Hatzopoulos, a Greece-based flexible packaging manufacturer, is backing the development of a new biodegradable, multi-layered packaging for dried food applications, a bio-based alternative to the existing solutions available for Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP).
The project received €1.2m from the EU's Seventh Framework Programme.
The BioActiveLayer material will provide a cost-effective and fully recyclable solution to the dried food industry. It will also maintain product quality and assure food safety, providing a shelf-life of up to 24 months.
The project plans to improve the paper-based, bio-degradable, multi-layer structure by increasing the paper moisture barrier by applying blends of waxes and resins.
Hatzopoulos Project Coordinator Dr Lefteris Tourasanidis said: "Dried food is forecasted to rapidly grow in popularity, possibly due to its ability to be transported cheaply, its longer storage life, and ease of consumption. Another area of concern is the similar rise in associated waste levels.
"A 5% substitution of the materials used in existing MAP applications would reduce the 300,000 tons of non-renewable plastic packaging that is currently being disposed of across Europe."
"Our aim is to successfully introduce a completely renewable and biodegradable packaging solution that will maintain freshness and cut such high levels of packaging waste," Tourasanidis added.
Work on the BioActiveLayer project commenced on 1 September 2013. The project partners include Hatzopoulos, Nuevas Tecnicas de Coloracion, Skymark Packaging International, Belourthe, Plusfresc, Instituto Tecnologico del Embalaje, Transporte y Logistica (Spain), Wageningen University (Netherlands) and the UK Materials Research Institute (A Pera Technology company).
The project received €1.2m from the EU's Seventh Framework Programme.
The BioActiveLayer material will provide a cost-effective and fully recyclable solution to the dried food industry. It will also maintain product quality and assure food safety, providing a shelf-life of up to 24 months.
The project plans to improve the paper-based, bio-degradable, multi-layer structure by increasing the paper moisture barrier by applying blends of waxes and resins.
Hatzopoulos Project Coordinator Dr Lefteris Tourasanidis said: "Dried food is forecasted to rapidly grow in popularity, possibly due to its ability to be transported cheaply, its longer storage life, and ease of consumption. Another area of concern is the similar rise in associated waste levels.
"A 5% substitution of the materials used in existing MAP applications would reduce the 300,000 tons of non-renewable plastic packaging that is currently being disposed of across Europe."
"Our aim is to successfully introduce a completely renewable and biodegradable packaging solution that will maintain freshness and cut such high levels of packaging waste," Tourasanidis added.
Work on the BioActiveLayer project commenced on 1 September 2013. The project partners include Hatzopoulos, Nuevas Tecnicas de Coloracion, Skymark Packaging International, Belourthe, Plusfresc, Instituto Tecnologico del Embalaje, Transporte y Logistica (Spain), Wageningen University (Netherlands) and the UK Materials Research Institute (A Pera Technology company).
