ViSS at the BIO4PACK Cluster Workshop to advance sustainable packaging innovation
The event provided a platform to exchange knowledge and explore collaborative approaches to advancing sustainable and circular food packaging
On Thursday, 6 November, the BIO4PACK Cluster Workshop, dedicated to accelerating the transition towards sustainable and circular food packaging in Europe, brought together researchers, innovators, policymakers, and industry representatives.
The 90-minute session provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge and explore how science and collaboration can drive innovation across the packaging value chain. Participants were introduced to the four Horizon Europe projects that make up the BIO4PACK Cluster – ViSS, REBIOLUTION, STOPP, and MAGNO – each contributing unique solutions to reduce dependence on fossil-based plastics, promote circular design, and ensure packaging safety for both people and the planet.
Moderated by Dr. Wael Hamd, Professor at the University of Balamand (Lebanon) and partner in the MAGNO project, the workshop featured project presentations and interactive discussions that highlighted complementary approaches and synergies within the cluster.
During the event, ViSS presented its advances in developing sustainable packaging materials and solutions that meet industrial performance requirements while minimizing environmental impact. The project emphasized how its research is helping to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and market-ready packaging applications, paving the way for a more sustainable food packaging sector in Europe.
The other BIO4PACK partners also showcased their contributions:
- REBIOLUTION introduced its work on next-generation biopolymers to replace fossil-based plastics.
- STOPP presented research on recyclable, reusable, and biodegradable food packaging for circular use.
- MAGNO shared its integration of digital tools such as traceability systems and digital twins to enhance recycling and decision-making.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate how European research collaboration is shaping the future of food packaging through innovation in materials science, circular design, and digital transformation.
Watch the recording of the workshop!
CETEC presents ViSS at UNE event on bioplastics and Standardisation
The Spanish Association for Standardization (UNE) is organising the ‘UNE Prospective Study on Bioplastics and Associated Standardisation Activity’, on Friday, November 7, 2025
The Spanish Association for Standardization (UNE) is organising an online event that will promote new standardisation activities led by the national sector that support the development and implementation of new technologies and innovative solutions.
The discussion will focus on new applications of bioplastics, challenges for circularity and sustainability, and the role of standardisation. Fuensanta Monzó, R&D Project Manager at CETEC, will present ViSS, contributing to the session’s exploration of innovation in the field.
The session will report on the content of the Prospective Study on bioplastics, discuss the current situation in the sector, related R&D&I activities and the future development of standardisation activity in this field.
The meeting will be held in Spanish. The event is open to all and will be accessible online.
Register here!
ViSS participates to Ecomondo 2025
On 4 November, Ecomondo spotlights how industrial residues can be transformed into sustainable food plastics for a circular Mediterranean economy.
At Ecomondo 2025, the leading European event for the green and circular economy, the ViSS project will take center stage in the session “Technological solutions for resources recovery from end-of-life products and materials in the Mediterranean landscape”.
Mariantonella Palermo from Tecnoalimenti S.C.p.A. presents “From industrial organic residues to sustainable food plastics”, highlighting ViSS’ innovative approach to transforming organic industrial by-products into bioplastics for food applications.
Her presentation will showcase how ViSS contributes to a more circular and resilient Mediterranean economy by reducing waste, creating value from residues, and promoting sustainable materials for the agri-food sector.
By connecting research, industry, and policy, Ecomondo is a key meeting point where European innovation paves the way toward a truly circular future.
Learn more about the session: From industrial organic residues to sustainable food plastics
BIO4PACK Cluster Workshop: Shaping the Future of Sustainable Food Packaging
Join ViSS, REBIOLUTION, STOPP, and MAGNO for their online event on 6 November, 12:00-13:30 CET
The ViSS project, as part of the BIO4PACK Cluster, will organise and participate to an upcoming online workshop, bringing together leading experts, researchers, and policymakers to explore innovative approaches to sustainable food packaging.
The BIO4PACK Cluster brings together four pioneering projects – ViSS, REBIOLUTION, STOPP, and MAGNO – united by a shared ambition to transform the packaging industry. Together, the projects are developing bio-based, circular, and smart packaging solutions that reduce dependence on fossil plastics, enhance recyclability, and ensure safety for both people and the planet.
The workshop, taking place on Thursday, 6 November 2025 (12:00–13:30 CET), will be moderated by Dr. Wael Hamd, Associate Professor at the University of Balamand and expert in environmental technologies. Participation is free but registration is required.Please fill in the registration form here to secure your spot and receive the event link.
The workshop is a platform to:
- Discover breakthrough innovations in bio-based and circular food packaging.
- Engage with experts working at the forefront of sustainable materials science.
- Explore synergies among European projects tackling similar challenges.
- Contribute ideas to shape new standards and policies for the packaging industry.
Participants will discover the latest research developments from each project and discuss how collaboration within BIO4PACK is accelerating Europe’s transition to sustainable packaging systems.
Register now for the BIO4PACK online workshop!
Do not miss the opportunity to join ViSS and its BIO4PACK partners in shaping the next generation of food packaging.
Open call: join the European Researchers’ Night beach clean-up in El Campello
From research to real impact: out of the lab and onto the shore
Within the framework of the ViSS project and the European Researchers’ Night, the University of Alicante and its Bioplastics Lab invite the public to take part in a beach clean-up at Playa de Lloma de Reixes (El Campello, Alicante) on 27 September.
The initiative aims to connect scientific innovation with the local community, raising awareness about marine litter while encouraging active participation in environmental protection.
Register here!
ViSS at the Bioeconomy Conference 2025 in Murcia
CETEC will present the project at a regional event dedicated to bioeconomy
The ViSS project is brought to Murcia with the Bioeconomy Conference – a meeting showcasing companies that turn organic matter into bioproducts. Represented by CETEC, project coordinator, ViSS will be introduced as a pioneering initiative applying new technologies to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship in the bioeconomy sector. CETEC will present the project’s work on the production of bioplastics through biotechnological routes.
The event will highlight how the bioeconomy drives local innovation: transforming agri-food by-products into high-value bioproducts such as functional extracts, active compounds, and bioenergy. It will be an opportunity to explore real examples of applied circularity and sustainable strategies in the sector.
The public event will bring together regional companies, public entities, and leading technology centres to exchange knowledge and explore sustainable strategies for the future.
Join ViSS in Murcia to learn about the future of the bioeconomy!
Register: https://lnkd.in/dJfbaPiy
ViSS consortium meets in Belfeld at Helian Polymers
Two days of project updates, collaboration, and a visit to the PHA production facilities
The ViSS consortium met in Belfeld, the Netherlands, for two days of updates and collaboration. The first day focused on updates from all work packages, showing steady progress toward developing the final PHBV-based bioplastic. The first prototype of ViSS plastic trays was unveiled, made possible by the collaboration of Propagroup with Helian Polymers.
A commercially available polymer, comparable to the one under development in the project, was first selected. Based on this, suitable blends were prepared to simulate the formulations that ViSS aims to produce. These blends were then processed to test how they behaved on industrial equipment. Two different mixtures were evaluated: one for flexible film and one for sheet production. The two processing modalities target different applications, with flexible film intended for lightweight, adaptable packaging solutions and sheet production aimed at creating thicker, rigid plastics. The processing was carried out on two types of extrusion lines – blown film extrusion and cast extrusion – in order to compare performance.
Meanwhile, University of Birmingham and VTT contributed with the characterisation of the blends. Their work helped to understand the properties of the mixtures and the effect of the components. Birmingham also developed a plasticising additive, specifically designed to improve processability and support the transformation of the biopolymer into functional products.
ViSS partners checking out the first ViSS plastic protytoe
All other partners gave their contribution on the work and updated the consortium – CETEC, AITEX, the University of Alicante, Tecnoalimenti, IRIS, Idener, and Zukan. The day concluded with a visit to Helian Polymers, where partners followed the production process of PHAs like PHBV, from raw material to final polymer, and explored the company’s R&D labs and facilities.
On the second day, partners discussed the latest developments and planned the upcoming activities. There is still significant work ahead: materials to be shared, and technical documents in preparation that will guide the next steps and clarify how the project will move toward its results. Meeting in person remains an important way to connect progress across work packages and keep partners working closely together.
ViSS featured in EDMA’s PRj24 magazine
The magazine has published an article showcasing the ViSS project and its innovative approach to tackling plastic pollution through bio-based solutions
The article highlights how the ViSS project is addressing one of today’s most pressing environmental challenges: the dependence on traditional, carbon-based plastics. By focusing on PHBV, a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate produced from organic residues, ViSS is working to establish a truly sustainable value chain for bio-based polymers.
As it can be read on the magazine, the transition to bio-based materials is crucial, but remains hampered by high production costs, difficulties in maintaining polymer properties, and other barriers to commercialisation. ViSS aims to overcome these hurdles by using food industry residues as feedstock and applying innovative downstream processes to produce the PHBV.
The project is currently developing three types of safe, sustainable, biodegradable, and recyclable packaging – flexible, semi-flexible, and mesh-based formats, demonstrating the potential of PHBV to replace conventional plastics in everyday applications.
Featuring the project in PRj24 not only underscores the innovative edge of ViSS, but also provides valuable visibility within the European dissemination and communication landscape. This exposure strengthens awareness of the project’s objectives and its role in shaping a more sustainable future for materials and packaging.
Read more about ViSS in the article here!
Viss presents biodegradable plastics solutions at PHA World Congress
Viss will present its biodegradable plastics technology and explore opportunities in the growing PHA market
PHAs (Polyhydroxyalkanoates) are a family of biodegradable polymers produced by microorganisms as energy reserves, much like how animals store fat. They are increasingly seen as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, with applications in packaging, healthcare, automotive, textiles, and more. Viss is at the forefront of this shift, creating biodegradable plastics that bring circular economy principles into real-world products.
This momentum will be highlighted at the 4th PHA World Congress, taking place in Düsseldorf from 2–4 September 2025. Organized by Renewable Carbon Magazine in collaboration with GO!PHA, the hybrid event will bring together scientists, industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss progress and opportunities in the PHA sector.
Viss will be in the spotlight on 2 September, when Cristina Muro, from CETEC, will present the project during the pitch session. Her talk will underline how Viss is tackling the challenges of scaling bioplastics while opening new possibilities for sustainable materials.
The congress program will cover the entire PHA value chain – from raw materials and manufacturing to applications and end-of-life solutions – shedding light on the progress and hurdles that shape this emerging field.
For Viss, it is a key platform to demonstrate how innovation in biodegradable plastics can drive change across industries and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Register here
Find the agenda here
First pilot-scale tests completed for ViSS PHBV biopolymer production
Propagroup SpA and Helian Polymers BV collaborate on initial trials to validate processes for ViSS PHBV
As part of the ViSS project’s work on the demonstration plant for PHBV production, Propagroup SpA and Helian Polymers BV have successfully carried out the first pilot-scale tests aimed at developing and validating processes for the biopolymer transformation. The trials represent a crucial step in preparing the production of PHBV-based biopolymer prototypes in ViSS.
Conducted at Propagroup’s facilities in Turin, the testing phase involved the production of thin films and semi-flexible sheets using commercial PHA granule blends. The objective was to assess equipment setup and process parameters ahead of incorporating ViSS-produced PHBV granules into the final formulation. Thin films were manufactured through blown film extrusion using a three-layer extruder, while sheets for thermoforming applications were obtained via cast extrusion. Both processes serve as key benchmarks in validating the technical feasibility of the PHBV range.
These preliminary trials allowed for initial adjustments and structural optimisation of the production lines and laid the foundation for continued process refinement leading up to full-scale demonstration activities.
This milestone was made possible through the close collaboration between the teams at Propagroup and Helian Polymers. The work was carried out with the valuable contribution of Davide Crapanzano, Renato Mortera, Nydia Badillo Sampedro, Jon Donkers, Ron Kerkhoffs and Sofiya Vynnytska.
Photo credits: Renato Mortera and Davide Crapanzano