The BIOSMART project proposal has the ambition to develop active and smart bio-based and compostable packages addressing the needs of fresh and pretreated 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 proposal develops thus encompasses an approach for selectively integrating superhydrophobic surfaces, microencapsulated phase change materials, barrier coatings, sensoring devices, and new bio-active antimicrobial and antioxidants, into all-bio-based multilayer flexible plastic packages. Three generic packaging systems are selected with specific performance needs as defined by current multi-material (eg. pouches, terrines and cardboard/thin film tray). The associate life cycle assessments for the different possible scenarios include the economic feasibility. Ultimately, this consolidated knowledge is captured in a material selection and packaging performance simulation App. through optimization of all possible variables to meet selected key performance indicators (KPI).

The packaging industry is responsible of around 60% of post-consumer SUP wastes and most likely to become litter in natural environments. While factors such as fast consumption patterns, safety concerns or compact size, hinder effective packaging waste recycling, the need for safe alternative biodegradable solutions is mandatory. E-OILÉ will address safe and sustainable biodegradable packaging solutions close to the market by: a) demonstrating at TRL 7 cost effective production of biodegradable materials based on novel biopolyesters and polysaccharides, engineered to enhance barrier and mechanical performance, to replace Polyolefin materials (PP and PE) and PET in monodose packaging solutions ecodesigned as biodegradable monomaterial structures or combination with coating technologies and following the SSbD framework ; b) implementing a circular business model, food and cosmetic products, through 4 Uses Cases (UC): Olive oil- UC1; oily sauces- UC2; Body oil- UC3 and Oil serum- UC4); c) validating the packaging performance, shelf life, safety and sustainability along the whole supply chain (from material producers to end users) and demonstrating complete biodegradability following relevant standards and in environmentally relevant conditions and, therefore, sustainable End-of-Life (EoL) pathways for the new packaging solutions in combination with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced modelling mechanisms for digitally-assisted accurate prediction of degradation processes. The consortium is integrated by 15 partners of the whole supply chain: large companies, SMEs and Start-up as materials producers (2) to the end-users of food and cosmetic sectors (2) through the packaging producers (3). Partnership will also involve supporting RTOs and other non-profit organizations with expertise in disciplines such as compounding, SSbD, biodegradation testing, packaging and product validation, exploitation, SSH for consumer engagement and digital technologies

Waste2BioComp project aims to demonstrate relevant scale production of bio-based products and materials, as alternatives to traditional materials with high environmental footprint, using innovative manufacturing technologies. The project integrates all stages in the bio-based products´ life cycle, starting from R&I activities regarding the sourcing of feedstocks for the development of bio-based precursors and intermediate materials, smart inkjet printing techniques, and smart manufacturing technologies for final products, and the final demonstrators, which will entail the production on a relevant scale of the following bio-based products: shoe sole materials with different hardness; three-layered shoe insoles; plastic films/packaging with different flexibilities; social face masks; fashion garments printed with bio-based inks; leather and textile shoes printed with bio-based inks; paper for packaging printed with bio-based inks. Waste2BioComp will also develop sustainability and toxicity assessments to the developed materials and products, as well as re-manufacturing and recycling approaches to ensure circularity by closing the material loop. Furthermore, the project will develop dedicated training activities to support the creation of a skilled workforce in biomaterial-based manufacturing sectors, particularly for the textile, footwear, and packaging activities. Therefore, Waste2BioComp will have a significative impact on the reduction of the use of fossil-based materials, not only in the approached three value chains (textiles, packaging, and footwear), which are highly resource and polluting intensive sectors, but also with potential for several other sectors and applications. The project will run for 36 months, and it will be constituted by 13 partners from France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland.

FLEXPOL aims to develop a pilot line for the production of a cost effective antimicrobial (AM) adhesive film for its use in hospitals. The obtained adhesive film will inhibit growth of a wide range of microbes and will be suitable for high-touch surfaces, providing a durable protection with good resistance. It will assure the highest level of hygiene and patient safety, reducing the use of disinfectants. These objectives will be achieved, using a multi-functional approach combining prevention of adhesion with killing of microorganisms, by means of essential oil (EO) emulsions embedded in a micro and nanopatterned polypropylene matrix. FLEXPOL covers the following key aspects: -It addresses the development, upscaling and demonstration in a relevant industrial environment of the production of films with AM, biocompatible and anti-adhesive properties. Existing extrusion and nanoimprinting pilot lines will act as the starting point in which new additives based on blends of EO will be incorporated. -Previously validated technologies constitute the basis of the approach. These technologies will be extended to large scale production and demonstrated in a real operational environment. The pilot line will include real time characterization for inspection of the film at the nanoscale. -Robustness and repeatability of film fabrication and its behavior in a real environment will be studied. The effectiveness of the solution will be compared with standard protocols. -Materials are chosen according to their cost for large-scale application. Productivity and cost of the fabrication process will be analyzed attending to energetic optimization of the product fabrication and the raw material cost. -Access to the pilot line for AM films in this or a different application will be ensured to European Industries at a cost that promotes technology transfer. -Non-technological aspects key for the marketing of the product (such as regulatory issues, HSE aspects, LCA...) are considered.

The European plastics policy highlights bio-based plastics as a key piece to solve the negative impact of fossil-based plastics in the environment. One of the most promising biodegradable biopolymers is the polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) family that can replace these fossil-based plastics in many applications. They are synthesised by microorganisms from renewable carbon sources and exhibit good properties and excellent biodegradability. In this sense, ViSS project will create a new value chain around PHBV (a copolymer of the PHAs family) as a safe, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative to conventional plastics, especially for short shelf-life food packaging applications due to its excellent properties including flexibility, processability, recyclability and biodegradability in relevant environments (soil, freshwater, marine, industrial composting and home composting). ViSS PHBV will be produced from industrial organic residues and will be formulated and compounded to be transformed and validated as high-performance food packaging, being mechanically recyclable and biodegradable. Moreover, the whole ViSS circular value chain will be constructed upon a collaborative approach and under safe and sustainable criteria, accomplishing EU regulations and ensuring policy alignment, while the project will deliver and disseminate digital tools and resources which will favour an increased social readiness and marketability of bio-based plastics, fostering a ViSS wide adoption and replication. Our project gathers 15 partners from 6 European countries leaders in different fields of knowledge, from bioplastic production to validation in real packaging applications. Adoption of ViSS value chain will produce relevant outcomes as improved functionalities and environmental performances: reduction of 57.8% of CO2 emissions compared to fossil counterparts, yearly saving 11.7 kt of crude oil, recirculating 288.95 kt of biomass, avoiding the use of 2.2 kt of hazardous substances.