Farm Produced Ultrathin Lightweight Packaging
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Life Sciences
Abstract
This applied research project builds on basic research by Valueform Ltd at the BioComposites Centre at Bangor University on 'Innovative processing of local agri-fibres'. This project will :-i) produce novel biocomposite food packaging using plant-based materials; cereal/oilseed straws/ and other agri-residues, optimising process variables to obtain ultrathin materials ii) confirm use of Innovative, farm-based technologies to convert these materials into retail food packages, at costs competitive with concurrent non-renewable products. Preliminary investigations indicates that these biocomposites can be more resource efficient than plastics, biopolymers and starch-based alternatives currently available on the market. The packaging products will be biodegradable /compostable post-use to deliver a very efficient end-of-life disposal option and also contribute to reductions in landfilling. The Imperial College London research within the consortium is to use Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methods throughout the R& D programme to define the environmental profiles of the developing packaging materials. This will involve analysis of all stages of the life cycle of the materials, from selection of agri-based fibers and other co-products, the selection and inclusion of ancilliary materials (chemicals, polymers), the use and distribution phase of the life cycle and the final disposal of the packaging (home composting, alternative disposal scenarios, recycling potential). There are a wide variety of design options that are to be investigated in the programme. LCA will be introduced at its inception and function on an incremental basis to inform optimisation of the potential production routes for environmental as well as technical and economic parameters. At the conclusion of the programme LCA information (appropriate functional unit definition(s), LCI datasets, LCIAs, sensitivity analysis, uncertainty analysis) will have been assembled to support full ISO 14040 compliant reporting of the environmental impact of the novel packaging materials and appropriate declarations at the discretion of the consortium
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Richard Murphy (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | We have found that it is possible to manufacture bio-based packaging materials from on-farm residues like wheat straw using quite simple pulping techniques that can offer environmental benefits (e.g. Carbon footprint, fossil resource depletion)compared with petro-chemical packaging items. There is opportunity to improve the bio-based systems by carefully managing the drying energy used in preparing the packaging materials (needed for these bio-based materials). Manufacturing either on-farm, at regional centres or at a single central facility does not make much difference to the environmental benefits of bio-based approaches although the on-farm solution had the lowest impact overall. |
| Exploitation Route | Growth of biorefining and product manufacture form under-utilised residues from agriculture |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Retail |
| URL | http://www.bc.bangor.ac.uk/news-and-resources/news/news2011.php |
| Description | The findings have been used by the bio-based packaging company and the novel drying energy to enhance their knowledge of technical and environmental performance of such packaging systems and to understand opportunities available in this space in the UK. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Retail |
| Impact Types | Economic |