One of the main goals of NENU2PHAR is to set up a new European value chain of PHA-based products from a sustainable bio-source, namely the microalgae, with an acceptable end of life using circular economy and eco-design concepts where LOMARTOV’s role is crucial. Within the five commercial sectors, a total of nine products will be targeted and developed, including flexible food packaging film, rigid food packaging film, roll-on bottle for cosmetics, 3D printing filament, stand-up pouch for yogurt, plastic cup for compote, stand-up pouch for shredded cheese, surgical meshes, and woven agro textile for groundcover.
In order to contribute directly to the achievement of NENU2PHAR objectives, such as improving the environmental performance of the plastic-based products targeted in the project, LOMARTOV elaborated a full report on the systematic implementation of the eco-design approach to the target products, which was supported by environmental life cycle assessment (LCA).
This deliverable provided eco-design recommendations for the defined products and presented the initial conclusions. It is important to remark that eco-design aims to integrate environmental aspects during the product design stage to improve environmental performance throughout the life cycle of the products. This approach does not only cover environmental aspects, but also all the other design aspects like quality, safety, functionality, costs and regulatory requirements. As a result, with the collaboration of all involved partners, and especially the industrials (DANONE, BEL Groupe, KAJ Plastics, Medtronic, IFG Cresco, BIO-MI, BIOTREND), a complete report on recommendations to improve the properties of plastic-based products through eco-design has been usefully delivered as established up to month 18 of the project’s lifetime. Indeed, an eco-design procedure is needed to ensure proper and successful project implementation and to demonstrate that the new products are developed under a sustainable and resource-efficient approach. Essentially, the main conclusions obtained in the first phases of the eco-design procedure for the mentioned products established numerous recommendations and guidelines for each product. These are expected to be implemented in the prototypes produced during the execution of NENU2PHAR, including the use of PHA-based materials to replace fossil-based plastics, ensuring more sustainable and safer products.
Finally, the environmental, economic and social viability of the new eco-designed products will be fully validated through a full life cycle sustainability assessment in the coming months.