Call4Circular Packaging

In the global scenario, plastics have become ubiquitous and packaging makes up a large part of them given their incredible properties and competitive costs. In the last 50 years, the quantity of plastic materials produced has increased exponentially, but the underlying linear system generates negative environmental and economic impacts.

Based on the Circular Economy principles, the European strategies for the bioeconomy and plastics provide key transformative guidelines to guide the circular transformation of this sector:

Implement circular business models (such as reuse)
Improve recycling technologies
Foster re-design and materials innovation, replace less common plastics (eg EPS, PVC and PS) and scale biodegradable and compostable biopolymers

According to these European strategies the Call4Circular Packaging - The value of vegetal fibers is born for Ecopack. It is the circular open innovation project created by the Circular Economy Lab - an initiative of Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center and Cariplo Factory.

Call4Circular Packaging - The value of vegetal fibers aims to identify innovative materials in vegetable fibers. The goal is to replace vergin plastic packaging and containers used in the food sector.

ecopack spa

Established in 1939 and headquartered in Turin, Ecopack is a paramount leader in the production of baking moulds and specific packaging for the food industry worldwide.

Today Ecopack has several offices and production sites around the globe and boasts a portfolio of leading customers in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the United States and South America. Specialized in the production of cellulose containers, Ecopack has always been a precursor of sustainability, creating products with low environmental impact, with resource efficiency and waste reduction objectives and through responsible supplies and the use of secondary raw materials.

Scouting

The Call4Circular Packaging - The value of vegetal fibers initiative is aimed at research projects, Startups and Innovative SMEs capable of offering functional and technological solutions to Ecopack's activities of interest.

In particular, the scouting is focused on innovative materials composed of vegetable fibers for the development of primary containers and packaging for liquid, solid and fatty food applications.

Characteristics of the researched material

The materials originate from vegetable fibers, especially from raw substances with a high cellulose content.

The materials are biodegradable and compostable, with EN 13432 certification.

The materials have barrier properties, are suitable for industrial molding processes and have structural properties, such as flexibility and rigidity.

The materials are suitable for direct food contact and resistant to high temperatures.

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