National Research Project for the minimization of the Environmental Footprint
Eurofilm MANTZARIS S.A. participated in the research program: “Exploitation of food industry by-products for the production of biogenic biodegradable, active food packaging” with acronym: VIOSTROFI
Under the coordination of:
Structures and Materials Research Group, Agricultural Engineering Department, AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS
In collaboration with the:
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition,Agricultural University of Athens
- Laboratory of. Food Quality Control and Hygiene, Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens
- ATHANASIOS HATZOPOULOS S.A.
With the support of the:
- National Project : “RESEARCH – DESIGN – INNOVATION”
- Operational Program “COMPETITIVENESS, ENTERPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION” (EPAnEK)
- Special Managing Authority for the Operational Program “COMPETITIVENESS, ENTERPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION” (EYD EPAnEK)
- Special Managing & Application Authority for Research, Technological Development and InnovationProjects(ΕΥDΕ ΕΤΑΚ)
A quantity of 140 billion tons of biomass is generated every year from agriculture and products processing.Only a part of the agricultural residues is valorized while the quantities used to produce higher value-addedproducts such as bio based chemicals and biomaterials are even lower.
The goal of the project was the development of an integrated sustainable business chain of synergic valorization of industrial flour milling by-products, for the production of high value-added active food packaging from biodegradable bio based polymers (PHB) reinforced with micro-or nano-fibers of microbialcellulose (MC). The packaging will be produced on a pilot scale by the participating industries of plastic films and packaging exclusively from industrial by-products (bran) while the active ingredients will also be of biological origin.
The project involved two stages:
Research and- pilot development Stage: Production – optimization of PHB production from flour milling industry byproducts (wheat bran). Construction, optimization of a semi-pilot plant-unit designed for the production of PHB from by-products. Production, optimization of production parameters for micro-or nano-fibers MC for production of bio composite enhanced packaging materials. Production, optimization of production parameters of alternative bio based additive systems for controlled release of active substances.
Design, production, optimization of bio based films of active packaging and packaging films made of PHB bio composite materials for two broad categories of food packaging: a) EMAP packaging of fresh vegetables,fruits, b) packaging with water vapor barrier for dairy products. Evaluation of the behavior of bio based films, optimization of PHB production, MC and bioactive ingredients through interdisciplinary cooperation between the research groups.
Industrial production Stage: production of PHB packaging films, bio composite films reinforced with cellulose fiber and bioactive PHB films at pilot and up-scaled level at the facilities of the plastic films industry Eurofilm MANTZARIS S.A.using equivalent quality commercial raw materials PHB and cellulose. Alternative bio based, bio composite, bioactive packaging production for selected targeted applications at pilot and up scaled level at the facilities of the packaging industry A. HATZOPOULOS S.A.. Evaluation of the packaging produced for the targeted applications, improvements of final products. Industrial exploitation and dissemination of results. The wider aim of the research project and its expected impacts was the industrial-scale demonstration of the possibility of by-products (and potentially bio-waste) of food industries valorization, which can with proper fermentation to be converted into raw materials for the production of bio based materials and biopolymers in this case. One of the applications of biopolymers is that of food packaging materials that should meet high standards of hygiene, mechanical and physical properties and comply with a strict legal framework.
The project aimed to minimize the environmental footprint of the food industry by promoting sustainable development through the valorization of the by-products and in the future of bio-waste, as a renewable feedstock to produce high value-added bio based, biodegradable packaging. The economic benefit from the best possible utilization of flour milling byproducts, and potentially of food industries bio-waste, through the production of high added value products is obvious. The business expansion of the industries producing plastic films Eurofilm MANTZARIS SA and food packaging HATZOPOULOS S.A., to bio based plastic films and packaging, respectively, gave important impetus to the dynamic growth of entrepreneurship and their commercial activities into a new booming bio economy sector where our country has made little headway. The expected impact on the national economy and employment is significant.
Eurofilm MANTZARIS S.A.,in cooperation with Athanasios Hatzopoulos S.A. took part at the project, with common goal to contribute to the National and European circular economy envisioning a shield for the future.