The SuN4Med project, in which ITCL participates as a partner, promotes the development of sustainable and biodegradable food packaging to reduce environmental pollution from plastic waste and food waste.
In a world where more than 4 billion tons of food are produced every year, one third of it ends up wasted. At the same time, traditional food packaging, composed of petrochemical polymers, contributes to the accumulation of plastic waste in landfills and oceans, affecting biodiversity and human health. In response to this global problem, SuN4Med, a European project that is committed to sustainability, is developing biodegradable and antimicrobial food packaging from agro-industrial by-products.
The project, which brings together companies and institutions from several countries, has a clear objective: to replace conventional plastics with sustainable and antimicrobial biopolymers, reducing both food waste and environmental pollution. SuN4Med combines technological advances such as artificial intelligence and machine vision to maximize the use of agro-industrial waste and produce innovative materials with unique properties.
Global challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions
The SuN4Med project stands out for its collaborative and multidisciplinary approach, where institutions such as ITCL work together with leading companies in Spain, France and Turkey to develop biodegradable materials that respond to the needs of the food sector.
SuN4Med combats environmental pollution from plastics and also offers a direct solution to food waste by creating antimicrobial coatings that extend the shelf life of products such as meats and bakery products. In addition, it uses agro-industrial waste – such as citrus peels, almonds, hazelnuts, potatoes, etc., demonstrating how the principles of the circular and green economy can be efficiently applied.
The results obtained so far are a testament to the positive impact of this project, which has already begun to design innovative packaging, incorporating advanced technologies that will optimize the process.
Problems solved by SuN4Med
It addresses one of the biggest environmental crises of our time: plastic pollution and food waste. Conventional food packaging, based on petrochemical polymers, is not biodegradable and contributes significantly to the accumulation of plastics in the oceans, forming veritable “continents of waste” that affect biodiversity and the quality of life on the planet.
In addition, much of the food produced ends up being discarded before it is consumed. This generates not only economic losses, but also a massive environmental impact due to the resources wasted during production.
SuN4Med offers an innovative solution: the use of natural biopolymers such as cellulose, starch and pectin, reinforced with antimicrobial and antioxidant additives that improve food safety. Thanks to the integration of artificial intelligence, an efficient classification of agro-industrial by-products is achieved, optimizing the use of resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Progress in the field of sustainable food packaging
Its development stems from the need to find real and effective solutions to problems such as food waste and plastic pollution. Through collaborative research, the project focuses on the production of biodegradable packaging and antimicrobial coatings using agro-industrial waste from crops such as hazelnuts, almonds, citrus and potatoes.
This project, which will run until 2028, combines technological innovation with environmental sustainability. Among its main contributions is the use of technologies such as hyperspectral cameras and artificial intelligence tools to classify and process agroindustrial byproducts, maximizing the quality and efficiency of biopolymers.
Collaboration between the project partners will be key to move towards the production of these materials on a pilot and industrial scale. Companies such as IMSA, APTAR and BRG will work on the development, testing and validation of the containers, ensuring that they meet market needs and sustainability standards.
SuN4Med also contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as the 9% reduction of conventional plastics by 2028 and improved recycling rates. In addition, its positive impact includes reducing greenhouse gases and increasing food security in the Mediterranean region, demonstrating that innovation can and should go hand in hand with sustainability.
A role model in sustainable innovation
SuN4Med proposes advanced technical solutions and also proposes a model of international collaboration to solve global problems. This project is a clear example of how technological institutions and companies can come together to transform industries, protect the environment and contribute to the well-being of future generations.
ITCL Technology Center is playing a key role in the SuN4Med project.
Leading the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine vision for the classification and processing of agro-industrial waste. Its contribution is essential to ensure efficiency in the transformation of these by-products into high quality biodegradable and antimicrobial biopolymers.
ITCL brings its expertise in applied research and develops smart sorting tools to optimize production processes, effectively addressing critical issues such as food waste and plastic pollution. This innovative approach reinforces the project’s impact on environmental sustainability and the circular economy.
