Worldwide, environmental protection rules are increasing requirements for agricultural exporters every day. In Chile, legislators enacted strict regulations aimed precisely at reducing the environmental impact of packaging waste, especially food packaging, which accounts for around 450,000 tons of waste in landfills.
But consumers expect fresh products all year round, so there is an urgent need for packaging that is resistant to grease and/or moisture, yet 100% compostable and recyclable. Achieving this would boost the national and international marketing of Chilean agricultural products, meeting demanding global and national environmental requirements and allowing our fruits and vegetables to reach the whole world in the best possible condition.
This is what CEDENNA’s Packaging Technology research line is pursuing together with the LABEN-CHILE Packaging Innovation Center of the Universidad de Santiago, with the design of a prototype paperboard created with nanostructures from renewable, compostable and recyclable sources, which could pave the way for high-end packaging for agriculture. This project was awarded by the Fund for the Promotion of Scientific and Technological Development (Fondef), which selected it as a winner of the 2024 Fondef IdeA I+D competition.
This material will give rise to packaging that will directly impact the agri-food industry, human health and the environment, reducing the carbon footprint compared to current synthetic polymers.
The project will also allow companies to respond to these new legislative requirements that restrict the use of packaging materials that are not biodegradable-compostable or certified for use in food delivery, generating great economic impact.
Obtaining the funding associated with this competition is a great recognition of the work carried out for many years by the Laben Center, led by Dr. Abel Guarda, principal investigator of CEDENNA’s Packaging Technology group, in this case together with the companies CMPC Biopackaging Boxboard of Valdivia, ALIFRUT – Minuto Verde and Protem of the Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana (UTEM).
