Scalable eco-friendly antibacterial paper via stabilized essential oils composites for food preservation

Conventional plastic-based food packaging is non-biodegradable and often provides only passive barriers, whereas volatile natural antimicrobials commonly show rapid loss and poor stability during storage. Here, a scalable antibacterial paper was fabricated by integrating a multicomponent steady-state Essential oils (EOs) composite into a conventional coating process compatible with roll-to-roll production. The coated paper achieved >99.9% inhibition against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Aspergillus niger. In strawberry preservation tests (23 °C, 50% relative humidity), the stabilized composite reduced volatile depletion and extended shelf life by approximately 7 days compared with the control paper. The material maintained packaging-relevant mechanical strength and thermal stability, and the paper substrate remained fully biodegradable. Life cycle assessment further indicated a 40% reduction in global warming potential relative to traditional plastic packaging. This study provides an industry-compatible route to cellulose-based active packaging for reducing food waste and plastic pollution.