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Propagroup participates in the European project ViSS for sustainable food packaging

The project ViSS (Viable, Safe and Sustainable PHBV value chain), funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe program, aims to develop a circular supply chain for PHBV, a biodegradable polymer from the PHA family, obtained from industrial organic waste. This material is particularly suitable for food packaging due to its remarkable barrier properties and high biodegradability in various environments (soil, freshwater, and marine).

A key strength of the project is its vertical integration: starting from waste (e.g., by-products from the poultry and sugar industries), PHBV is produced through a fermentation process, extracted, purified, and granulated, and then transformed into packaging for food use.

Propagroup SpA plays a crucial role in the project, focusing on the prototyping of materials for the transition from laboratory to market, specifically developing flexible films and rigid containers from PHBV granules. This step is essential to demonstrate the industrial scalability of the process and the feasibility of real applications in food packaging.

In summary, ViSS is a concrete initiative towards more sustainable packaging: from the valorization of organic waste, to fermentative production, and finally to industrial prototyping to create a circular value developed entirely by European companies.