BIOnTop Advances Development Of Recyclable And Compostable Packaging

The European project BIOnTop recently reported it has achieved promising results in its experimental work on copolymers and compounds with customized biodegradability and multifunctional coating solutions with customized properties.

The new materials are expected to allow the production of new recyclable, compostable and reusable packaging.

AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, is leading the BIOnTop project, whose objective is to develop new, competitive, low-cost, recyclable packaging solutions designed to be mechanically recycled, compostable either industrially or at home, or suitable for anaerobic digestion.

In the first year of the project’s four-year development period, the project partners started experimental lab work and while these tasks are currently ongoing, the first trials have shown promising results.

Another task performed in this first year was defining the specifications for PLA-based products with customized end of life and properties. An extensive review of the, patents and commercial information on biodegradable household packaging and textiles has been delivered, including scientific papers. A compilation of information on commercial biopolymers, additives and monomers, including suppliers and prices was also used in the selection of the source materials for the laboratory scale-up formulation in upcoming project activities.

The project has been funded through the “Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking” within the EU Research and Innovation program Horizon 2020, under grant agreement 837761, in which 20 partners and AIMPLAS are taking part.