Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BIOSMART (Bio-based smart packaging for enhanced preservation of food quality.)

Teaser

Current food packages typically are lightweight and address highly tailored performance needs. However, they are composed of multiple and different plastics, often including aluminium. These are difficult to recycle for individual components, do not address residual food...

Summary

Current food packages typically are lightweight and address highly tailored performance needs. However, they are composed of multiple and different plastics, often including aluminium. These are difficult to recycle for individual components, do not address residual food issues or guarantee the real food due-date. The challenge is addressed by developing an all compostable strongly simplified package with modifiable mechanical and barrier properties, “non-sticky” surfaces and real due-date sensors. The novel package is “good enough” for most food applications, the entire package is “organic” for easy collection and composting or recycling.
The BIOSMART project is developing smart bio-based, compostable or recyclable packages addressing the needs of fresh and pre-treated food applications. Moreover, the novel packaging system will form the basis for tailoring performance and functionality to specific flexible and rigid food packages in diverse market segments. A holistic ecosystem approach is pursued by offering solutions that bring enhanced performance and acceptable economics to the value chain and facilitate implementation and large-scale commercialization. Critical issues that differentiate the present packages from the future all-bio-based and compostable ones are enhanced active and smart functionalities that make possible: light weighting, reduced food residues, shelf life monitoring and longer shelf life, easier consumer waste handling, and all this at a competitive cost to the incumbent. The BIOSMART project develops thus encompasses an approach for selectively integrating super-hydrophobic surfaces, microencapsulated phase change materials, barrier coatings, sensoring devices, and new bio-active antimicrobial and antioxidants, into all-bio-based packages.

Work performed

Main activities in course during the period May-2017 / October-2018:
• Production of lab samples of biobased polymers and copolymers:
• Antimicrobial coating using cold atmospheric plasma technology:
• Micro-nanotexturing of PLA films and biopolymers with nanoclays, by Nano Imprint Lithography (NIL) for super hydrophobicity
• Development of lipopeptides with antimicrobial and/or antifungal properties
• Sol gel films with UV shielding properties. It includes temperature or UV cured methods as well as the addition of nanoparticles.
• Encapsulation of phase change materials, using different vegetable oils as PCMs with organic or inorganic capsules.
• Antimicrobial and food approval oriented testing of BIOSMART solutions

Final results

The aim of the BIOSMART project is to break the implementation of non-fossil fuel-based packages in food packaging markets. Rethinking the present value chain and demonstrating a viable technical as well as economically acceptable solution towards all the stakeholders in the food packaging industry. As technology concept, the difference is the simultaneous integration of innovative technologies that address key performance enhancers in packages – less material use, no food residues, shelf-life control and/or extension, and facilitating post-consumer waste handling.
An additional benefit is that partners are committed to disseminate public results to the broadest possible industrial platform. All these features are novel in approach and methodology, and aimed to benefit the future European society.

Bio-based package solutions
Food by nature is subjected to chemical or microbial deterioration. In order to optimise the storage and extend the shelf life of food products, control of chemical components of the food, manufacturing process, initial microbial load, type of packaging and food storage must be considered. Preservation systems are therefore based rather on a multi-component approach and they seldom rely on one factor alone.

The BIOSMART project proposal is therefore ambitious in that clearly articulated targets are set to achieve all bio-based active and smart functional packages with enhanced performance. It includes developing:
• Non-fossil fuel-based plastics and materials transformation for packaging
• Physical surface texturing to reach superhydrophobicity and/or antimicrobial properties
• Peptides from food co-product hydrolysis with antimicrobial and/or antifungal properties
• Lipopeptides biosurfactants with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties
• Encapsulation of vegetable bio-based PCMs for thermal control
• Bio-based barrier coatings
• Plastic substrate printed bio-sensors

Wider Benefits
• Open Access to products, packaging technology, and functionalized packages to stimulate faster implementation and acceptance into the market.
• Improved product safety for consumers with all-bio-based packages.
• Knowledge sharing made easy through App technology enables tailored selection and option evaluation of bio-based package offerings

Wider Economic Benefits
• The BIOSMART package concepts are applicable to other sectors/categories/market segments such as pharma, cosmetics, cleaning products, medical, electronics, and industrial packaging.
• Retailer success linked to increased sales of innovative products and lasting shelf-life significantly reduces cost.
• Build EU reputation via new products and scientific publications

Wider Social Benefits
Reducing food waste is a major issue for the society. Safety of plastic packages is an important consumer concern, and ease of post-consumer product recycling is a significant cost to society with no direct efficient perspective of closing the life cycle of the used plastics.
• Access to products with increased functionality and sustainability with natural and safe additives can remedy existing issues and change perceptions of plastic packages.
• Simulation driven product design approaches for packaging design using easy to use tools can reduce entry barriers for the production of all-bio-based packages.
• Reduction of food waste (30-40% of all consumer food is wasted) with direct and indirect impact on commercial and environmental challenges

Website & more info

More info: http://biosmart-project.eu/.