Engineering PVA-CNF-MOF Composite Films for Active Packaging: Enhancing Mechanical Strength, Barrier Performance, and Stability for Fresh Produce Preservation Carrasco, Sergio Amaro-Gahete, Juan Espinosa, Eduardo Benítez, Almudena Romero Salguero, Francisco J. Rodríguez, Alejandro Metal organic framework Cellulose nanofibers PVA Food waste is a global challenge, with nearly 40% of food discarded annually, leading to economic losses, food insecurity, and environmental harm. Major factors driving spoilage include microbial contamination, enzymatic activity, oxidation, and excessive ethylene production. Active packaging offers a promising solution by extending shelf life through the selective absorption or release of specific substances. In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films incorporating metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were prepared via solvent casting to enhance their mechanical and barrier properties. Five MOFs (HKUST-1, MIL-88A, BASFA520, UiO-66, and MOF-801) were embedded in the PVA matrix and analyzed for their physical, mechanical, and optical characteristics. The incorporation of TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (CNF) improved MOF dispersion, significantly strengthening film performance. Among the formulations, PVA-CNF-MOF-801 exhibited the best performance, with a 130% increase in tensile strength, a 50% reduction in water vapor permeability, and a 168% improvement in UV protection compared with neat PVA films. Ethylene adsorption tests with climacteric fruits confirmed that CNF-containing films retained ethylene more effectively than those without CNFs, although the differences among the MOFs were minimal. These results highlight the potential of PVA-CNF-MOF composite films as sustainable active packaging materials, providing an effective strategy to reduce food waste and its environmental impact. 2025-11-25T11:50:00Z 2025-11-25T11:50:00Z 2025-10-03 journal article Carrasco, S.; Amaro-Gahete, J.; Espinosa, E.; Benítez, A.; Romero-Salguero, F.J.; Rodríguez, A. Engineering PVA-CNF-MOF Composite Films for Active Packaging: Enhancing Mechanical Strength, Barrier Performance, and Stability for Fresh Produce Preservation. Molecules 2025, 30, 3971. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30193971 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/108324 10.3390/molecules30193971 eng info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EU/PRTR/JDC2022-048903-I info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EU/PRTR/IJC2020-045041-I http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ open access Atribución 4.0 Internacional MDPI