Insecticidal and repellent coatings will prevent the spread of pests in freight transport

AIMPLAS is currently participating in a project consortium which aims to develop a coating with insecticidal and repellent properties against flies and mosquitos for cardboard containers to control the spread of vectors in freight transport.

There are currently 5,200 container ships working in world freight transport and the number continues to grow. According to the United Nations, global freight transport activity is expected to increase by up to 4.3% by 2050. For this reason, control of vectors (disease-carrying organisms) at entry points is important to ensure invasive species do not settle in the local environment and to prevent local vector species spreading to other countries by land, air and maritime transport.

This issue is specifically connected to freight transport of horticultural products and ornamental plants because these products may carry eggs, larvae and adult insects that can spread through international freight transport. Moreover, packaged goods must be stored in enclosed spaces, rather than open spaces that encourage the spread of pests.

The BIO-VECTORS project has been launched by Laurentia, Pectro-FlexoColor, Smurfit Kappa and AIMPLAS to stop the spread of vectors in freight transport. The participation of these companies guarantees coverage of the entire value chain with the aim of developing a functional coating with insecticidal and repellent properties against flies and mosquitos for cardboard containers and packaging suitable for food contact.

The project is part of the R&D national call Retos Colaboración and is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.