commercial applications of these technologies are introduced to demonstrate their practical feasibility. Overall, this research provides an in-depth analysis of material and structural innovations aimed at improving packaging recyclability and suggests relevant policy directions. The findings are expected to serve as a foundational reference for the development of sustainable packaging solutions and future regulatory strategies.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of controlled atmosphere (CA) containers in maintaining the quality of fresh horticultural products during long-distance maritime transport. A simulated export experiment was conducted using both reefer and CA containers, focusing on single commodities (oriental melon, Asian pear cv. Wonwhang, and king oyster mushroom) and mixed commodities (paprika, cherry tomato, and summer squash). The impact of packaging types and CA conditions on quality retention was analyzed. The results demonstrated that CA conditions (5/12 and 5/0.04) enhanced storage stability for oriental melon and pear, and CA (1/15) effectively minimized browning and moisture loss in king oyster mushrooms. However, in mixed commodity storage, the effects of CA conditions varied depending on the product. Cherry tomatoes exhibited the best quality retention under CA (5/12), whereas paprika and summer squash suffered peel discoloration and tissue softening under high CO₂ conditions. In the case of products with modified atmosphere (MA) packaging, interactions between the internal gas composition and the CA environment influenced quality changes. Notably, commodities sensitive to high CO₂ levels exhibited physiological disorders under high CO₂ conditions. This study confirms that CA containers effectively preserve the quality of fresh horticultural products and proposes optimal CA conditions for different commodities. In particular, when shipping mixed commodities, it is crucial to continuously monitor the internal gas composition of MA-packaged products in the CA environment, and storage conditions must be optimized accordingly. The findings of this study contribute to the development of quality maintenance technologies for the long-distance distribution of fresh produce.

This study aimed to synthesize a bio-based UV-curable polymer, itaconated epoxidized soybean oil (IESO), using epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and itaconic acid (IA) as replacements for acrylic polymers. Vinyl acetate (VAc) was added to improve the polymerization rate, adhesion, and water resistance of IESO. The itaconated epoxidized soybean oil/Vinyl acetate (IESO/VAc) content was adjusted to ratios of 9:1, 7:3, and 5:5, then IESO/VAc coated paper and standalone films were produced using a UV curing system. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed a decrease in C=C bond intensity after UV curing, indicating successful radical polymerization. The adhesion test demonstrated stable adhesive performance, and the water contact angle confirmed that the coating exhibits significant hydrophobicity. In the recycling test, all samples dissolved, indicating that IESO/VAc is a bio-based material that can be chemically recycled. Consequently, IESO/VAc blends have the potential to replace fossil-based curable polymer and may be used as coatings for paper packaging.