The AQUAPACK project will turn marine algae, fish processing waste, and unwanted catch into biodegradable films for wrapping fish fillets and cosmetics. Plastic packaging from the food and cosmetics industries piles up in landfills and oceans. Current biodegradable alternatives often fail to keep perishable products fresh or safe during transport and storage. This project aims to close that gap by developing packaging that both protects the product and breaks down after use. If successful, the project could replace conventional plastic wrapping for fish and cosmetics with materials made from aquatic biomass and industry side-streams. It will also create a biosensor that monitors freshness directly on the packaging, helping retailers and consumers reduce food waste. The team will test at least two biodegradable film types and compare their sustainability and safety against standard packaging. By extending shelf life and cutting plastic use, the work could lower the environmental footprint of two major consumer sectors without compromising product quality.
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The overall objective of the AQUAPACK project is the development and evaluation of the effect of novel biodegradable packaging systems on the quality and safety of perishable food and cosmetics in the supply chain of the EU region and worldwide, through the introduction of economically and environmentally sustainable packaging materials based on marine biomass (micro and macroalgae, fish processing side streams and by-catch). AQUAPACK faces the challenge of reducing plastic pollution through transnationally designed innovations for development of novel biodegradable packaging systems. Well-designed secondments between academic and industrial partners with complimentary capacities, will deliver the project objectives: (i) to introduce economically and environmentally sustainable, low carbon packaging materials based on aquatic biomass and side-streams, that can appropriately preserve the quality and safety of food and cosmetics products, from production all the way to consumption. (ii) design and test at least 2 biodegradable packaging materials appropriate for fish fillets and cosmetics, by developing: (i) biodegradable, active films appropriate for food and cosmetics by utilizing aquatic biomass, (ii) biodegradable films appropriate for secondary packaging of cosmetics. (b) An innovative direct freshness monitoring system (biosensor) applicable across the supply chain of perishable products. (iii) to improve the sustainability of the food and cosmetics sectors by preserving their quality, extending their shelf life and thus reducing waste. (iv) reduce waste of packaging materials by applying non-plastic, biodegradable packaging solutions for food and cosmeceutical products. (v) assess the sustainability and safety of the new packaging solutions in comparison to commonly used packaging for food and cosmetics. (vi) to provide cross-cutting interdisciplinary knowledge exchange, technology transfer and training to improve employability and career prospects.
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