BioPackMan Kick-off Meeting
A recent addition to R-NanoLab’s project portfolio is the BioPackMan initiative. The project kick-off meeting was held on June 25 and 26 in Athens, at NTUA.
BioPackMan will develop innovative biobased and biodegradable polymer materials (BDPMs), including PHAs, PBS/PBSA, and PLA, creating at least four biodegradable formulations, sustainable additives like cellulose nanomaterials and plant-based extracts to reach required mechanical strength, gas barrier, thermal and chemical resistance, and six packaging demonstrators for food, personal and home care. BioPackMan encompass extensive, tiered-based biodegradation testing campaigns, Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) principles, stakeholder engagement, and benchmarking against conventional plastics (PP, PE, PET).
As part of this project, beside coordination, R-NanoLab will develop bio-based adhesives, compound new BDPMs, perform mechanical recycling of new packaging solutions, material characterization, and support SSbD assessments, networking, training, and EU liaison activities. The meeting also featured tours to NTUA’s labs and YIOTIS facilities, showcasing laboratories for development, processing, characterization and testing of new materials and packaging solutions.