The objective of this Working Group is to identify sustainability, health and safety issues of innovative packaging solutions. The Action is focusing on fibre-based and biopolymer packaging which are inherently endowed with a limited carbon footprint; the inclusion of new features in the original materials, however, often demands new processes and the use of new substances that need to be considered also from a lifecycle point of view so as to ensure the sustainability of the whole process. WG3 will interact with WG1 and WG2 in analysing new materials, technologies and industrial processes with LCA and more circular economy-oriented sustainability impact assessment indicators trying to reveal potential environmental shortcomings of the considered solutions. The recyclability of new materials, as well as health and safety issues related to the inclusion of new chemical substances will be analysed and alternatives proposed when critical situation are envisioned.
Working group leader
Grzegorz Ganczewski
Institute:
COBRO – Packaging Research Institute
Methods and means
As in WG1 and WG2, the activity will be developed starting from the collection and analysis of currently existing information on environmental impact and safety issues related to smart packaging. Once again, a literature search will be completed and complemented by the organisation of a seminar that will bring together experts from the different areas involved. Consumer perspectives will be also considered in order to evaluate possible differences between the real risks and those perceived by the public opinion while talking about intelligent and active fibre-based packaging.
Anticipated results
The outcome of WG3 will be summarised in technical work and scientific papers covering the topics related to sustainability and health and safety issues of intelligent and active fibre-based packaging. Workshops and summer schools on the same topics will be considered and a road map developed using the collected information will represent the state-of-the art from which future research directions will be identified.