Editorials

Quality assessment of corrugated board in industrial practice is usually based on individual laboratory tests such as the edge-crush test, bending stiffness, or shear-related measurements. While informative, single-test evaluation cannot capture the combined effects of anisotropy, structural degradation, and material efficiency. This editorial highlights the need for a universal, factory-oriented quality index that integrates results from commonly used tests into a single, interpretable scalar. The proposed concept emphasizes normalization with respect to basis weight, aggregation of directional properties, and sensitivity to shear-related damage mechanisms. A general mathematical framework is outlined, demonstrating how mechanical performance, structural integrity, and economic considerations may be combined to support transparent benchmarking and more informed industrial decision-making.

Methylcellulose (MC), as a simple cellulose derivative has unique merits, involving water solubility and inherent temperature-induced phase transitions, which have potential in sustainable pesticide delivery applications. Despite the discovery of MC’s thermally responsive property in 1935, it attracted attention just a few years ago, owing to increasing demands for sustainable materials. However, the phase transition temperature of MC thermogel is relatively high, and factors on tuning its low critical solution temperature are also not clearly elucidated, which restricts its gelation and Pickering emulsion delivery material developments. This editorial discusses solutions in terms of tunable thermally induced phase transitions of MC, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, carboxyl methylcellulose, and their thermogels and high internal phase Pickering emulsions as potential pesticide- and fertilizer-delivery carrier materials to enrich diverse forestry management practices and contribute to sustainable agricultural ecosystems and unmanned aerial vehicles-based low-altitude economy.

This editorial explores a decorative green packaging approach that integrates Changbaishan plant fibers with the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) paper-cutting craft, focusing on its structural contribution to high-purity recycling. It is shown that replacing chemical laminates and synthetic components in conventional modern packaging with the hollow-out aesthetics of paper-cutting can significantly increase the specific surface area of materials, thus accelerating biodegradation rates. This structural strategy not only ensures the purity of fiber recycling but also elevates the green premium of the Changbaishan brand through the infusion of ICH culture, providing a replicable practical model for the green transformation of local characteristic economies.

In many human societies, trees are an essential component of creative expression. The native people of Borneo, an ethnic group who formerly inhabited a large portion of Borneo, combine technology, art, and traditional knowledge of trees and their forests in their woodcarving art. The carved art depicts the generational sociocultural link between people, their land, and sustainable management techniques meant to protect traditional culture. In the context of the Sarawak Iban in Borneo, this editorial emphasizes the relationship between wood qualities and indigenous carving art with the goal of demonstrating ancestral knowledge of the forest and its species.

Scientific breakthroughs are not just limited to empirical observation and analytical prowess but remain at the forefront of imagination. Speculation and storytelling, hallmarks of imagination, may be powerful means for realizing scientific possibilities long before they become technological realities. In the process of envisioning a breakthrough, imagination can embolden researchers to go beyond existing paradigms and promote creativity into reality. Visionary daydreaming can often be key to catalyze breakthrough discoveries.

Recent oil price volatility and geopolitical uncertainty highlight the need for more resilient energy production models. This study examines the bioeconomy as a strategic framework to address instability in global energy and material supply chains. Historical and recent oil crises demonstrate how fluctuations in fuel markets disrupt industrial competitiveness, particularly in energy-intensive sectors, while propagating impacts across downstream value chains. The bioeconomy offers an alternative pathway through the valorization of biobased resources. Current estimates place its contribution at approximately 3.5 to 4% of global gross domestic product (GDP), with significant growth projected by 2050. However, expansion remains constrained by challenges related to technological scale-up, regulatory fragmentation, investment risk, and limited standardization. Regional analysis reveals heterogeneous development patterns, with strong potential in resource-rich regions such as Latin America to promote localized value creation and reduce external dependencies. Key strategic priorities include strengthening regional value chains, advancing scalable biorefinery platforms, improving regulatory coherence, and expanding investment frameworks. These measures position the bioeconomy as a critical component for enhancing energy security, increasing industrial resilience, and supporting sustainable economic development in conditions of global uncertainty.

Biomass is a naturally renewable resource with wide distribution and huge annual output.  It is the most abundant  renewable organic resource in the world. Biorefinery can be defined as a processing system that converts biomass into a full range of energy products and chemical materials through a series of physical, chemical, and biological conversion treatments. It provides a practical technical route for reducing global dependence on fossil energy, mitigating the greenhouse effect, and promoting the green transformation of the global chemical and energy industry. To fully utilize the components of biomass, the biorefinery process generally comprises complex processing units and procedures, which results in low production efficiency and high investment. Process integration and coupling can effectively streamline its procedures and reduce the number of processing units. This can greatly enhance its production efficiency and reduce investment, thus improving its process economy.  In recent years, a variety of innovative integration and coupling strategies have been developed in the biorefinery process. However, current process integration and coupling still face multiple practical challenges. This editorial will provide a brief discussion on the use of process integration and coupling in the biorefinery process.

For many years, laboratory testing has been the cornerstone of quality evaluation in the paper and corrugated board industry, supporting both material control and packaging design. However, growing production complexity and the need for faster technological decisions expose the limitations of traditional, time-intensive testing methods. This editorial explores the potential of artificial intelligence as a tool that can complement, rather than replace, classical approaches. Machine learning models are capable of estimating key strength parameters such as ECT and BCT, identifying anomalies, and supporting material selection based on process and environmental data. Nevertheless, their effectiveness depends strongly on data quality, and they cannot substitute for standardized tests required for validation and certification. It is argued that the most effective path forward is a hybrid model, combining the reliability of laboratory testing with the speed and predictive power of AI, leading to more efficient and informed decision-making.

Historical woods are one of the most important natural resources in the world. Known wood species used in the past can be an elementary key for understanding traditional communities or old societies, registering cultural expressions, and making strategies for forest conservation. In addition, this knowledge can contribute to cultural agencies’ efforts in heritage preservation. On the other hand, the megabiodiversity found in tropical regions, such as Brazil, can pose an important challenge to successfully identifying wood species. In the rainforests of many regions, more than 450 wood species can be found, including trees and shrub components. Of this total, more than 100 species are used for cultural heritage. This number is incredibly higher than the usual number for cultural use in temperate regions. It is likely that many cultural species are still unknown. This paper introduces the concept of a collection specialized in cultural woods as a new frontier for the historical anatomy of tropical areas.