Circular Economy Integration in Soft Robotic Design: Biodegradable Actuators for Sustainable Packaging and Reduced Plastic Waste in Food Logistics

Abstract

Growing environmental concerns drive the pursuit of eco-friendly approaches across diverse sectors of industry. The concept of circular economy integrates waste reduction, resource efficiency, and product life-cycle optimization to address sustainability challenges. Traditional plastics used in packaging and logistics generate significant pollution and persist for prolonged durations in landfills, harming ecosystems and marine habitats. Biodegradable materials exhibit the potential to substitute conventional plastics, yet their mechanical performance and scalability require further refinement. Soft robotics offers flexible, adaptable designs that integrate organic polymers or compostable composites, meeting the performance needs of packaging applications. Biodegradable actuators, derived from renewable sources, enable efficient food handling and transit while aligning with closed-loop systems. Research on advanced material properties and functional stability has expanded, supporting development of actuators that both degrade responsibly and provide desirable operational capabilities. Multifunctional solutions allow protective cushioning, controlled venting, and temperature regulation without reliance on persistent synthetic polymers. Collaboration among industrial partners, research institutions, and regulatory bodies accelerates the implementation of novel biodegradable actuators in food logistics, creating strategic pathways for waste reduction and resource circularity. This paper explores how biodegradable actuators integrate into soft robotic design for sustainable packaging, highlighting principles of circular economy, material innovations, and pathways to minimize plastic waste.