FRACTAL: A TRANSDISCIPLINARY METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING FOOD PACKAGING IN LOCAL AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABILITY

This study explores the challenges of developing food packaging in local agri-food systems focused on sustainability, highlighting the need for transdisciplinary approaches adapted to the particularities of innovation and environmental preservation. The main objective was to develop a food packaging design method optimized for these productive realities. The research, which was applied, exploratory and descriptive, used a mixed approach with longitudinal and cross-sectional studies, based on the hypothetical-deductive method, bibliographical research and action research. The methodology incorporated principles of packaging design, design thinking and project management, testing three main hypotheses. The results culminated in the design of the "Fractal" method, a transdisciplinary roadmap that integrates technology, the environment and people, based on seven central premises: appreciation, sustainability, legal compliance and food safety, producer-consumer connection, environmental preservation, innovation harmonized with tradition and territorial-community engagement. The roadmap was organized into three stages, supported by a framework with 15 themes, a briefing form and two checklists with 137 criteria to guide the design and management processes. This research contributed to filling potential gaps in the literature by providing a theoretical and practical basis for enhancing technological innovations and the design of sustainable solutions. In line with emerging trends, the study proposes new alternatives for optimizing food packaging, respecting ecological limits and promoting social and economic inclusion, seeking to generate positive impacts on local and regional economies.