Project description
Bio-based unit dose packaging for food applications
Traditional plastics used in the market derive from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. Approximately 40 % of plastics used for packaging end in waste. Today, there is a growing demand for packaging made from bioplastics that derive from renewable resources or biodegradable polymers. The EU-funded BIOSNAP project intends to exploit the bioplastics market growth and opportunities by providing a ready-to-market, sustainable unit dose packaging for food applications (olive oil, ketchup, or mayonnaise) that is 100 % bio-based. It will also use biodegradable and compostable materials in compliance with UNI EN13432. The packaging will be safely disposable with the organic waste for the benefit of the end users (food firms) and final consumers.
Objective
Of the total plastic demand, approximately 40% is used to make packaging that is discarded within weeks or days. These short-life plastics bottles, containers, unit dose packaging, secondary packaging have important disadvantages regarding their usage and disposal. Traditional plastics are derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource, used to produce large quantities of plastics that go to waste (38% go to landfills). Due to the increasing awareness of such environmental impact, there is a growing demand for packaging made from bioplastics (polymers derived from renewable resources or biodegradable polymers). For almost every conventional plastic there is now a bioplastic alternative available on the market that has the same properties with additional advantages. Currently bioplastics represent around 1% of the total plastic produced annually (2M in 2017) but the market is booming (20% growth annually) and many big firms are introducing bio-packaging in an attempt to position their products as green and include the sustainability claim. Moreover, about 80% of European consumers want to buy products which have minimal impact on the environment and will be willing to accept an additional charge in their shopping bag for sustainable packaging. Our project, BIOSNAP aims at taking full advantage of the bioplastics market growth and opportunities towards more sustainable products. We are providing a ready-to market, sustainable unit dose packaging that is 100% bio-based for food applications (olive oil, ketchup, or mayonnaise). Furthermore, it will be made of biodegradable and compostable materials in compliance with UNI EN13432. Our end users (food firms) will benefit from a premium and unique unit dose packaging on the market, and final consumers will benefit from its versatility and ease of use (one hand opening system), being able to safely dispose the packaging with the organic waste. The consortium expects to achieve a ROI of 15.3 from BIOSNAP.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfossil energypetroleum
- natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciences
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processes
- engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybiomaterialsbioplastics
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
15073 Castellazzo Bormida
Italy
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.