GPI Joins PRESERVE H2020 Project to Promote Bio-Based Packaging

Early in 2021, Graphic Packaging International (‘Graphic Packaging’) was among 26 partners from ten countries to meet virtually for the kick-off meeting of the PRESERVE H2020 project, coordinated by Iris Technology Group (Spain).

Over the next four years, members of the PRESERVE consortium will develop a set of innovative processes and materials to foster the circular use of bio-based packaging. The project will evaluate different biomaterials to optimally preserve food and beverage products and up-cycle their resulting end-of-life.

The project is expected to deliver at least ten bioplastic and paperboard-based packaging items which will be fully renewably sourced and have minimal environmental impact. This ambitious objective will be made possible thanks to the collaboration of organizations covering the whole supply and value chains. In particular, Graphic Packaging will collaborate with AIMPLAS, CENTEXBEL, FRAUNHOFER IVV, the Sustainable Packaging Institute at Albstadt-Sigmaringen University and Danone Research on new bio-based coatings for fiber-based packaging. The consortium will use interdisciplinary sources of knowledge to assess the performance of the solutions and introduce viable, circular, bio-based packaging solutions into the market.

Dr. Elodie Bugnicourt, Graphic Packaging’s sustainability manager, EMEA, commented: “Our participation in PRESERVE reflects our firm commitment to leveraging broad partnerships to maximize the circularity of our industry. We embed sustainability at the outset of creating our next generation packaging solutions.”

Dr. Angel Fuentes, from the European Commission, joined the kick-off meeting. He underlined the importance of projects like PRESERVE to promote the collaboration and clustering of different stakeholders to reach the goals set by the European Commission in the European Green Deal. PRESERVE has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 952983.

For more information: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/952983 and https://www.preserve-h2020.eu/project.