Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BUDDIE-PACK (Business-driven systemic solutions for sustainable plastic packaging reuse schemes in mass market applications)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-09-01 bis 2024-02-29
Single use plastics are major contributors to global plastics pollution. Reuse is a circular alternative to single use packaging, intending to reduce the environmental impact of a packaging by extending its lifetime. In any waste management hierarchy, reuse is preferred over recycling since it reduces waste, contributes to resources preservation and is much less energy intensive.
The EU-funded BUDDIE-PACK project aims to develop and demonstrate sustainable strategies for reusable plastic packaging (RPP) in the food and home care sectors. To achieve this, BUDDIE-PACK implements a systemic approach for the large-scale deployment of reusable plastic packaging (RPP) based on a multidisciplinary approach combining technological, social, and economic innovations.
The BUDDIE PACK project has six key objectives:
1. Develop technological solutions for the design and manufacture of packaging with the appropriate functional properties required for reuse
2. Understand consumers' expectations with regards to RPP, what they find acceptable, and assess drivers and barriers to behaviour change
3. Develop sustainable business-driven strategies offering profitable economic models to RPP
4. Ensure safety, risk management and reduce microplastics release in the environment
5. Carry out large scale demonstration trials to validate RPP along the value chains from a technical, economic and social point of view
6. Promote reusable plastic packaging across the EU
BUDDIE-PACK’s consortium counts twenty organisations, dispatched in six countries and representing multiple disciplines for the development of RPP at large scale. Its outcomes will be demonstrated under the supervision of RPP manufacturers and users, logisticians, cleaning and recycling experts through five business cases in real environment:
- Take-away packaging, with Vytal, for prepared meals ordered in restaurants, canteens or snacks,
- Catering packaging for prepared meals in supermarket, with Uzaje,
- Home care detergent bottle, with ASEVI, in association with a recyclable bag-in-box, produced by Smurfit Kappa, as a refill station,
- Catering packaging in canteens such as in schools or nursing homes, with Ausolan,
- Raw meat skin pack packaging, for delivery to professional kitchens (restaurants), with Dawn Meats.
Replacing single use packaging by their reusable equivalent in those business cases should to avoid the production of nearly of at least 1,3M of single use packaging, which in turn would reduce the consumption of virgin plastics, avoid CO2 emissions, and microplastics leaking in EU seas.
The EU-funded BUDDIE-PACK project aims to develop and demonstrate sustainable strategies for reusable plastic packaging (RPP) in the food and home care sectors. To achieve this, BUDDIE-PACK implements a systemic approach for the large-scale deployment of reusable plastic packaging (RPP) based on a multidisciplinary approach combining technological, social, and economic innovations.
The BUDDIE PACK project has six key objectives:
1. Develop technological solutions for the design and manufacture of packaging with the appropriate functional properties required for reuse
2. Understand consumers' expectations with regards to RPP, what they find acceptable, and assess drivers and barriers to behaviour change
3. Develop sustainable business-driven strategies offering profitable economic models to RPP
4. Ensure safety, risk management and reduce microplastics release in the environment
5. Carry out large scale demonstration trials to validate RPP along the value chains from a technical, economic and social point of view
6. Promote reusable plastic packaging across the EU
BUDDIE-PACK’s consortium counts twenty organisations, dispatched in six countries and representing multiple disciplines for the development of RPP at large scale. Its outcomes will be demonstrated under the supervision of RPP manufacturers and users, logisticians, cleaning and recycling experts through five business cases in real environment:
- Take-away packaging, with Vytal, for prepared meals ordered in restaurants, canteens or snacks,
- Catering packaging for prepared meals in supermarket, with Uzaje,
- Home care detergent bottle, with ASEVI, in association with a recyclable bag-in-box, produced by Smurfit Kappa, as a refill station,
- Catering packaging in canteens such as in schools or nursing homes, with Ausolan,
- Raw meat skin pack packaging, for delivery to professional kitchens (restaurants), with Dawn Meats.
Replacing single use packaging by their reusable equivalent in those business cases should to avoid the production of nearly of at least 1,3M of single use packaging, which in turn would reduce the consumption of virgin plastics, avoid CO2 emissions, and microplastics leaking in EU seas.
The project started in September 2022, and after 18 months, it is the opportunity to look back over the work performed so far towards the development and deployment of reusable plastic packaging.
First, the consortium focused on the specifications for reusable plastic packaging. Industrial partners Vytal, Asevi, Ausolan, Dawn Meats, Uzaje, and Smurfit Kappa described their needs, and technical centers, IPC, AIMPLAS and CTCPA, university, TUS and industry Knauf Industries, translated them into technical specifications.
With all these elements in mind, the technical centers studied the bibliography and current market to select materials suitable for RPP. First prototypes were produced, with joint objectives of characterising an array of promising materials, while trying out a first ageing protocol. The results enabled the identification of a shortlist of materials, fit for each use case.
ECHO designs came up with their first design guidelines for first prototypes, and in February 2024, with the design freeze of five new packaging for the project. Now the consortium is working towards the realisation of those packaging by finalising the moulds required to produce them in series, for upcoming large-scale demonstrations.
Regarding quality and safety of RPP, the CTCPA, LNE and IPC implemented an accelerated aging protocol and several methods for assessing RPP performance and safety. A first design of decontamination equipment was achieved by Eternity Systems and Christeyns. The overall migration of existing RPP was assessed by the LNE, which also set up a washing protocol for microplastics collection and analyses. Finally, Eternity System set up a washing pilot line, dedicated to reusable packaging, which will be used during the large-scale demonstration phases.
In parallel, the University of Sheffield gathered data for social studies, focusing on six topics around RPP :
- consumer engagement with reuse systems,
- identifying social and behavioural issues with respect to reuse systems for household products,
- cross-cultural study of reuse for lunch on-the-go,
- effect of information about cleaning on concerns about contamination in reuse systems for takeaway food,
- study of users’ views of reusable packaging for raw meat in catering kitchens,
- effect of penalties and incentives on engagement with reuse systems.
The economical aspect of RPP was also studied, by Searious Business, with Cost-Benefit Analysis, identification of the profitability drivers, of the Value Chains of each use case, and identification of sustainable business models. Number of cycles (per container) and share of business (single use vs reusables) were defined as Key Performance Indicators for each use case, to be able to compare the success of the upcoming large-scale demonstrations.
Last but not least, IPC and the University of Sheffield worked on the overall assessment of all use cases. Methodological standards were chosen, as well as referential choice for Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), Life Cycle Costing Analysis (LCCA), Social Life Cycle Analysis (SLCA). Screening studies for LCA and LCCA were achieved for 5 use cases. These studies indicate a good environmental and economic performance when RPP is reused enough, often for around 20 reuse cycles, depending on the system studied. Finally, the partners defined the indicators and data collection strategy for an upcoming Social Impact Assessment.
First, the consortium focused on the specifications for reusable plastic packaging. Industrial partners Vytal, Asevi, Ausolan, Dawn Meats, Uzaje, and Smurfit Kappa described their needs, and technical centers, IPC, AIMPLAS and CTCPA, university, TUS and industry Knauf Industries, translated them into technical specifications.
With all these elements in mind, the technical centers studied the bibliography and current market to select materials suitable for RPP. First prototypes were produced, with joint objectives of characterising an array of promising materials, while trying out a first ageing protocol. The results enabled the identification of a shortlist of materials, fit for each use case.
ECHO designs came up with their first design guidelines for first prototypes, and in February 2024, with the design freeze of five new packaging for the project. Now the consortium is working towards the realisation of those packaging by finalising the moulds required to produce them in series, for upcoming large-scale demonstrations.
Regarding quality and safety of RPP, the CTCPA, LNE and IPC implemented an accelerated aging protocol and several methods for assessing RPP performance and safety. A first design of decontamination equipment was achieved by Eternity Systems and Christeyns. The overall migration of existing RPP was assessed by the LNE, which also set up a washing protocol for microplastics collection and analyses. Finally, Eternity System set up a washing pilot line, dedicated to reusable packaging, which will be used during the large-scale demonstration phases.
In parallel, the University of Sheffield gathered data for social studies, focusing on six topics around RPP :
- consumer engagement with reuse systems,
- identifying social and behavioural issues with respect to reuse systems for household products,
- cross-cultural study of reuse for lunch on-the-go,
- effect of information about cleaning on concerns about contamination in reuse systems for takeaway food,
- study of users’ views of reusable packaging for raw meat in catering kitchens,
- effect of penalties and incentives on engagement with reuse systems.
The economical aspect of RPP was also studied, by Searious Business, with Cost-Benefit Analysis, identification of the profitability drivers, of the Value Chains of each use case, and identification of sustainable business models. Number of cycles (per container) and share of business (single use vs reusables) were defined as Key Performance Indicators for each use case, to be able to compare the success of the upcoming large-scale demonstrations.
Last but not least, IPC and the University of Sheffield worked on the overall assessment of all use cases. Methodological standards were chosen, as well as referential choice for Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), Life Cycle Costing Analysis (LCCA), Social Life Cycle Analysis (SLCA). Screening studies for LCA and LCCA were achieved for 5 use cases. These studies indicate a good environmental and economic performance when RPP is reused enough, often for around 20 reuse cycles, depending on the system studied. Finally, the partners defined the indicators and data collection strategy for an upcoming Social Impact Assessment.
After validation by the EU, and in order to support the Reusable Packaging industry, BUDDIE-PACK aims to share publicly its conclusions about:
- design and manufacture of RPP,
- how to support consumers towards reusable packaging,
- making reusable plastic packaging safe and reaching high quality standards,
- viable economic models enabling reusable packaging to reach mass markets,
- environmental, economic and social performances of the new reuse schemes.
The large-scale demonstrations of 2025 should enable the consortium to learn precious lessons about the challenges linked to RPP deployment.
At the end of the project, mass market solutions should be identified for the food and home care markets, and packaging available at large scale (from large retailers, supermarkets, restaurant chains,…).
- design and manufacture of RPP,
- how to support consumers towards reusable packaging,
- making reusable plastic packaging safe and reaching high quality standards,
- viable economic models enabling reusable packaging to reach mass markets,
- environmental, economic and social performances of the new reuse schemes.
The large-scale demonstrations of 2025 should enable the consortium to learn precious lessons about the challenges linked to RPP deployment.
At the end of the project, mass market solutions should be identified for the food and home care markets, and packaging available at large scale (from large retailers, supermarkets, restaurant chains,…).