Prepared by: Moustapha Soungalo Drabo, PhD
Assistant Professor, Université Nazi Boni & Université Faustin Sib Sié, Burkina Faso

Visiting Researcher, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia

22/12/2025

Food packaging has become increasingly important as countries seek to balance food safety, public health, environmental protection, and economic development. While sustainable packaging technologies continue to advance globally, the effectiveness of their implementation largely depends on supportive policies, technological capacity, stakeholder engagement, and innovation ecosystems. Understanding these factors is therefore essential for accelerating the transition toward sustainable food systems.

A comparative perspective on sustainable packaging transitions

Malaysia and Burkina Faso present two distinct yet complementary case studies in sustainable packaging policy. Malaysia has adopted a gradual phase-out strategy for reducing conventional plastic packaging while simultaneously investing in research, technological innovation, and industrial development.

Burkina Faso, on the other hand, has implemented one of the region's strictest regulatory bans on single-use plastics. The country's sustainable packaging technologies remain in relatively early stages of development, with scientific principles established but commercialization pathways still emerging.

The contrast between these two countries provides an excellent opportunity to investigate how different policy approaches, institutional environments, and technological readiness influence the adoption of sustainable packaging solutions. Rather than viewing these differences as limitations, they offer valuable sources of mutual learning that can inform future policy and innovation strategies in both countries.

Building bridges between Malaysia and Burkina Faso

Therefore, my research focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of healthier and sustainable food packaging policies and initiatives in Malaysia and Burkina Faso. Positioned at the intersection of technology management, innovation, and food systems sustainability, the project seeks to generate evidence-based recommendations that can support the development of environmentally responsible and health-conscious packaging systems.

Addressing food packaging sustainability requires concerted efforts and mutual learning. Since November 2025, I have been serving as a Visiting Researcher at the FoodPack research group (led by Associate Prof. Dr Nur Hanani Zainal Abedin), Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), under the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Merit Scholarship Program for Postdoctoral Research. This research visit has provided a unique opportunity to work on a mainstream research topic while exploring scientific collaboration between Malaysia and Burkina Faso.

Learning from UPM's research environment

Conducting this research at Universiti Putra Malaysia has been an enriching experience. UPM provides a dynamic research environment that encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in food science, technology, sustainability, and policy research.

This project will contribute to global efforts aimed at reducing plastic pollution, promoting healthier food systems, and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to responsible consumption and production, industry innovation, climate action, and partnerships for sustainable development.

Looking Ahead

My research visit at Universiti Putra Malaysia represents much more than an academic appointment. It reflects the importance of international cooperation in generating innovative solutions to complex global challenges. By bringing together experiences from Malaysia and Burkina Faso, this project demonstrates how countries with different technological capacities and policy approaches can learn from one another to accelerate the transition toward healthier, safer, and more sustainable food packaging systems.

I am sincerely grateful to the Islamic Development Bank for supporting this postdoctoral research through the Merit Scholarship Program, and to Universiti Putra Malaysia, particularly Assoc. Prof. Dr Nur Hanani Zainal Abedin, for providing an inspiring research environment that fosters excellence, innovation, and international collaboration. I look forward to continuing this work and strengthening future partnerships that contribute to sustainable development, scientific advancement, and healthier food systems worldwide.

In the meantime, you could support this work by responding to our short survey (5 minutes max) at the link below. It is part of our ongoing research. Thank you in advance for your interest and support! Terima Kasih! Cheers

https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/6fbbZRk3 or scan (until the 20th of August 2026)

Terima Kasih

Date of Input: 23/07/2026 | Updated: 23/07/2026 | nurulizzah