WUR3 - Sustainable Packages

 

The collaborative TI Food & Nutrition (TIFN) and Kennis instituut Duurzaam Verpakken (KIDV) project “Sustainable Packages SD002” aims to deliver scientific based insights regarding the environmental burden caused by product-packaging chains in the Netherlands. In order to succeed, the most relevant mechanisms that contribute to this environmental impact will be clarified. Via a strong interconnection between the work packages the integration of the insights will strengthen the science base in the field of packaging to feed into an implementation and valorization process of “holistic” packaging design. It is accomplished by taking upfront into account the design requirements of different actors in the chain as well as the environmental impact that such design choices may have across the total packaging life cycle. The project aims to facilitate the circular economy approach by reducing the environmental impact of packaging and higher the level of recyclability.

The main scientific benefits are the better understanding of critical processes along the packaging chain; the packaging design process, the packaging material collection process, the utilization of recycled materials and the environmental assessment of product-packaging systems. The industrial benefits are dealt with in a separate valorization program, connected to the research network coordinator.