BORN Project

BORN: BiObased theRmal-resistaNt food packaging

Program: HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01

Duration: 36 months, October 2025 – September 2028

Partners: CNR (Coordinator), Fraunhofer, KTH, TECNO, PUT, UNINA, IEXC and QUANTIS as affiliated entities.

Objective: The overall objective of BORN is to develop a circular, safe and sustainable by design nature inspired polymer formulation that is biobased, biodegradable, compostable, thermal resistant, suitable for food contact, and low cost: a simultaneous combination of properties that no other material can guarantee. This nature inspired formulation may be exploited to fabricate biobased heat-resistant food packaging, to produce for instance flexible packaging for sous vide food product, compostable microwavable containers for ready-to-eat meals, cups or capsules/bags for instant coffee or tea, and also for food-related consumer goods, to fabricate biobased reusable compostable and disposable tableware (now available only for single use applications when compostable). The approach is further expanded for biobased materials in agriculture, as well as for other compostable biobased products that require resistance to high temperatures. This main objective will be achieved through the following specific objectives:

-To develop nature-inspired polymers with high thermal resistance
-To produce a novel biobased, safe and thermo-resistant food packaging
-To assess safety and environmental impact of BORN products
-To assess biodegradability and recyclability of BORN material
-Life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of newly designed BORN material and products
-To provide a portfolio of use cases of BORN material

BORN consortium consists of partners from 5 EU countries (Italy, Germany, Sweden, Spain and Poland) and 1 Associated country (Switzerland). It brings together 2 Large Public Research Institutions (CNR, FHG), 3 Universities (UNINA, PUT, KTH) and 3 SMEs (QUANTIS, IEXC, TECNO). BORN assembles strong complementary and interdisciplinary expertise, covering the fields of Natural sciences, Materials engineering, Food sciences and Social sciences.

Tecnopackaging´s Role: Communication, dissemination and exploitation leaders/Characterisation of BORN formulations (MFI, rheology)/processing of scaled-up formulations to produce trays (Injection Moulding), films (Cast Extrusion), and cups (Thermoforming)/ Market size assessment for products developed in BORN.