Recent studies have shown that packaging is a key element to achieve sustainable food consumption.
The purpose of packaging food is not only to allow it to be transported, but also to preserve quality, guarantee safety and keep the food fresh. This allows for a reduction in the amount of improperly preserved food wasted, and therefore a more efficient use of resources and a reduction in pollution.
Thus, to reduce the environmental impact of packaging, it is not sufficient to create eco-friendly containers, and solutions must be developed to protect food at length.
The GLOpack project has achieved precisely this objective, thanks to the material of the same name.
This project, funded by the European Union and led by Professor Valérie Guillard of Montpellier University, has combined the efforts of universities, research centres and companies – including Coopbox – to obtain an innovative, safe and sustainable packaging.
The experimental GLOpack H2020 production chain begins in Verona, where a factory obtains PHA from agricultural waste, principally manure.
The material thus obtained is then sent to Montpellier University, where it is optimised and turned into pellets, which are then processed to produce packaging.
This process makes it possible to create containers suitable for any type of fresh food, also thanks to GLOpack’s ability to release elements into the foods that are able to prevent the formation of micro-organisms.
In addition, thanks to the smart label, both distributors and end consumers can see the state of preservation of the food, to optimise consumption.
After use, the container can be disposed of in the organic waste bin, where it can return to the production chain for new GLOpack packaging.
Thanks to its specific characteristics, this innovative material is able to reduce food waste and the environmental impact of containers for the food industry and major retail chains.