Specific Challenge:
In recent decades, there has been much research into innovative food packaging technologies and solutions (e.g. active, intelligent, recyclable, easy-to-use, organic, antibacterial). This includes research aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of packaging material, increasing the shelf-life of food and developing food spoilage indicators, improving product design, optimising process efficiency, and reducing the need for chemical preservatives while maintaining the nutritional and sensorial properties of food. In spite of the progress made, much remains to be done to overcome the barriers to market uptake of many promising technologies.
Scope:Proposals should clearly address the problems associated with the scaling-up and commercialisation of eco-innovative solutions to packaging in a developing framework of social, economic and environmental conditions. Activities should aim to produce plans and arrangements or designs for new, modified or improved products, processes or services. For this purpose they may include prototyping, testing, demonstrating, pilot projects, large-scale product validation and market replication. Proposals may, if necessary, include limited research and development activities. If there are clear market failures or cultural or behavioural barriers to overcome, proposals may comprise activities such as validating the benefits for users/buyers, validating technical and economic performance at system level, validating standards, and activities to prepare market uptake, ensure consumer acceptance and optimise access to and the dissemination of results. Work is expected to benefit from contribution of social sciences and a gender approach. Participation of all relevant stakeholders in the food production and supply chains is encouraged. Demonstration activities will require the involvement of packaging and food processing companies, retailers and civil society organisations to bridge the gap between ideas that have been developed and their practical implementation.
The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of up to EUR 6 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude the submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.
Expected Impact:With a view to supporting the transition from a linear to a circular economy, proposals should show how some, or all, of the following impacts will be achieved: