BioSupPack

Demonstrative process for the production and enzymatic recycling of environmentally safe, superior and versatile PHA-based rigid packaging solutions by plasma integration in the value chain.

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Project details

Type of project: Innovation Action - Demonstration
Project focus: Packaging
Feedstock origin: Agri-food waste

Project period: 1 June 2021 - 31 March 2026
Status: Completed
CBE JU Contribution: € 6 403 796,60
Call identifier: H2020-BBI-JTI-2020

Summary

The increasing public desire for sustainable products is driving a growing demand for bioplastics in the packing sector in order to minimise environmental impacts. Biopolymers such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) – which are 100% bio-based and have exceptional biodegradability characteristics - have proven particularly popular. So popular, in fact, that they are expected to rise from 1.2% to 6.6% of the global production of bioplastics. However, meeting this growing demand will require further sources of raw materials without affecting biowaste value chains; the challenge will therefore be to rely on second and third generation sugar sources, rather than primary ones.

A potential source of these raw materials is brew spent grains, which is a by-product of the brewing industry. Its use as a feedstock is currently limited; most of it goes to animal feed, some for bioethanol, while 20% goes to landfill. It is a challenging raw material – it has a high moisture content, low levels of fermentable sugar content and can spoil quickly. At the same time, however, it offers a number of potential advantages as a feedstock for PHA. It is produced in substantial quantities, it is widely available all year round, is relatively stable (compared to other food-based by-products) and the prior malting and mashing make it relatively easily to isolate the 2G sugars.

The ultimate goal of the BioSupPack project is to deliver novel, cost-competitive and versatile bio-based packaging solutions based on PHA. These will be derived from highly (>85%) renewable, second- and third-generation raw materials, and will provide high-performance packaging for food and drink, cosmetics and homecare products.

Consortium map

Project coordination

AIMPLAS - ASOCIACION DE INVESTIGACION DE MATERIALES PLASTICOS Y CONEXAS Paterna, Spain

Consortium

LOGOPLASTE INNOVATION LAB LDA Cascais, Portugal
CENTRE SCIENTIFIQUE ET TECHNIQUE DE L INDUSTRIE TEXTILE BELGE GENT, Belgium
GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL EUROPE ZAVENTEM, Belgium
SABIO SRL LUGO, Italy
VYSOKE UCENI TECHNICKE V BRNE BRNO STRED, Czechia
PLASMA LEAP TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED Dublin, Ireland
GEOPONIKO PANEPISTIMION ATHINON ATHINA, Greece
ASA SPEZIALENZYME GMBH WOLFENBUTTEL, Germany
HOCHSCHULE ALBSTADT-SIGMARINGEN Sigmaringen, Germany
PASION DEL DUERO SL Madrid, Spain
ENCO SRL NAPOLI, Italy
EUROPEAN BIOPLASTICS EV Berlin, Germany
UNILEVER-KNORR ANONYMI BIOMHCHANIKI KAI EMPORIKI ETAIREIA APORRYPANTIKON-KALLYNTIKON-TROFIMON KIFISIA, Greece
MIKROBIOLOGICKY USTAV AV CR V.V.I PRAHA 4, Czechia
IRIS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, SOCIEDAD LIMITADA CORNELLA DE LLOBREGAT, Spain
SOCIEDAD ANONIMA AGRICULTORES DE LAVEGA DE VALENCIA Valencia, Spain