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On 29 October 2025, Prof Wang Jun from Jiangnan University’s Department of Packaging Engineering delivered a keynote report at the A*STAR Institute of Materials Research & Engineering (A*STAR IMRE), presenting a series of groundbreaking advances in high-barrier packaging materials. As Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Packaging Technology and Science, Prof Wang highlighted technologies poised to reshape the global packaging industry towards greater efficiency and sustainability.

Addressing Industry Challenges with Homegrown Innovation

Prof Wang noted that reliance on imports for high-end barrier materials has long been a bottleneck, with more than 80% of China’s premium barrier packaging historically sourced from overseas. In response, his team has focused on developing materials with balanced performance—blocking oxygen and moisture, withstanding high temperatures, while prioritising environmental and economic sustainability.

Three Core Breakthroughs and Industrial Applications

1. Aluminium-Free High-Barrier Materials for Dairy Packaging
Using natural extracts and a precisely engineered two-dimensional layered structure, the team developed a material that delivers a qualitative leap in oxygen-barrier performance. This innovation overcomes the recyclability limitations of traditional aluminium-based packaging while reducing weight. It was successfully demonstrated in a 100,000-unit pilot during the Hangzhou Asian Games and is now entering the global market, breaking long-standing foreign monopolies.

2. High-Temperature-Resistant Materials for Sterilisation
To meet the demand for packaging that can withstand extreme conditions such as autoclaving and microwave heating, the team adopted an asynchronous biaxial stretching process. This enables precise multi-stage stretching control, forming an asymmetric orientation network that enhances oxygen-barrier performance by 90%. The approach avoids the complexity and high costs of foreign synchronous stretching technologies. A fully domestic industrial chain has been established, with annual production capacity reaching tens of thousands of tonnes, and products already supplied to leading domestic and international companies.

3. Modified Two-Dimensional Layered Materials for Enhanced Performance
A major breakthrough was achieved in modifying two-dimensional layered materials. Through multi-physical-field-induced dispersion and alignment technology, the team clarified the mechanisms by which these materials block oxygen, water vapour, and light. This addresses the industry challenge of controlling small-molecule transfer at the interfaces between food, packaging, and the environment under complex conditions such as high temperature and humidity.

International Collaboration and Future Outlook

Prof Wang emphasised the importance of global partnerships. Collaborations with Singapore—including his role as Chief Scientist at DFP Advanced (Singapore) Pte Ltd and joint research with Prof Li Xu’s team at A*STAR—focus on graduate training, faculty exchange, and the co-development of new food and medical packaging materials. Looking ahead, he noted that innovation will increasingly centre on full life-cycle sustainability and intelligent design, with packaging evolving from a passive protector to an active, interactive smart carrier.

Summary

Prof Wang Jun’s team is driving a transformation in packaging through technological innovation that reduces import dependency while setting new benchmarks for performance and sustainability. From fundamental research to industrial deployment and international collaboration, these advances are redefining the future of global packaging.