FINNOPACK
“A Forward-looking Packaging Solutions From Innovation to Pilot Production: Advanced Moulded Packaging from Alternative Fibers enhanced with Nanocellulose”
The FINNOPACK project focuses on developing advanced sustainable packaging that reduces environmental impact and supports the circular economy. The project aims to improve packaging sustainability through the use of recycled materials and waste biomass, combined with advanced technologies, while aligning with European environmental standards.
Within the FINNOPACK project, cross-border collaboration will be established between research institutions (the Pulp and Paper Institute and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana) and the industrial partner (Goerner Formpack). This cooperation will be crucial not only for the implementation of the project but also for future cross-border collaboration at both research and industrial levels. Through improved solutions in the development of new materials, technologies, and approaches, various stakeholders from both countries will benefit from innovative and more sustainable packaging solutions that help reduce environmental impact and enhance market performance. In addition, the project will foster broader cooperation, knowledge exchange, and improved opportunities for innovation, including access to new technologies and resources.
The project will focus on developing molded packaging with enhanced mechanical and surface properties. By incorporating nanocellulose (in the form of hydrogels), the packaging will gain increased mechanical strength, making it more functional and durable. The project will leverage local natural resources and waste packaging characteristic of the region and combine them with state-of-the-art technologies. This will create a locally based yet innovative packaging solution that is both highly efficient and sustainable, enabling both countries to maximize their strengths and ensuring the feasibility of sustainable packaging solutions for both regions.
SuperBark
The SuperBark project, a collaboration of 12 partners from 8 countries, aims to develop more than 95% bio-based adhesives and coatings using bark components (nanocellulose and polyphenols). The developed adhesives and coatings will replace current fossil-based solutions used in consumer products in the furniture, construction, transport, and packaging sectors. To accomplish this, the SuperBark project will use polyphenols extracted from tree bark using a new alkaline fractionation technology and cellulose nanofibrils derived from cellulose-rich bark residues. The Pulp and Paper Institute will be mainly involved in the development of barrier coatings for fibrous materials or packaging incorporating bark-derived nanocellulose.
The project is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking and its members.
More: https://superbark.eu/
DECIDE
The DECIDE project - "Digital Services for the Circular Economy - a toolbox for regional developers, SMEs" - will be funded with almost €3 million until mid-2026. During this period, 16 partners from 10 countries (Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova) will fight the battle for a greener and digital European economy. One of the objectives is to provide methods and tools to develop business models for a circular economy, primarily targeting SMEs, start-ups and business developers in the Danube region. These models are key to achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal.
The project's lead partner is the Digitalisation Centre (ZD.BB), which is considered the central advice centre for companies and start-ups in the Böblingen district and Stuttgart region in the field of digitalisation and also supports SMEs in managing digital transformation. The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism also supports ZD. BB as a regional digital hub.
Knauf Insulation d.o.o., Škofja Loka, Slovenia
In cooperation with world-renowned manufacturer of insulation materials Knauf Insulation d.o.o. (www.knaufinsulation.si), we are developing special purpose insulation materials. In our laboratories various prototypes are being the developed and most promising among them are being tested in the pilot production.
Nestlé
The collaboration with Nestle, one of the largest companies in the food industry, took place as a research collaboration with Nestle York’s development department. As part of the cooperation, ICP explored the possibilities of using industrial waste biomass from the production chain (cocoa husk pods) as a raw material for paper production. The research followed the principles of the circular economy and the search for the usefulness of waste materials from all stages of the product production chain. The ICP tested different types of biomass where analyzes of its composition were performed, suitability for fibre production was assessed, and cellulose fibre obtained from this biomass was used as a basis for paper production and packaging prototyping, including verification of final properties.
