AIMPLAS launches project for bioplastics for food packaging

AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, will kick off the new GRECO project on June 16-17 that aims to demonstrate the life cycle and techno-economic feasibility of greener and safer bioplastics value chains for the food packaging sector, based on a safe and sustainable-by-design strategy.

European Bioplastics and its members, including TotalEnergies Corbion, AIMPLAS, and INNOTECH COEXPAN-EMSUR, are among the 22 partners that have joined forces to develop and implement “Innovative biobased, biodegradable, recyclable, safe, and circular food packaging" under the lead of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH).

“The GRECO project aligns with the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation by developing biobased, biodegradable, and recyclable PLA copolymers for food packaging. Our goal is to create sustainable and circular solutions that reduce waste and environmental impact,” Dimitrios Bikiaris from AUTH, and GRECO coordinator, indicated.

At a demonstrative scale and in the real operational environment, GRECO will design, demonstrate and scale up food packaging materials that can meet diverse application needs, preventing moisture and aroma loss and increasing shelf life.

Novel PLA copolymers will be developed and optimized with the modelling tools to drive the design of the polymers to improve the biodegradability, performance, production rates, yield, and quality in an iterative strategy.

GRECO will work on different end-of-life (EoL) scenarios, including testing the recyclability of the bio-based polymers and materials with mechanical and chemical recycling, both in open and in closed-loop systems. Innovative recycling technologies will also be used on post-consumer plastic packaging approved for food contact and deliver decontaminated recycled-bio-based polyesters.

At the same time, a biodegradability assessment will be performed for aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation. The biodegradability of the developed materials will be tested in marine, water, and soil environments. The materials will also be tested for industrial composting conditions and home composting.

The certification bodies TÜV AUSTRIA Belgium and DIN CERTCO will benefit from the results of biodegradability testing in open environments and use the inputs to plan changes and revisions in their certification schemes.

The consortium will also collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data on consumer needs and their perceptions to ascertain how GRECO products align with the perceptions of consumers and their related values, such as sustainability, usability, and accessibility.