Sustainable Manufacturing Practices in the Plastic Packaging Industry and Associated Barriers: A Systematic Literature Review

The plastic packaging industry is a major contributor to environmental impacts due to its intensive use of fossil-based materials and low recycling rates. In this context, Sustainable Manufacturing (SM) has emerged as a strategic approach to mitigate these impacts while balancing environmental, economic, and social dimensions. However, the literature remains fragmented, particularly regarding the integration of practices, barriers, and performance in sustainability. This study aims to systematically identify and analyze SM practices in the plastic packaging industry, examine the barriers to their implementation, and propose an integrated framework that relates practices, barriers, and performance in the dimensions of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL). A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA protocol, searching the Scopus and Web of Science databases without temporal restrictions. A total of 18 peer-reviewed articles were selected for in-depth content analysis. The data were coded and categorized to identify practices, barriers, and their interrelationships. The results indicate a predominance of practices focused on the environmental dimension, such as sustainable design and development, recycling, and resource efficiency, while social practices remain underexplored. Significant barriers include high investment costs, technological limitations, inadequate recycling infrastructure, and regulatory inconsistencies. Based on these findings, this study proposes an integrated framework that captures the relationships among SM practices, barriers to implementation, and performance across TBL dimensions. This framework contributes to advancing theoretical understanding and provides practical support for managers and policymakers in promoting a more systemic and sustainable transition in the plastic packaging industry.