With interesting presentations on the applied research being carried out to produce packaging with minimal environmental impact, the International Seminar “Innovation in the development of new materials from bio-based polymers: moving towards sustainability” was held on Monday, January 16.
The activity was organized by the Packaging Innovation Center LABEN CHILE, with the support of ANID and Universidad de Santiago, through the Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology CEDENNA and the Department of Food Science and Technology DECYTAL.
The purpose of the meeting is to disseminate the results of the FONDECYT projects carried out at this Center: “Effect of titanium dioxide on ethylene scavenging properties of eco friendly polymer nanocomposites” and “Development of biodegradable materials based on PLA/PBAT blends by means of one-step supercritical impregnation + foaming process as a support platform of drug delivery system”. The principal investigator of the first is Dr. Francisco Rodríguez, while the second is led by Dr. Alejandra Torres.
The event began with remarks by Dr. Abel Guarda, Director of LABEN CHILE, who said that packaging “is a complex issue, due to the negative effects it generates once it becomes waste.” He noted that changing this reality is the aim of the work and the various lines of research of this Innovation Center, which is why the seminar is an opportunity to “show the community and companies the projects we are carrying out and the topics we work on, and to generate interest in technology transfer, among other things.”
Packaging innovation experiences
The event featured leading researchers from the Chilean universities USACH, U. de Chile and PUC de Valparaíso, as well as the European institutions Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain, and Georg Simon Ohm Technical University of Nuremberg, Germany.
Over two rounds of presentations, the experts addressed the innovation and technological development of various initiatives under way at their respective universities, focusing on creating new materials for the production of sustainable packaging from recycled plastic.
In the first round, Dr. Francisco Rodríguez, LABEN CHILE researcher, presented “Application of bio-based polymers in the development of food packaging: Myth or Reality”, while Dr. Marina Arrieta, researcher at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, spoke about “Obtaining bacterial cellulose from food waste for use as reinforcement for biopolymers”.
Also speaking were PhD candidate Alba Maldonado, LABEN CHILE researcher, with “Eco-friendly films with ethylene activity – An option against food waste”, and Dr. Lilian Abugoch, academic at Universidad de Chile, with “Properties of proteins and chitosan as bio-packaging for food applications”.
The second part began with “Consumer’s perception and regulation of bioplastics”, by Dr. Carolin Hauser, academic at Georg Simon Ohm Technical University of Nuremberg. This was followed by Dr. Alejandra Torres, LABEN CHILE researcher, with “Development of biodegradable active materials using supercritical fluid technology”.
Finally, Dr. Álvaro Díaz, researcher at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, spoke about “Engineering for the production of biodegradable polymers”, and PhD candidate Patricia Rivera, LABEN CHILE researcher, presented “Production of PLA-based polymer foams using supercritical CO2 “.
At the end of each round there was time for questions and comments from the audience, which were answered by the speakers.
For more information about LABEN-CHILE’s projects and services, those interested can visit its website and social media.
Author: Paola Armijo
Photo: Paola Armijo
