Sustainable Food Packaging of the Future

 

Cromogenia Units is a proud partner in the VALERIA project: “Sustainable, renewable, and efficient food packaging of the future based on biomaterials.”

 

 

The overall objective of the project is focused on obtaining new 100% bio-based food packaging solutions entirely derived from agroforestry sources (main packaging and its complementary components: films, adhesives, coatings…), with an emphasis on cellulosic packaging (cellulose and paper trays). These solutions aim to fully replace the plastic materials currently in use. The VALERIA strategy seeks to improve the functional and environmental properties of cellulosic food packaging in comparison to synthetic plastic equivalents for packaging highly demanding food products (meat and fish), promoting food safety, biodegradability/recyclability, and reducing environmental impact in line with European and national frameworks.

To achieve this, the VALERIA project will investigate two packaging models with the following components:

• Model 1: Molded fiber packaging with bio-coatings and biopolymer film with bio-coatings (derived from microcellulose and oils) and bio-adhesives (also derived from oils).
• Model 2: Food-grade papers with bio-coatings.

Both models will be studied in terms of machinability and the suitability of their properties for packaging highly demanding food products.

The VALERIA project consortium is made up of five companies:

• ENCE ENERGIA Y CELULOSA, S.A.
• CROMOGENIA UNITS, S.A.
• EMBOTITS SALGOT, S.A.
• EVERSIA, S.A.
• MOLDES CENTROVIA, S.L.N.E.

The VALERIA project is funded by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) under the 2024 call for proposals of the “Science and Innovation Missions Programme,” part of the Technology Transfer and Collaboration Programme of the 2024–2027 National Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research, and framed within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.