The first D4Pack capitalisation workshop was held on 29 October 2024, organised by Campden BRI Hungary. 37 participants from seven different European countries (Hungary, Belgium, Slovenia, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain) attended the meeting.
The main topic of the workshop was the research of a new packaging solution and the presentation of the results of Activity 1.2. The partner who developed the methodology presented the background of D4Pack, why the project needs to be defined and how CBHU is connected to it. Based on our mapped projects from Europe and around the world, we identify key trends, projects or solutions to increase sustainability in the growth of packaging functionality and to meet consumer demands. Sustainable packaging and innovative materials are now the most emerging trends.
During the meeting, several speakers followed each other to present their viewpoints:
- Zoltan Bendó, representing the Interreg project CIREVALC, presented and up-scaled circular economy models in regional value chains in the food, catering and packaging value chains. The speaker was from the South-Transdanubian Regional Innovation Agency in Hungary, an associated strategic partner in the D4Pack project. CIVERALC does not focus on technology, but rather on the soft measures that it tries to identify and use in the projects. The project aims to introduce and upscale circular economy models in regional value chains in a broader way than D4PACK. Upscaling through community building, strengthening the circular economy skills of businesses, non-business entities and local communities. This will bedone through their co-developed solution which we call the Circular Community Accelerator, which provides knowledge, design and all kinds of practical expertise to interested stakeholders for each business. Of course, the company also makes suggestions for relevant policies.
- Dr Maarten Hertog was the presenter of ENOUGH H2020, the project about Climate Neutral Food Packaging. He is from the University of Leuven and leader of 9 H2020 projects, including ENOUGH H2020. 21 demonstrators were involved in this project across the meat, fish, dairy, fruit & vegetables and other sectors (transport, storage & retail, household). The Fruit & Vegetable demonstrators were more detailed and presented sustainable consumer packaging solutions for fresh fruit. This demonstration will not develop a new type of packaging but will look at what is available in the market and how it can help us take the next step towards a more sustainable future. The sample they looked at was the blueberry and the different packaging availability and the differences in many of the parameters. There are some further improvements that they would like to achieve by the end of the ENOUGH project: to continue and look at the behaviour of some of the packaging in more dynamic transport conditions and simulate it, and in addition they are looking for another fruit product to apply it to.
- The presenter of the upPE-T H2020 project, on the upcycling of PE and PET waste to produce biodegradable bioplastics for food and drink packaging, was Marianna Faraldi. She is from the company Tecnoalimenti, one of the 20 partners led and coordinated by the research centre Cetec. The project is funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 programme. They presented their technical approach from two perspectives. They have developed a new type of PE/PET packaging by producing PHBV. To mention the main achievements, they were able to produce PHBV from waste from the confectionery industry and nutrients from PET upcycling, from which they started to obtain flexible packaging through blends and demonstration of rigid trays and sticks (feasible). They are now in the validation phase.
- The PRESERVE H2020 project on sustainable bio-based high performance packaging with tailor-made end-of-life and upcycled secondary use, was chaired by Dr. Chritina Eisenberger who works at the SPI (Sustainable Packaging Institute) of the University of Albstadt-Sigmaringen. The PRESERVE project has 23 partners, including 7 research organisations, partners along the circular supply & value chain with large end users and the largest bioplastics producer/user association. The potential of bio-based multilayers to rethink food packaging: flow packs, trays, pouches, beverage bricks. Bio-based design options for separation & recycling for 2nd high performance applications in personal care and transport packaging: injection moulded jars, bottles, carrier boxes, bags.
- KSM Visions Inspect 360+ LI RS project was a little different from previous projects in that it didn’t focus on the development of packaging materials, but rather on the inspection of the materials used by companies. KSM Vision is a supplier of machine vision solutions for quality control specialising in the inspection of labels.