SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING LIFECYCLE NEW ADVANCES A


mid intensifying environmental scrutiny and evolving regulatory demands, the materials and recycling sectors are entering


a phase of accelerated innovation. Recent developments span both molecular-level research and applied packaging engineering, highlighting complementary approaches to reducing plastic waste. From advances in enzyme design that could enhance the efficiency of polymer breakdown, to the introduction of fibre-based alternatives tailored for recyclability, these efforts underscore a decisive industry shift toward solutions that integrate technical performance with circular economy principles.


Among the various plastic recycling


methods being explored, one promising approach is biological plastic recycling, also known as biorecycling, which utilizes enzymes or microorganisms to break down polymer molecules. One group of enzymes attracting attention is microbial cutinases. These enzymes are naturally produced by bacteria and fungi to degrade the waxy outer layer of plants, known as the cuticle. Because they can act on similar chemical bonds, they are considered promising for recycling poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), a plastic used in bottles and synthetic fibers. However, applying these


enzymes in industrial settings is not straightforward. PET is most efficiently degraded at temperatures around 70 °C, where it becomes more flexible and easier to process. At such high temperatures, enzymes must maintain a stable overall structure to avoid unfolding,


64 • KENNEDY’S CONFECTION • APRIL 2026


while also retaining flexibility at their active site for molecular recognition and catalysis. This creates a design challenge, as structural rigidity and flexibility are often opposing properties. To better understand this balance, a team


of researchers led by Professor Tatsuya Nishino from the Department of Biological


PLASTIC WASTE HAS BECOME A SEVERE PROBLEM IN RECENT


YEARS, NECESSITATING ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES


DRIVE CIRCULAR PACKAGING SHIFT


New research into heat-stable plastic-degrading enzymes and a recyclable fibre-based confectionery wrapper highlight how both biotechnology and packaging design are converging to meet rising regulatory pressure and accelerate circular economy solutions.


Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science (TUS), Japan, along with Assistant Professor Sho Ito from the same department, and graduate researchers Mr. Ryohei Nojima (M.Sc., 2022) and Ms. Lirong Chen (M.Sc., 2024) from TUS, examined a heat-tolerant cutinase enzyme from the fungusChaetomium thermophilum. The enzyme, known as CtCut, was analyzed under conditions relevant to high-temperature PET recycling to better understand how it maintains structural stability and catalytic potential. The study was published in Volume 16, Special Issue 4 of the journal Crystals on March 24, 2026. “Plastic waste has become a severe


problem in recent years, necessitating environmentally friendly recycling technologies. Thus, our aim was to contribute to the development of practical recycling technologies by clarifying the molecular basis of enzymes that function even under high-temperature conditions,” says Prof. Nishino. For the study, the team created several


versions of the enzyme. This included the wild-type (CtCutWT), which is the unmodified form, and a mutant version, CtCutS136A, in which the amino acid serine at position 136 is replaced with alanine. They then determined the enzyme’s structure and assessed its thermal stability using differential scanning calorimetry, heating the protein from 30 °C to 100 °C to analyze how it absorbed heat. Structurally, the enzyme


adopts a highly stable /- hydrolase fold, a common architecture among cutinases. Covering the active site is a flexible lid loop that can


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