- This initiative, presented at the European Commission Head Office in Madrid, Spain, with a 7.8 million euro budget in which 19 partners from 10 countries have been involved for 4 years, can be regarded as a huge milestone in the bioplastics packaging sector. Its research into bioplastics has led to findings that allow the use of bioplastics in packaging as active agents for content preservation.
- This project, coordinated by Aitiip Technological Centre has had, as its main line of interest, the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors. A presentation of findings and results, open to the general public and stakeholders will take place on February 24, 2016 at the CaixaForum Congress Centre, in Zaragoza, Spain.
Madrid, February 22, 2016. The European Commission Head Office in Madrid has been the chosen venue for the presentation of the Dibbiopack Project, a Research & Development Project financed by the European Union within the Seventh European Framework Agreement in which 19 partners from 10 countries have been involved for 4 years. The Project was presented by the Project Technical Coordinator Victor Peinado, member of Aitiip – the Aragonese Technical Centre in charge of Project Coordination- and Dimitri Barua, Spokesperson for the European Commission Representation in Spain. This presentation has provided the opportunity for the mass media to gain a detailed insight into this initiative, with a final 7.745.570 euro budget, 5.702.632 euros coming from the European Commission.
Dibbiopack revolves around the development of multifunctional Smart packaging from polymers with three key sectors in mind: pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries. They are labelled “smart”, as bioplastic materials present new characteristics that turn them into real actors for product preservation by increasing product durability, helping keep its quality and reporting to the consumer on content preservation conditions. They are environmentally friendly materials from renewable sources, sustainable, and contribute to a circular economy. They help reduce power consumption and raw materials use by means of more efficient manufacturing processes. And all this, without losing sight of eco-design.
The project has made inroads into a sector with a 20% growth a year, with huge industrial, environmental and social opportunities, contributing to the necessary reduction in production and use of petroleum-based packaging. Likewise, other sectors, such as waste management and disposal, might benefit from it, too.
A Project that falls under the umbrella of a Circular Economy put forward by the European Commission
The Project helps move forward towards a “Circular Economy” that seeks to make a more sustainable use of resources. In December 2015, the European Commission proposed an ambitious package of new measures on the circular economy so as to help companies and consumers in their transition to a more efficient economy. The proposed actions will help “close the circle” of a product life-cycle thanks to a higher reuse and recycling rate, and will be beneficial to both the environment and the economy. Thus, the highest possible value and use will be generated and made from raw materials, products and waste, while fostering savings in energy and achieving a reduction in greenhouse emissions. Proposals encompass the whole life-cycle: from production and consumption, through secondary raw materials market to waste management and disposal.
The European Commission will continue to finance investment in the circular economy through regional funds and the European programme for Research & Development “Horizon 2020”. With a 650 million euro budget for research and innovation, it will take over from the Seventh European Framework Agreement. Additionally, there will be financial support from The European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), with a budget of 5.5 billion euros allocated for waste management and disposal.
A Project born in 2012
For four years, Dibbiopack has brought together entities and industries from all over Europe, which have delved into the formulation and manufacturing of Smart packaging and materials (bottles for pharmaceutical use, cosmetics and food trays.) Their objective has been to go beyond the regulatory, technological, market and environmental milestones in the bioplastics sector while providing solutions by means of:
- Nanomaterials: These provide the bioplastic packaging with durability and mechanical properties similar to those found in conventional plastics. These nanofibers do not come into contact with the products as, in order to keep packaging and content apart, biodegradable labels are used. Likewise, these labels incorporate antimicrobial agents that are released in the event of humidity. Thus, bacteria emergence is checked.
- Biodegradable films with enhanced barrier properties.
- Sensors changing their colour according to the amount of oxygen present within the packaging. Thus, any valuable information on content condition is readily available with no actual content contact thanks to a RFID antenna integrated in a mobile phone or Tablet, leading to higher convenience for traceability and access to information records.
Dibbiopack partners:
Research Centres: AITIIP –coordinator- (Spain, Zaragoza), INSTM (Italy), CNR (Italy), VITO (Belgium), Fraunhofer ISC (Germany), TECOS (Slovenia), University of GALWAY (Ireland).
Companies with R & D capacity: AVANZARE (Spain, Logroño), CONDENSIA (Spain, Barcelona), ARCHA (Italy, TEHNOS (Slovenia), PLASMA (Macedonia), INNOVIA Films (United Kingdom), GORENJE (Slovenia).
End-users: NUTRECO (Spain, Toledo), HELP Pharmaceuticals (Greece), COSMETIC (Greece).
Other types of entities: ALMA (France), SOGAMA (Spain, A Coruña).
The Final conference on the Dibbiopack Project will be held in Zaragoza, Spain, on February 24, 2016. It will gather the project partners, who will go over all technical details linked to planning, implementation and results. There will also be a visit to pilot lines where two out of the three demonstrators were built. The presentation of results and findings will take place in a public event open to all audiences at the CaixaForum Congress Centre in Zaragoza.
For the agenda of the event and to sign in, please go to: http://www.aitiip.com/dibbiopack/dibbio_en.html
For further information, please address your queries to:
Project Coordinator: Berta Gonzalvo (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Technical Coordinator: Víctor Peinado (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Enquiries about the final event: José Andrés López (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
For interviews and additional material, please address your requests to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Santiago Izuel, 616-418026)