Abstract

Micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) are increasingly recognized as contaminants in food systems; however, the specific packaging elements responsible for particle release remain poorly resolved. Most studies treat packaging as a single material category, without covering distinct contributions from the different units of modern food contact materials (FCMs). We propose a packaging structure taxonomy based on functional elements: container (C), closure (CL), and functional layers (F), including operational interfaces (+I), designed to enable components attribution of possible origins of plastic fragments in foods and beverages. Through a structured synthesis of the current literature, we map the primary processes leading to MNP generation across these modules, including tribological abrasion at closure contact interfaces, thermally driven polymer degradation in containers and delamination or shedding from coatings, adhesives and multilayer structures. Available evidence indicates that repeated mechanical actions such as opening and closing cycles can generate measurable particle release from closure assemblies. The proposed C/CL/F + I framework introduces standardized descriptors and reporting units that improve comparability across studies and supports origin attribution. By explicitly separating packaging parts and their operational interaction zones, the taxonomy provides a methodological bridge between analytical microplastic detection and engineering strategies aimed at minimizing particle formation. Its adoption can facilitate harmonized experimental design, strengthen regulatory risk assessment and guide the development of packaging configurations that minimize plastic particle shedding into foods.

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