The healthcare sector, particularly hospital nutrition services, generates significant amounts of packaging waste, largely composed of non-biodegradable plastics. In light of increasing global focus on sustainable materials and environmentally responsible processes, this abstract explores the potential for integrating biodegradable packaging materials within clinical nutrition systems. Drawing from hospital-based dietetic practice, this contribution identifies key packaging challenges affecting both food safety and waste management and examines how material selection can improve sustainability without compromising patient care.

The use of food-safe biodegradable polymers, compostable trays, and recyclable materials in hospital food services is evaluated through a process-focused lens, emphasizing material efficiency, safety standards, and the impact on clinical workflows. The importance of selecting materials that maintain nutritional integrity, reduce contamination risk, and align with environmental goals is discussed. Furthermore, the role of clinical nutritionists in advocating for sustainable packaging at the institutional level is highlighted, including their collaboration with procurement and supply chain teams. The importance of selecting packaging that maintains the nutritional quality of therapeutic diets while meeting institutional environmental goals is emphasized.

This contribution calls for greater interdisciplinary engagement between materials scientists, packaging engineers, and health professionals to develop and implement packaging innovations tailored to healthcare environments. By aligning sustainable materials development with the needs of clinical nutrition, we can advance both patient health and environmental stewardship.

This comprehensive study thoroughly discusses the creation and fabrication of an innovative multifunctional surgical retractor that is specifically intended for use in microsurgery. It places significant emphasis on the incorporation of advanced biocompatible materials that are appropriate for clinical applications in a surgical setting. The instrument is notably equipped with integrated suction and irrigation channels that are incorporated into a single cohesive structure, thereby enhancing its functionality. For its production, state-of-the-art metal additive manufacturing methods have been utilized, specifically employing 17-4PH and 316L stainless steel—both materials are highly recognized within the medical field for their superior biocompatibility and exceptional resistance to corrosion. The retractor has been meticulously crafted using a BLT-T400 printer, with designs generated in SolidWorks that aimed to fulfill both ergonomic and functional requirements essential for intricate surgical procedures. To ensure its reliability, finite element analysis was performed in ANSYS, validating the structural integrity of the device under standard surgical stresses that it would encounter during operation. This study underscores the essential contribution of biocompatible materials in enhancing the design and production of safe, reliable multifunctional surgical instruments through the innovative techniques of additive manufacturing. The insights presented here contribute significantly to the ongoing advancements in surgical instrument technology, ensuring that such devices not only meet the functional demands of surgery but also adhere to the stringent safety and biocompatibility standards necessary for patient care.

Polyethylene (PE) is one of the most widely used thermoplastics worldwide due to its excellent balance of cost, performance, and sustainability. However, its inherently hydrophobic and chemically inert surface limits its suitability for applications requiring adhesion, such as printing, painting, and lamination—particularly in flexible packaging. These limitations are especially pronounced with water-based paints, which are more environmentally friendly but less compatible with hydrophobic substrates. Plasma or corona treatments are commonly employed to improve surface wettability, but they often lack specificity, are difficult to control, and offer only temporary effects. In this study, we propose a surface functionalization method involving the grafting of salicylic acid (SA)—a polar, aromatic molecule—onto PE films via an aluminum-mediated alkylation approach that is compatible with continuous film processing systems.

Low-density PE films (15 × 15 cm; Dow 203) were surface-softened using infrared heating and then sequentially sprayed with a 155 mg AlCl₃ solution in 25 mL n-heptane and a 500 mg SA solution in 25 mL absolute ethanol using an airbrush (120° fan, 6 mL/min). Unreacted species were removed by ethanol sonication. The modified surfaces were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (Nicolet 520) and optical microscopy (Andostar). Paintability was evaluated using red water-based paint.

Spectroscopic analysis confirmed the formation of aluminum salicylate complexes chemically anchored to the PE surface. Microscopy revealed uniform surface modification, and painting tests demonstrated a significant improvement in the wettability and adhesion of water-based paints. These results indicate that the proposed strategy effectively transforms the PE surface from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, enabling the use of eco-friendly paints.

The building aesthetic values known as facades which is a material treatment and known as one of the most challenging components of building. It also controls the indoor heating and cooling of building in the tropical climate areas and areas where temperature is below than 0°C. In hot climate areas, during summer season temperature reaches about 40°C -60°C. A well designed exterior of building reduces heat absorption up to 50-60%. This research helps to improve thermal performance and reduce necessity to use artificial light in building during daytime. Natural air circulation in buildings play key role in thermal performance and reduces reliance on artificial cooling at daytime and at nighttime. Bricks and concrete blocks made with local materials like industrial waste are atmosphere friendly to reduce carbon footprints. With proper texture of bricks and concrete blocks almost reflects 50% of sunlight. The sustainability design of buildings is suitable for tropical regions. Simultaneously, four different parametric building models have been developed in Revit, two for hot and two for cold climates, incorporating other advanced passive design strategies such as optimized orientation, thermal mass integration, and adaptive insulation techniques helps us to analyses the results of better performance. The results of this study offer keen observation for professionals who want to enhance the performance of the sustainable structure design process.

The rising global emphasis on sustainability has intensified the demand for eco-friendly packaging solutions. In response, biodegradable packaging materials derived from fibers sourced from agricultural byproducts and naturally abundant plants have emerged. The present study focused on the development of biodegradable packaging using fibers derived from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) bagasse (SB), rice (Oryza sativa) straw (RS), and cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica) leaf (CGL), an invasive weed. Using standardized alkali treatment for fiber extraction, three film formulations were prepared by blending SB, RS, and CGL fiber at ratios of 1:1:1 (P1), 1:2:1 (P2), and 1:3:2 (P3), and their biodegradability, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), water uptake ratio (WUR), oil uptake ratio (OUR), water activity (WA), color metrics, and bonding structure were evaluated using FTIR analysis. These parameters were compared with those of commercially available biodegradable packaging to assess relative performance. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s test, using MINITAB 19.0 software at a significance level of p < 0.05. Among the analyzed formulations, P3 demonstrated the most favorable performance across multiple parameters. It possessed significantly higher biodegradability (63.63 ± 9.09%; p < 0.05), supporting environmental compatibility and significantly favorable barrier properties, and the lowest WVTR (4.72 ± 0.59%), WUR (197.22 ± 9.62%), and OUR (138.9 ± 24.1%; p < 0.05), indicating enhanced resistance to moisture and oil penetration. It showed the lowest WA (0.65 ± 0.01; p < 0.05), potentially contributing to reduced microbial growth. Optically, P3 had the highest color difference (ΔE) compared to commercial biodegradable packaging (17.74 ± 0.10⁾, with lighter appearance (L* = -15.74 ± 0.06) and a red hue (a* = 7.48 ± 0.13), enhancing its visual appeal. FTIR analysis further confirmed favorable performances of P3 with improved bonding structure. Hence, this study underscores the potential of utilizing agricultural residues and abundant natural fibers for developing biodegradable packaging that mitigates environmental impacts while contributing to the circular economy.

There is a significant rise in the growth of the adoption of biodegradable materials across industries. Industries including packaging, healthcare, and consumer goods require accurate prediction of their degradation behavior to support environmental sustainability and to ensure regulatory compliance. Here, we propose a deep-learning-based framework that helps with the prediction of the decomposition rates and the associated environmental impact of biodegradable materials under diverse physicochemical conditions. We train the neural network on historical data on the material performance, environmental exposure, and microbiological interactions, and the model shows its generalization capacity for life cycle estimation. The model has also been associated with an attention layer that monitors the compliance with regulatory frameworks that govern material safety, quality, and consumer transparency. Standards and frameworks (including the ISO and ISI standards) are integrated into this layer to ensure adherence to product liability guidelines. Along with this, domain-specific regulations have also been used to fine-tune the predictive outputs, respecting the permissible limits on product labeling, shelf life, and environmental claims. This approach shows better predictive results and demonstrates compliance with the legal context, and the model evaluation ensures compliance and verification of the predictive results on the materials' life. Here, we explore a multidisciplinary approach that makes use of the learning abilities of the ML algorithms and align the model performance with ethical frameworks to ensure trust and monitoring, making an intelligent system for sustainable material design to improve sustainability and reusability following the regulations.

The increasing frequency and severity of lithium-ion battery fires have raised global concerns about their safety across the entire lifecycle—from production and use to recycling and disposal. Recycling facilities, in particular, face elevated process safety risks due to the complex handling of thermally unstable, flammable, and toxic materials. Incidents such as the 2024 recycling plant fire in Missouri and numerous battery-related aircraft fires reported by the Federal Aviation Administration emphasize the urgent need for systematic risk assessment approaches. This study applies Fuzzy Failure Mode Effects and Criticality Analysis (Fuzzy FMECA) to evaluate the risks associated with lithium-ion battery manufacturing and recycling processes. The method integrates expert judgment under uncertainty to prioritize failure modes related to thermal runaway during collection, flammable vapor emissions, combustible dust generation, and hazardous chemical handling. A comprehensive fuzzy inference system is developed using 125 fuzzy rules, enabling risk prioritization through a Mamdani-type knowledge base. The defuzzification is carried out using the Center of Gravity method to convert fuzzy outputs into actionable risk rankings. By identifying and ranking the critical risks using fuzzy logic, the study provides a structured framework for improving process safety in battery manufacturing and recycling operations. The findings highlight the importance of proactive safety management as battery recycling becomes central to circular energy economies and environmental sustainability.

The rapidly increasing global demand for high-performance thermal insulation materials necessitates a significant shift towards more sustainable and cost-effective solutions. This study unveils a novel and efficient pathway to synthesize engineered cordierite, a highly coveted magnesium aluminosilicate ceramic, by intelligently harnessing biogenic silica extracted directly from rice husk. Rice husk, an abundant agricultural by-product, represents a readily available and often underutilized resource. The methodology involved a precise precipitation method to successfully yield high-purity silica from rice husk ash. This extracted silica was then meticulously combined with commercial magnesium oxide (MgO) and aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) through a solid-state reaction to synthesize the desired cordierite. This study systematically investigated the profound impact of various sintering temperatures, ranging from 850°C to 1100°C, on both the cordierite yield and its crucial physicochemical properties. Our experiments revealed that a sintering temperature of 1100°C achieved a remarkable 66.5% cordierite yield. Beyond yield, the material processed at 1100°C exhibited exceptional mechanical and thermal characteristics: a compressive strength of 65 kN/m², a flexural strength of 44 kN/m², a tensile strength of 17.5 kN/m², and a remarkably low thermal conductivity of just 3.2 W/m-K. These attributes not only match but, in some respects, surpass those of commercially available cordierite while simultaneously offering the dual advantages of enhanced resource sustainability and compelling economic viability. This groundbreaking research powerfully demonstrates the transformative potential of rice husk as a rich biogenic silica reservoir for fabricating advanced cordierite ceramics. It effectively paves the way for their widespread utilization in next-generation thermal insulation applications and makes a significant contribution to fostering a more sustainable and circular material economy.

Studies on consumer behavior and packaging trends indicate that sustainability now plays a key role in purchasing decisions. A qualitative study was conducted to investigate consumer expectations and opinions regarding sustainable paper-based packaging materials, with 60 participants involved in a two-stage focus group. In the first stage, participants shared their thoughts on existing packaging options and their expectations for sustainable materials. In the second stage, they assessed five paper-based prototype packages.

The findings revealed valuable insights into how consumers define sustainability, the factors influencing their decisions, and the impact of trends in other industries beyond FMCG. The study also explored life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) to evaluate the environmental and financial impacts of these materials. An automatic Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) approach was employed to select the most suitable packaging material. The study embraced alternative and circular economy models, emphasizing the recovery of materials at the end of their lifecycle.

There is growing concern about packaging waste, particularly plastic packaging, and its negative environmental impact. This research highlights global concepts such as sustainable development, the circular economy, and social responsibility. The methodology used offers a combinatorial ranking system for each criterion based on a predefined weight distribution, utilizing the TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method to rank packaging materials.

This approach provides a systematic, comprehensive framework for selecting packaging materials, applicable to any product.

Catalysts are indispensable in many industries, optimizing thermal reactions and boosting productivity and creativity. This article offers a comprehensive analysis of catalysts used in thermal processes, examining their critical role in enhancing chemical reactions at high temperatures. The paper starts with an overview of the research context, defining catalysts and underscoring their importance in enabling efficient chemical transformations by lowering activation energy. It explores the two primary types of catalysts—heterogeneous and homogeneous—detailing their respective mechanisms, uses, and applications.

Through an in-depth examination of catalytic processes, the article explains complex phenomena like adsorption, desorption, and intermediate generation that direct reactions on catalyst surfaces. These mechanisms are essential for understanding how catalysts influence thermal reactions and contribute to improved process efficiency. The review highlights the crucial role of catalysts in diverse industries, including petrochemicals, chemical synthesis, energy production, and environmental remediation.

The article also delves into advanced characterization methods used to study catalysts, as well as challenges in catalyst design, including issues like stability and selectivity. Furthermore, it looks at future approaches to catalyst development, aiming to address current limitations and explore new possibilities for enhancing thermal processes. Through case studies, the practical applications of catalysts are highlighted, demonstrating their transformative impact on industry.

In conclusion, the paper emphasizes the significant potential of catalysts to revolutionize thermal processes, calling for continued research to push the boundaries of innovation. Catalysts, as agents of progress, hold the key to advancing thermal reactions to new levels of efficiency and creativity.