A Bibliometric Study of Research Topics and Sustainability of Packaging in the Greater China Region.

CHINA; TAIWAN

The consumption and sustainability of packaging are significant concerns. With development of the division of labor during economic globalization, packaging issues are viewed differently in different regions. This study focused on the Greater China region, which has recently experienced rapid economic growth. Bibliometric analyses were performed using data from two Chinese academic databases, CNKI-CAJD of Mainland China and CEPS of Taiwan; 24,790 journal papers on packaging published between 1989 and 2019 were investigated using keyword co-occurrence analyses and cluster maps. The history of research on packaging in Greater China is summarized and the research areas are categorized into five common subjects: design and consumption assessment, marketing and image packaging, food packaging, special item packaging, and structure and materials. Among these subjects, CNKI-CAJD mostly focuses on industrial applications in packaging institutions and industry, division of labor in the packaging industry, and foreign trade commodity packaging, while CEPS focuses on diversified aspects of green design and education in packaging and environmental protection and packaging development. The results map out Chinese research on packaging and can serve as a reference for applying environmental sustainability in the packaging field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]