Project description
Nature-inspired smart packaging for sustainable food safety
The EIC-funded Bio4Pack project aims to replace fossil-based food packaging plastics with nature-inspired, biodegradable and safe materials. It combines the PHBHHx biopolymer with the phage-based PhagTec antimicrobial system to improve food safety, extend shelf life and reduce waste. Using Salmonella as a model, the technology demonstrates efficacy against bacteria relevant to both food spoilage control and human health protection. Phages remain inactive until triggered by bacteria, ensuring precise antimicrobial action without affecting food quality. The packaging is compostable and supports circular economy goals and EU targets for reducing plastic use. Developed together with scientific and industry experts, the project aims to reach TRL4. While initially focused on poultry packaging, the solution can be readily applied to other foods, packaging systems and medical materials.
Objective
This proposal tackles the urgent need to replace fossil-carbon-based plastics in food production systems by developing bio-based, biodegradable materials inspired by nature. Through interdisciplinary research and innovative design, we aim to create nature-inspired food packaging that not only minimizes environmental impact but also opens up a world of possibilities for sustainable food production. By maintaining the functional benefits of conventional plastics, ensuring biodegradability and sustainability throughout the product lifecycle, we are paving the way to replace fossil-carbon-based plastics. We aim to pioneer phages as antimicrobials in food packaging, sharing our PhagTec delivery system and Bio4Pack technology with other groups under this funding program. This will extend the application to agricultural, environmental, and medical sectors.
Bacterial contamination, especially from Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Listeria, poses a significant challenge in poultry consumption. It reduces shelf-life and contributes to food waste and non-degradable packaging waste. Bio4Pack offers biodegradable, smart packaging solutions made from bio-based polymers to address this. The innovative PhagTec delivery system releases phages upon detecting the pathogen proteases (Salmonella-specific), providing antimicrobial properties that reduce the need for antibiotics. Nature-inspired phage coatings are consumer-safe and environmentally friendly and ensure long-term anti-pathogen effectiveness with full compostability.
Our multifaceted approach involves an advisory board of experts in agriculture, industry, phage technology, LCA, regulatory guidance, and collaboration with other EU-funded projects. We propose an interdisciplinary strategy, including short scientific missions, events, and online hackathons to maximize the project’s impact and align with the call’s objectives.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture sustainable agriculture
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- engineering and technology other engineering and technologies food technology food safety
- engineering and technology materials engineering coating and films
- engineering and technology other engineering and technologies food technology food packaging
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
90-136 LODZ
Poland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.