IVACE – FEDER ENVACEL

Objective

The general objective of this project is to improve the performance of current cellulosic materials for food packaging, through the proper selection of processable formats and their optimisation, applying functional coatings and incorporating cellulosic fibres (micro/nanocelluloses) into different matrices, in order to improve their barrier and sealing properties. As a result, food can be safely packaged in cellulose-based packaging, thus facilitating its incorporation into the food market; with the aim of providing a sustainable alternative for packaging representative foods while maintaining their shelf life, organoleptic and nutritional characteristics and, above all, their safety. In this way, the characteristics that current cellulosic packaging does not have by itself are improved.

The development of this project will increase the number of possible applications for this type of material in the food packaging sector, and will promote the packaging and agri-food sectors.

This objective therefore covers society’s need for more eco-efficient, safer packaging that is easier to use and manage. The project responds to current consumer demands, driven by the evolution of society itself. Social changes are playing a decisive role and are leading to increased demand for products that are more efficient, safer, easier to use and more environmentally responsible.

Specific objectives

The specific objectives to be achieved through the execution of this project are the following:

Determine the different types and formats of existing cellulosic materials that could be used for the different cases of interest, evaluating their relevant properties in the food sector, such as the mechanical properties required to maintain physical integrity, permeability and sealing capacity.
Characterise their manufacturing process for integration into conventional packaging processes.
Study analytical methodologies that allow cellulosic materials intended for food packaging to be characterised more accurately.
Deepen knowledge of the composition of these materials and their suitability for food contact, depending on the type of food to be packaged, its processing conditions and its preservation.
Improve the properties of materials through functional coatings and/or laminations and the incorporation of cellulosic fibres (micro/nanocelluloses) into different matrices.
Determine the factors involved in interaction with the product and the evolution over time of their properties in different preservation environments.
Determine the feasibility of the new packaging compared to existing packaging through life cycle, recyclability and cost studies.

Activities

Food requirements vs properties of cellulosic materials
Mechanical behaviour. Identification and selection of case studies
Improvement of barrier and sealing properties
Safety of the materials involved and legal framework
Technical-economic and environmental assessment and consumer impact
Product packaging experiences
Communication and dissemination of the project
Transfer and promotion of results
Management and coordination

Results

The ENVACEL project has made it possible to make significant progress in the development of sustainable cellulosic packaging for food applications, addressing technical, environmental, regulatory and consumer acceptance aspects in an integrated way.

Among the main results achieved are:

Identification of functional requirements for different foods (fresh, processed, frozen, dry, etc.) and their correlation with the necessary properties of cellulosic materials in terms of mechanical strength, barrier and processability.
Selection of packaging structures and designs with better mechanical performance, both through experimental tests and numerical simulations, identifying geometries with greater compression strength and better structural response.
Development and evaluation of functional coatings applied to paper and cardboard, based on water-soluble polymers and cellulose microfibres, which significantly improve the oxygen barrier while maintaining packaging recyclability.
Validation of the food safety of the developed materials through overall and specific migration studies, confirming their suitability for food contact in accordance with the current regulatory framework.
Evaluation of the recyclability of multilayer cellulosic packaging, demonstrating the feasibility of material separation and proper fibre disintegration in conventional recycling processes.
Environmental and technical-economic analysis, showing a reduction in the carbon footprint compared to solutions based exclusively on plastic, as well as the economic feasibility of the proposed developments.
Study of the impact on consumers, confirming high acceptance of cellulosic packaging, positively valued for its sustainability, functionality and perceived quality.

Overall, the results of the ENVACEL project demonstrate the potential of advanced cellulosic materials as a sustainable and safe alternative to conventional plastic packaging in the food sector, laying the foundations for future industrial developments.