OBJECTIVES
BORN will develop a circular, safe and sustainable by design nature inspired polymer formulation that is biobased, biodegradable, compostable, thermal resistant, suitable for food contact, and low cost: a simultaneous combination of properties that no other material can guarantee. This nature inspired formulation may be exploited to fabricate biobased heat-resistant food packaging, to produce for instance flexible packaging for sous vide food product, compostable microwavable containers for ready-to-eat meals, cups or capsules/bags for instant coffee or tea, and also for food-related consumer goods, to fabricate biobased reusable compostable and disposable tableware (now available only for single use applications when compostable).
The approach is further expanded for biobased materials in agriculture, as well as for other compostable biobased products that require resistance to high temperatures objective will be achieved through specific objectives:
- To develop nature-inspired polymers with high thermal resistance
- To produce a novel biobased, safe and thermo-resistant food packaging
- To assess safety and environmental impact of BORN products
- To assess biodegradability and recyclability of BORN material
- Life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of newly designed BORN material and products
- To provide a portfolio of use cases of BORN material
Objectives and Explanations
Patentable biobased nucleating agent
Semicrystalline thermo-resistant PLA that can withstand usage temperatures of at least 100 °C
Proof of efficiency (lab scale) of the nucleating agent for other biobased polyesters (PHB, PHBV, PEF).
Circular, SSbD safe and sustainable by design, recyclable, biodegradable/compostable food packaging, stable at 100 °C, microwavable
Rigid and semirigid (trays, cups) or flexible (films) packaging – Increased food shelf life
Decisional framework for safety to human health and environment - Regulatory procedures
High sanitary standards & hazard prevention - Ecotoxicity and ecological impact of biodegradation outputs
Biodegradation extent and timeframe in open and controlled environments (soil, composting units, anaerobic digestion plants) - Potential generation of micro(bio)plastics and additives release during biodegradation - Circular recycling routes of BORN products, via mechanical recycling and biotechnology
Improved cradle-to-gate and cradle-to-grave life-cycle assessment - Improved sustainability and circularity - Economic feasibility and cost structure assessment
Preliminary assessment of suitability of BORN formulations in agriculture (coating for controlled release fertilizers, mulching films), for food-related consumer goods, for packaging for pharmaceuticals
