Upgrading the production and enzymatic recycling of environmentally friendly PHA-based rigid packaging solutions, using beer spent grains as feedstock units
Project
According to Plastics Europe, the European plastic industry is worth more than € 350 billion and it is the 7th industrial sector in Europe in value added contribution. In 2019, almost 58 million tonnes of plastic were produced in Europe. The plastic packaging segment is the biggest plastic consumer absorbing 39,6% of the plastic produced. However, in spite of the great demand, plastic waste still represents an important environmental problem in Europe. Average recycling rates of packaging waste in Europe, in fact, do not exceed 40%, while the rest is landfilled. The European Commission, acknowledging the issue, set two recycling targets for plastic packaging for the years to come: 50% by 2025 and 55% by 2030.
Sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, on the other hand, have the flaw of being, on average, more expensive than traditional plastic, and less performing or versatile.
OBJECTIVES
BioSupPack aims to deliver versatile and competitive bio-based packaging solutions based on PHA suitable for food, cosmetics, homecare and beverage sectors utilizations and to establish a new value chain including the development of logistics and management of both brewery and packaging waste.
Renewable resources
Increase the use of renewable resources (beer spent grains) for PHA formulations up to >85%
PHA-based rigid packaging
Upscale the production
Upscale the production of new PHA-based products to demostration level
Plasma technology
Integration of plasma technology throughout the value chain for the pre-treatment of brew spent grains, packaging treatment and finally, for the pre-treatment of packaging waste
Sort BioSupPack waste
Development of a system able to identify and sort BioSupPack waste (>90% of BioSupPack materials identified)
BioSupPack recyclability
Ensuring BioSupPack recyclability. Mechanical and enzymatic recycling processes to reintroduce materials in the production step and/or recover carbon sources for the fermentation process (>30% carbon source supply)
Acceptance of the new BioSupPack products
Demonstrate end-user validation and acceptance of the new BioSupPack products
Value chain
Creation of the new value chain by managing both brewery and packaging waste flows
EU-standards compliance
Sustainability and EU-standards compliance assessment
Maximisation of impact
Maximisation of impact after the end of the project by exploiting results
