Project description
A new way to wrap up plastic waste
Only 14 % of plastic packaging is recycled. An estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic waste – mainly packaging – is dumped into our oceans each year. Recycling these single-use disposable plastics is clearly the best strategy to curb plastic pollution. The ideal would be a packaging film that is 100 % recycled or biologically decomposable. In response to this need, the EU-funded Nature Fresh project is developing a compostable film packaging solution for the fresh food packaging markets (meats, fish, dairy, fruit and vegetables). Targeting retailers, food processers and consumers, the project aims to commercialise its new compostable film packaging system by mid-2022.
Objective
In the light of the recently published ‘A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy’ document, all stakeholders involved in the life cycle of plastic packaging are striving towards achieving a solution which could curb plastic pollution and its adverse impact on our lives and the environment. Consumers and retailers demand a packaging film which can be 100% recycled or can be completely biologically decomposed. Compostable plastics have the ability to break down, safely and relatively quickly, by biological means, into the raw materials of nature and disappear into the environment (soil). There is a need of a totally compostable wrapping packaging solution (film, label and tray) along with an easy-to-use (and maintain) cost effective packaging machines. 2. 3. In a response to this market need, the project consortium led by Fabbri Group is developing a platform technology ‘Nature Fresh’ which is a complete compostable film packaging solution targeted specifically at the fresh food packaging markets (meat, fish, dairy, fruit and vegetables). Nature Fresh delivers retailers. food processors, and the common public direct environmental benefits and addresses a current opportunity to reduce the use of plastic. At the same time the product will assist in meeting sustainability initiatives. Through this 30 months FTI project, the consortium aims to carry out activities such as commercial scale manufacturing of the compostable films, design and development of the automatic wrapping machines, design and development compostable label, gain regulatory approvals and conduct end-user trials to gain market acceptance and a swift market entry by Q2- 2022.
Fields of science
- agricultural sciencesanimal and dairy sciencedairy
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturefruit growing
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturevegetable growing
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesfood technologyfood packaging
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
41058 VIGNOLA
Italy