Antimicrobial.
Bio-Sourced.
Biodegradable.
A holistic packaging solution to tackle Mediterranean food waste and loss.
Context
A Region Under Pressure
The Mediterranean region is at the crossroads of climate change, demographic pressure, and environmental challenges. Home to rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, it is also one of the areas most affected by food loss and waste (FWL), plastic pollution, and resource dependency.
With crops under pressure from climatic warming, fragile supply chains, inadequate waste management systems, and increasing reliance on imports, sustainable solutions are urgently needed to protect its people, economies, and ecosystems.
Packaging is an essential element of response to address key challenges of sustainable food consumption by tackling usage and waste issues.
Estimated food losses per capita
Food loss occurred at the household level
Plastics end up in the environment
Approach
A Holistic Packaging Solution
Food packaging plays a critical role in addressing the Mediterranean’s pressing challenges. By reducing food loss and waste (FWL), enhancing food safety, and minimizing environmental harm, innovative packaging solutions offer a sustainable way forward.
INTACT BioPack was launched to develop sustainable, innovative packaging solutions tailored to the Mediterranean region. The project focuses on active and intelligent packaging to reduce Food Waste and Loss (FWL), enhance food safety, and minimize environmental impact.
Anti-microbial
Our packaging incorporates natural antimicrobial compounds designed to prevent microbial growth and protect food quality during storage. By extending the shelf life of products, these solutions reduce food spoilage, ensuring freshness and safety for consumers.
Active & Intelligent
Equipped with smart features, our packaging actively enhances usability. Intelligent systems monitor food freshness, signaling when products are ready to eat or expired, and enabling at-home fermentation for leftovers. These innovations empower consumers to make informed choices while minimizing waste.
Biodegradable
Designed with environmental care in mind, our packaging materials are fully biodegradable. They break down naturally, avoiding unnecessary plastic pollution and contributing to cleaner ecosystems, particularly in regions lacking waste management infrastructure.
Bio-Sourced
Made from renewable, non-food bio-based resources such as cellulose and agricultural residues, our packaging solutions minimize the use of fossil-based materials. This approach not only reduces environmental impact but also fosters sustainable, circular value chains.
A Mediterranean-wide collaboration
11 partners across 9 countries
France
Leads project coordination and research into microbiome characterization and regulatory compliance.
Italy
Contributes expertise in microbial collections, food safety protocols, and the development of microbiome-based solutions.
Spain
Focuses on developing active packaging materials and bio-based coatings, including the incorporation of natural antimicrobials.
Portugal
Specializes in biomaterial development and the micro-encapsulation of active ingredients, particularly plant-based polyesters
Croatia
Provides expertise in sustainable packaging and food engineering, with a focus on the physical and mechanical characterization of new materials.
Algeria
Concentrates on applying new packaging solutions to traditional Mediterranean food products and assessing consumer acceptance.
Tunisia
Contributes to the technical assessment of packaging performance and conducts socio-economic studies on consumer behavior
Egypt
Is involved in the development of low-cost, reusable sensors for monitoring food freshness and safety.
Turkey
Focuses on the industrial application and validation of the developed packaging solutions within real-world food supply chains.
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