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: BioSupPack

Programme(s): H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy : H2020-EU.2.1.4. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies – Biotechnology
H2020-EU.3.2.6. - Bio-based Industries Joint Technology Initiative (BBI-JTI)

Topic: BBI-2020-SO3-D4 - Demonstrate superior bio-based packaging solutions with minimal environmental damage

Call for proposal:  H2020-BBI-JTI-2020

Funding Scheme: BBI-IA-DEMO - Bio-based Industries Innovation action - Demonstration

Grant agreement ID: 101023685

Project Description: New bio-packaging solutions based on natural polyesters 
Reducing plastic waste is a priority for the EU. As currently the majority of plastic packaging waste is landfilled, new targets have been set to increase recycling rates to 55 % by 2030. Along this path, the EU-funded BioSupPack project is upscaling new, economically convenient and high-performing rigid packaging solutions based on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), which are polyesters produced in nature by numerous microorganisms. PHA are also suitable for being recycled and recovered. As such, BioSupPack will contribute to the creation of a new bio-cluster/value chain connecting the agri-food, bio-plastics, pulp and paper, and packaging sectors. Specifically, it will test the use of brewery industry by-products (spent grain) as a fermentation feedstock for PHA production.

Objective:  BioSupPBioSupPack goal is to deliver novel, cost-competitive and versatile biobased packaging solutions based on PHA, that demonstrate high-performance for the packaging of food, cosmetics, homecare and beverage products as well as no environmental damage during & after their use, by means of: 1. Optimization of PHA based formulations based on significantly use of >85% w/w of renewable resources. 2. Upscale the different conversion processes as well as post-consumers waste sorting & recycling following advanced industry 4.0 approach. 3. Broad the range of rigid packaging applications by tailoring biobased materials & packaging properties through the optimization of the formulations in combination with plasma technology or grafted coatings. 4. Integrate plasma technology in 3 different points of the value chain(biomasss pretreatment, packaging production & packaging waste pre-treatment) increasing: i)PHB production yield, ii)PHB purity, iii) packaging performance(high oxygen & water barrier) and iv effectiveness & yield of enzymatic recycling. 5. Demonstrate and increase recyclability through:i) setting up a real-time monitoring system for the selective separation of developed packaging after its use; ii) mechanical recycling of industrial scraps and selective enzymatic recycling of packaging waste as the best EoL, with the final recovery of carbon sources for feedstock fermentation. Thus, the new packaging is environmentally safe(sustainable and improved value from enzymatic recycling) and contributes to Circular Economy(CE). 6. Establish a new value chain including the development of logistics and management of both the brewery and packaging waste. Complying with the industry needs (cost/performance competitive vs. fossil-based non-biodegradable counterparts and legislative compliance),as well as with consumers´ awareness, BioSupPack will have a great impact on EU bioplastics & end users’ sectors, the biorefineries and biotechnology industries and on the society.