The project investigates the impact of post-consumer plastic food packaging (PFP) waste collection, sorting, decontamination, and recycling methods for contact-sensitive applications, focusing on rigid polypropylene (PP), which lacks a recycling standard for such uses. A precise sampling method was developed using plastic waste from Finland and Germany to assess how regional collection systems affect recycled plastic quality. Dry compost from these regions and Slovenia was analysed for microplastic contamination. A state-of-the-art review examined the ecological effects of PFP litter.
A methodology for analysing non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was established to evaluate the impact of packaging decorations and the effectiveness of current waste handling techniques. The role of bioplastics and smart packaging in sorting and recycling efficiency was tested in lab-scale scenarios.
Reuse in food packaging is being explored through material safety, consumer behaviour, business models, digitalisation, and convenience. An accelerated ageing method was developed to simulate reuse cycles and assess risks. Polyolefins and polyesters were studied for durability using wear, scratch, and washing degradation tests.
Reuse potential and barriers are being assessed in Finland (no current reuse market), France, and Switzerland (established/emerging markets). Pilots include zero-waste pizza delivery in Finland, with retailer pilots pending. Pilots in France and Switzerland are planned for 2026. A review of digitalisation technologies was conducted, with further pilot testing to follow.
A comprehensive analysis of circular business models identified innovation mechanisms and barriers, proposing system change interventions. Future scenarios were developed and validated through stakeholder workshops. Interviews with 40 stakeholders across Europe informed a quantity-quality match model to align recyclate supply and demand, assessing desirability, feasibility, and viability.
In monomaterial development, film processing and bi-axial stretching parameters were studied for their effect on oxygen permeability in PP, aiming to raise the technological readiness level (TRL) of recyclable monomaterial packaging from 2 to 4.
The STOPP Multi-Actor Community (MAC) was launched to foster stakeholder collaboration, with 112 of 150 targeted members registered by Month 16. An Adaptation Readiness Level Self-Assessment tool was created to help stakeholders evaluate their preparedness for sustainable practices. A preliminary LCA model (ISO 14040/44) was developed to compare industrial washing systems, alongside a system dynamics model for life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) of the STOPP project.
A large-scale study of 5,760 participants across four European countries explored the cognitive, affective, and social meanings of reuse and recycling. An online experiment was partially implemented to test how different information delivery strategies influence consumer choices between recyclable/reusable and single-use packaging.
