Project description
The search for better packaging material
More than a third of solid waste comes from packaging waste, and plastic is the leading material used in food retail in Europe. The EU-funded R3PACK project estimates that six plastic applications will represent 86 % of waste reduction by 2040. Research suggests the biggest advantage can come from the use of multilayer and multimaterial packaging. Leveraging sophisticated technologies that enable the use of multilayer packaging will support R3PACK’s plan to contribute to reducing, reusing and rethinking packaging. The project will facilitate a framework for the EU that ensures food safety in reusable packaging along with washing methods. Businesses will get the guidance they need to choose the right packaging solution for their goods.
Objective
Packaging waste accounts for 36% of solid waste in EU towns, with plastics being the most widely used material in European food retail, covering 37% of food sold. Recent research shows that important reductions can be achieved by focusing on six plastic applications that are projected to account for 86% of the total reduction achievable by 2040, with multilayer/multimaterial packaging constituting the biggest untapped potential.
Consumer awareness of packaging waste and their environmental and social externalities is driving change, while major brands encounter difficulties in self-regulating, as they lack innovative solutions immediately applicable for their most complex packaging.
Retailers, as key actors in the food value chain, can choose to lead the transition by promoting a fundamental rethinking of their delivery chains.
R3PACK will contribute to Reduce, Reuse, Rethink PACKaging by securing fast and extensive uptake of industrially relevant, cross-sectorial, cost-effective innovative technologies allowing immediate substitution of complex multilayer plastic packaging with high performing fiber-based packaging and economical, industrial and environmental optimisation of reuse schemes demonstrated at large scale and transnationally in 3 EU countries by 2 major retailers, covering the needs of 13 different food product types.
R3PACK will moreover offer a clear pathway towards a normalized framework for reusable packaging’s food safety and for reusable packaging’s washing methods, that will serve as reference at EU level.
R3PACK will finally offer decision support tools ready to be used by businesses to choose the right packaging solution (between optimized reuse schemes and developed R3PACK paper-based packaging) meeting closely the needs of their products.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
75009 PARIS
France
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Participants (22)
501 15 Boras
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80686 Munchen
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00185 Roma
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20123 Milano
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40126 Bologna
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20133 Milano
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8000 Aarhus C
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443 03 Lerum
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
223 70 Lund
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
1000 Bruxelles / Brussel
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94110 ARCUEIL
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93100 Massy
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94533 RUNGIS
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85170 SAINT DENIS LA CHEVASSE
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75007 PARIS
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45550 SAINT DENIS DE L HOTEL
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50430 Lessay
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75014 PARIS
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40200 MIMIZAN
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25290 ORNANS
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
41000 BLOIS
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55110 CLERY LE PETIT
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Partners (1)
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
PL24 2SQ Par Cornwall
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