{"id":40343,"date":"2023-11-23T10:34:24","date_gmt":"2023-11-23T10:34:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=40343"},"modified":"2023-12-13T15:07:42","modified_gmt":"2023-12-13T15:07:42","slug":"nenu2phar-project-developing-sustainable-packaging-plastics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/nenu2phar-project-developing-sustainable-packaging-plastics\/40343\/","title":{"rendered":"The NENU2PHAR project is developing sustainable packaging plastics from aquatic origin"},"content":{"rendered":"
The goal of the NENU2PHAR project is to set up a new European value chain of PHA-based bioplastic products with an acceptable end-of-life from an underutilised biological resource. This project, funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme through the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), gathers 17 partners from both research and industry sectors to develop a new bioplastic value chain starting with CO2<\/sub>-capturing microalgae, and ends in various plastic packaging products. This project is ready to offer a new generation of bio-sourced and biodegradable plastic products, mainly packaging solutions, to help reduce marine litter, greenhouse gas emissions, and the EU\u2019s dependence on imported fossil fuels.<\/p>\n Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a class of renewable, biodegradable, and biobased polyesters. Together with polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS), they are considered to be a green polymer group. It is expected that PHAs could gradually replace conventional plastic materials since they have similar physicochemical, thermal, and mechanical properties to polypropylene (PP) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), representing more than 70% of the plastic used in packaging. Depending on their chemical composition, they also feature a wide array of useful physical and mechanical properties, thus allowing for a broader range of applications. In addition, PHA presents a friendly end-of-life as they readily degrade in soil, aquatic media, and home and industrial compost.<\/p>\n The fact that PHAs can be obtained by a purely biotechnological process based on the fermentation of carbon-rich biomass feedstocks, such as sugars, makes them particularly attractive. Unfortunately, no sustainable value chain currently exists in Europe, and production schemes developed elsewhere appear highly questionable from an environmental and ethical standpoint. Current carbon feedstocks used as fermentation substrates are usually derived from agricultural resources, such as starch produced from maize, potatoes, wheat, and tapioca. Their diversion from food production to producing bioplastics on a massive scale would certainly imply an increase in agricultural commodity prices.<\/p>\n At the industrial level, microalgae development allows biomass production in controlled reactors that do not require arable land, eliminating competition with traditional crop\/agrifood supply systems.<\/p>\n Microalgae capture high quantities of CO2<\/sub>\u00a0and generate O2<\/sub>, as well as sugars and lipids, that can be converted into carbon-rich feedstock while tackling carbon neutrality goals. Microalgae production systems can be integrated with the recovery of nutrients from waste streams, thus recycling materials and energy and improving the sustainability of industrial processes.<\/p>\n EU-based demonstration facilities are already producing microalgal biomass from wastewater treatment processes and improving the regulation of emissions and the water quality required for discharge in water bodies. This therefore saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions simultaneously.<\/p>\n The NENU2PHAR project has developed a collection of bio-sourced and biodegradable plastics that offer a valuable alternative to non-biodegradable, petroleum-based plastics.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n These plastic products are: For other applications: <\/strong> <\/p>\n Considerable efforts have been made to research and develop this innovative value chain for a more sustainable and safe bioplastic industry. The multiple steps of the NENU2PHAR value chain to produce PHA bioplastics are as follows:<\/p>\nPHA and bioplastics<\/h3>\n
Microalgae as feedstock<\/h3>\n
\nFor food packaging:<\/strong>
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Plastic trays for shredded cheese;
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Plastic cups for compote;
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lid films; and
\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Stand-up pouches for yoghurt.<\/p>\n
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Roll on bottles for cosmetic packaging:
\n2. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3D printing filaments;
\n3. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Medical meshes; and
\n4. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Agrotextiles (woven groundcovers).<\/p>\nThe NENU2PHAR process<\/h3>\n
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