CeNTI -

The C4RPACK project aims to develop an innovative cardboard material coated with biopolymers and cork for single-use food packaging, targeting applications such as ready-to-eat meals, catering and takeaway. The solution combines functional performance with sustainability, promoting the valorisation of industrial waste and contributing to the transition towards more circular production and consumption models.

The project addresses the growing demand for cellulose-based packaging with moisture and grease barrier properties, offering an alternative to conventional plastic coatings and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), whose use is increasingly restricted under environmental and food-contact regulations.

Sourced from waste generated by the cork stopper industry, cork provides barrier properties that can enhance packaging performance when incorporated into a bio-based matrix. Combined with biopolymers, it may also reduce the amount of polymer required while maintaining the performance needed for packaging moist and fatty foods.

The work includes the development and optimisation of materials and coatings, as well as scale-up and validation of packaging performance and compliance with food-contact requirements. It also includes the assessment of compostability, recyclability and environmental performance through a life cycle assessment (LCA), with a particular focus on carbon footprint.