GRECO

Innovative bio-based biodegradable recyclable safe and circular food packaging

ARISTOTELIO PANEPISTIMIO THESSALONIKIS, AIMPLAS, UNIVERZA V MARIBORU, CENTRE TECHNIQUE INDUSTRIEL DE LA PLASTURGIE ET DES COMPOSITES, TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY, UNIVERSIDAD DE ALMERIA, UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK, TOTALENERGIES CORBION BV, Condensia Quimica, WORLEE-CHEMIE GMBH, BIO-MI DRUSTVO S OGRANICENOM ODGOVORNOSCU ZA PROIZVODNJU, ISTRAZIVANJEI RAZVOJ, NANOTYPOS EE, COMEXI GROUP INDUSTRIES SA, INNOTECH COEXPAN-EMSUR SL, ELIF PLASTIK AMBALAJ SANAYI VE TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI, Pinar Entegre Et ve Un Sanayii A.S., PINAR SUT MAMULLERI SANAYI VE TICARET A.S., WEAREBIO OU, ARCHA SRL, ENCO SRL, EUROPEAN BIOPLASTICS EV, ASOCIACION ESPANOLA DE NORMALIZACION

Objectives

GRECO aims to demonstrate the life cycle and techno-economic feasibility of greener & safer bioplastics value chains for the food packaging sector, based on a safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) strategy. To this aim, innovative bio-based, biodegradable, and recyclable packaging based on new PLA copolymers, coatings, additives and catalysts accompanied by surface treatments will be produced. Regulatory compliance will be demonstrated while contributions to new or modified standards and proper labelling will be proposed.

Description

The food packaging industry requires innovative, circular, bio-based solutions to replace complex, multi-material structures that rely on fossil fuels. The EU-funded GRECO project will demonstrate the life cycle and economic feasibility of safer bioplastic value chains for food packaging using a safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) strategy. It will develop new biodegradable and recyclable packaging with PLA copolymers, coatings, additives, and surface treatments. The project will also ensure regulatory compliance, propose new standards and labelling guidelines, and use digital tools for simulation and modelling. Overall, the project aims to facilitate the introduction of sustainable products, contributing to the Plastics Strategy, the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUP), and the EU Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP).