About the Project
Amid rising challenges in the Mediterranean, extraordinary solutions rooted in science and robust collaboration are essential. INTACT BioPack brings together innovation and teamwork to tackle food waste, plastic pollution, and environmental sustainability with cutting-edge packaging technologies.
Context
The Mediterranean: A Region in Crisis
The Mediterranean region faces a unique set of challenges: it is one of the areas most affected by climate change, while also grappling with high demographic pressure, political instability, and social unrest. These factors disrupt food supply chains, increase reliance on imports, and drive inflation.
Food loss and waste (FWL) exacerbate these issues, with an estimated 132 kg of food wasted per person annually—60% of which occurs at the household level. This not only harms the environment through unnecessary food production but also contributes to plastic pollution, with 90% of plastics ending up in the environment.
“Packaging plays a crucial role in addressing key challenges of sustainable food consumption by reducing both usage inefficiencies and waste.“
Solution
Two Active Packaging Strategies
The project focuses on active and intelligent packaging to reduce Food Waste and Loss (FWL), enhance food safety, and minimize environmental impact. By integrating natural antimicrobials, living microorganisms, and freshness indicators, INTACT BioPack combats food spoilage, promotes responsible consumption, and supports environmental sustainability. These innovations are delivered through two core strategies:
Active Packaging for Market Products
Natural antimicrobial compounds will be incorporated into packaging to combat microbial growth during storage. Intelligent systems will inform consumers about the product’s status—whether it’s consumable, ready to eat, or expired.
These innovations not only extend shelf life and reduce food waste but also empower consumers to make safer and more informed choices, fostering trust and convenience in sustainable packaging solutions.
Reusable Packaging for Leftovers
Microbiomes will be incorporated to trigger fermentation processes at home, offering protection against spoilage while enhancing food preservation. These consumer-driven, reusable solutions will feature intelligent systems to monitor fermentation progress in real time.
Home compostability is particularly valuable in South Mediterranean countries, where more than 50% of collected waste—amounting to approximately 112 million tons annually, including 13 million tons of plastic—is disposed of in open dumps.
A Solution Tailored to Mediterranean Challenges
INTACT BioPack develops cost-effective, biodegradable, and home-compostable packaging with dual functionalities: a protective barrier and natural active components. Designed specifically for Mediterranean products and conditions, these solutions extend shelf life to reduce food spoilage while their biodegradability helps combat plastic pollution, even in regions with limited waste management infrastructure, promoting a cleaner and more sustainable environment.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration
The INTACTBioPack Project is a testament to the power of collaboration. Bringing together a consortium of leading experts from diverse fields, it harnesses the strengths of multidisciplinary research to tackle the pressing challenges of food loss and waste in the Mediterranean region.
Researchers, engineers, social scientists, and industry stakeholders work hand in hand, pooling their expertise to design innovative, sustainable packaging solutions. The project bridges gaps between disciplines, integrating insights from material science, microbiology, food technology, environmental impact assessment, and consumer behavior.
