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BIO4MAP: Development of a new biodegradables packaging with barrier properties for cheese and fresh pasta.

Autor: Núria López
Instituto Tecnológico del Plástico (AIMPLAS)
Otros autores: María Pilar Diego (AIMPLAS); Enrique Moliner (AIMPLAS)
Tipo: Comunicación técnica panel
Temática: Ecodiseño y análisis de ciclo de vida; Residuos
Documentos asociados: Doc. Panel
Resumen:
The use of plastics in packaging sector provides many advantages but they produces large amounts of waste which most of the times cannot be recycled. A suitable alternative could be the use of compostable materials. At the end of their lifespan, these materials can be integrated directly into the organic waste or be managed in compostable plants to obtain 'compost'.

Related to this field, AIMPLAS has been working in the framework of the European project: BIO4MAP (FP7/2007-2013; GA n° 606144) . The aim of this project has been the development of an innovative fully biodegradable and recyclable, multilayer and transparent structures for fresh pasta and different types of cheese that requires customized Modified Atmosphere (MAP), by combining different biodegradable thermoplastic materials, as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH). A thermoplastic tie layer with compostable properties has been also developed during the project. With the aim of increasing the barrier against moisture, a biodegradable coating based on natural waxes has covered the multilayer structure. The natural waxes have been extracted from garden and agricultural residues.

The new packaging offers similar shelf-life for the food products studied compared to the traditional ones. However, there is a difference between them: new packages have been manufactured with more than 75% of raw materials from renewable sources, and also they are biodegradable.

BIO4MAP offers low environmental impact solutions:
° The new packages allow the easy recyclability of PLA due to the easy separation between PVOH and the PLA (PVOH is soluble in water).
° The new packages are fully compostable under controlled conditions according to the standard UNE-EN 13432.
° The use of agricultural waste (leaves, greenery) as a raw material source for wax based coating production.