CIRCULAR FoodPack – Circular packaging for direct food contact applications

Dear {profile_1} ,

Great news from the CIRCULAR FoodPack project: we have reached an important project milestone by demonstrating that tracer-based sorting works! In this edition of our newsletter, you will also find out more about our activities of the past months, such as the first scientific publication and our participation at the Innovation Forum 4Plastics.

And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn!

Tracer-based sorting works!

In December 2022, the CIRCULAR FoodPack project reached its most significant milestone so far. Sorting trials on a large scale have demonstrated that the innovative tracer-based sorting technology by project partner Polysecure works! It distinguishes flexible food packaging from its non-food counterparts with a sorting purity of over 97% and a sorting efficiency of 90%. This shows that the technology can work in state-of-the-art sorting machines.

Have a look at our trial video and find out more!

Successful tracer-based sorting trials © Steinert

First Scientific Publication

Another important step was also made: the first scientific publication within the CIRCULAR FoodPack project was published in March 2023! The article “Tracing the origin of VOCs in post-consumer plastic film bales” by Martijn Roosen from Ghent University and other project members has appeared in “Chemosphere” (Volume 324).

The article investigates the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in food and non-food packing and draws important conclusions for plastics recycling.

Read the full article here

Graphical abstract of “Tracing the origin of VOCs in post-consumer plastic film bales”

CIRCULAR FoodPack at the Innovation Forum 4Plastics

On 15 March, CIRCULAR FoodPack was presented at the Innovation Forum 4Plastics in Brussels, Belgium. The presentations of the different H2020 and Horizon Europe projects gave an overview of the ongoing research on plastics recycling and showed how many impactful results have already been achieved.

The forum was not only a networking opportunity, but also created a link to the European policy level as representatives from the European Commission took part in the discussions and presented the latest policy developments in this area at the European level. The importance and need for a close cooperation with the industry was underlined.

Dr Martin Schlummer from Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV presenting CIRCULAR FoodPack © BayFOR

CIRCULAR FoodPack in the press

As our project is progressing, so is its coverage by the media as they increasingly report about CIRCULAR FoodPack. Here are some examples of current articles:

The e-magazine Packaging Europe focusing on sustainable packaging solutions has published our breakthrough with the tracer-based sorting technology.

Müll & Abfall, a German trade magazine on circular economy, has also picked up Polysecure’s technology-open sorting approach and presented the results of the sorting trials in Work Package 2 within the project.

Public Consultation on the Packaging Waste Regulation

The recycling of plastic packaging is also of great interest to the European Union. In a circular economy, packaging waste in the EU should be reduced and packaging made easier to recycle.

Therefore, the EU Commission will review the requirements on packaging and packaging waste. In a public consultation, interested stakeholders are welcome to give their opinion on this topic until 24 April 2023. All feedback received will be presented to the European Parliament and find its way into the legislative debate.

Find out more

We wish you a Happy Easter and relaxing holidays!

Kind regards,
Your CIRCULAR FoodPack Dissemination & Communication Team